7/30/2003
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines stars Arnold Schwarzenegger as Terminator, Nick Stahl as John Connor, Claire Danes as Kate Brewster, Kristanna Loken as T-X, David Andrews as Robert Brewster, Mark Famiglietti as Scott Petersen, Earl Boen as Dr. Peter Silberman, Moira Harris as Betsy, Chopper Bernet as Chief Engineer, and Chris Lawford as Brewster's Aide.
Terminator 3 is a retread plot of Terminator 2, but better. Since this is one of those time travel movies, we can have a Terminator film every two years with the same plot, but different looking Terminators. This film has also been cleansed for our viewing. There is a lot of off-screen violence. Only about one graphic scene is left in. Why it has an R rating is beyond me. It might be for Arnie's naked backside.
In case you have been living under a rock for several years, Terminator 3 is a story about androids/robots from the future trying to kill and save John Connor. John Connor is the leader of the resistance, in the future, against the annihilation of the human race by The machines. So every few years the resistance sends a robot back in time to protect John Connor and the Machines send a more sophisticated Machine to kill John Connor. The battle rages between people and machines to save or annihilate the human race in our time.
What makes Terminator 3 better than its predecessor is that the dialog between characters is cut and the action is increased. Terminator 3 keeps Arnie's quips to a minimum. thus improving the film by an order directly proportional to the missing dialog. If you liked Terminator 1, you will really like Terminator 3.
I give it 4 out of 5 shades: 