Terminator 3:
Rise of the Machines
(Warner Region 1 DVD)
(2003)
review by Head Cheeze

It's probably not going to make Californian's sleep any better knowing this, but their governor's cooler than mine. My governor's name is Mitt, and he's just rich. He can't lift small cars. Hell, he probably can't even snap load a shotgun. Now their governor can be seen in what was most easily the best action flick of 2003; Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.

Set a decade after the events of T-2, Rise of the Machines sees John Connor (Nick Stahl taking over for the whiney Ed Furlong) living as a cautious drifter. Connor's not very optimistic of the Earth's survival, even though he and his late mother had averted the cataclysmic Judgement Day, choosing to maintain a lower than low profile in an effort to avoid leaving any evidence that he exists at all. It's worked, apparently, since a new female Terminator, the T-X (Loken), has come back in time to kill all of John Connor's future Lieutenant's. Enter Kate Brewster (Danes), an engaged veteranarian who, in the future, is Connor's second-in-command, as well as his wife and mother of their equally important children. When Kate stumbles upon John rummaging through the drugs at her clinic, she locks him in a cage and is about to report him to the police when the T-X pays the clinic an after hours visit. Things look grim for Connor and Brewster until the reliable ol' T-101 (who else?) intervenes, and the trio hit the bumpy road in an effort to stop Sky Net before it destroy's mankind.

Terminator 3 is completely preposterous popcorn movie stuff, and that's precisely why it's so damned good. Unlike this year's pretentious and oh-so-serious Matrix sequels, the relentless action in T-3 is done with tongue so firmly in cheek that it's impossible not to smile while you shake your head in disbelief. The film's first chase scene, involving several cars under the control of the T-X (one of the new model's abilities), a crane truck, and about five miles worth of real estate and parked vehicles, is a priceless example of "Things that go BOOM!" cinema. As I watched this sequence, my fiance' looked at me and exclaimed "Jesus!", as she laughed at the sheer amount of destruction on the screen. It's terrific fun, and it doesn't let up for a moment.

Kristanna Loken, as the super sexy T-X, is not only easy on the eyes, but she's also fantastic as the unstoppable cyborg. Seeing her go toe to toe with Schwarzenegger's T-101 is at once hilarious and remarkably believable, thanks to some very well done effects work as well as Loken's own ability to maintain a sort of professional Terminator expression. Occasionally she may raise an eyebrow, or cock her head, but, for the most part, this mean machine seems prepared for anything and everything.

Stahl and Danes do a fine job as the human element of the film, with Danes, in particular, turning in a solid and believable peformance as Brewster. Too often in films such as this do the actors seem to simply accept the outrageous situations they're in, but Danes maintains a nice balance of shock, disbelief, and, ultimately, grim acceptance that gives her character much needed depth, and raises our emotional investment in her survival.

Schwarzenneger is...well...Schwarzenneger. He slips into the role he created as effortlessly as one would think, but does add some subtle nuances here and there to poke a little fun at himself. As usual, he get's to dole out numerous one-liners and prefab catch-phrases, but he also gets points for making this T-101 a touch manic! There's a few scenes where this "emotionless" machine caps off at the hysterical Brewster, and it's a riot. "RELAX!!"

Jonathan Mostow takes the reigns from King Cameron, and does a fine job. As a matter of fact, I have to say I was quite impressed with the overall look and feel of the film, and didn't miss Cameron a bit. While it's impossible to say this with any certainty, I'd venture to guess that this film wouldn't have been nearly as fun as it turned out to be were Cameron behind the lense. Mostow seems to have a looser approach, and the actors seemed to thrive on this.

I'd also like to point out the special effects in this film, seeing as how this is, essentially, an effects driven vehicle. All I can say is very nice job indeed! There's ample use of CGI, especially during the Terminator fisticuffs, but it's relatively seamless, save for a few ragdoll moments. The visions of the apocalyptic future are also really well done and I'd love to see the next Terminator film set in this grim reality (and, believe me, there will be a fourth).

Perhaps my favourite part of the film is it's ending. While I won't give it away here, let's just say that the final ten or fifteen minutes of this flick pack a whallop, both visually and emotionally. It's truly un-Hollywood, and made me sit up and exclaim "Now THAT was cool."

The DVD from Warner is a two disc set that features a lot of extras, but only a few of any actual use to casual viewers. While there are enough bonuses to merit a five, I took off a point simply because quantity isn't everything. We get two commentary tracks; one with Mostow, and one with Mostow and the cast, all recorded at separate times, save Mostow and Danes, who are recorded together. Disc Two features a gag reel and several mini-docos, including an HBO First Look featurette, which is slightly entertaining, if not very in-depth. Other than that, the remainder of the bonus features are of the "make your own..." variety, and while they are certainly impressive, I can't see anyone over the age of 12 playing with these features for any length of time.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is definitely a worthy sequel, and, in many ways, superior to it's predecessors, although, as a whole, it's still Summer Movie fluff. However, I never fault a film for being entertaining, and this is definitely one rousing crowd pleaser that could melt the frown off of the most jaded action fan's mug. Watch this with an extra large tub of popcorn and take it with a liberal amount of salt (although Governor Arnold may want you to be a little more conservative).