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With a reported budget of $172 million, Terminator
3: Rise of the Machines starts in high gear and never slows down. The
apocalyptic "Judgment Day" of T2 was never prevented, only postponed: John
Connor (Nick Stahl, replacing T2's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected
from society, is being pursued yet again, this time by the advanced T-X,
a sleek "Terminatrix" (coldly expressionless Kristanna Loken) programmed
to stop Connor from becoming the savior of humankind. Originally programmed
as an assassin, a disadvantaged T-101 cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger, bidding
fond farewell to his signature role) arrives from the future to join Connor
and his old acquaintance Kate (Claire Danes) in thwarting the T-X's relentless
pursuit. The plot presents a logical fulfillment of T2 prophesy, disposing
of Connor's mother (Linda Hamilton is sorely missed) while computer-driven
machines assume control, launching a nuclear nightmare that Connor must
survive. With Breakdown and U-571 serving as worthy rehearsals for this
cautionary epic of mass destruction, director Jonathan Mostow wisely avoids
any stylistic connection to James Cameron's Terminator classics; instead
he's crafted a fun, exciting popcorn thriller, humorous and yet still effectively
nihilistic, and comparable to Jurassic Park III in returning the Terminator
franchise to its potent B-movie roots. --Jeff Shannon |
