Review of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) by Bill M — 12 May 2012

T3 gets a lot of stick, much of it sort of deserved in all fairness, it's is a pretty huge step down in quality from the previous two that has many problems, namely, it retreads many elements from the second film, the terminatrix is an uninspired creation, not as advanced or deadly as Robert Patrick's terrifying t-1000, and the film has a sillier, lighter edge than 1 and 2, including moments like arnie in elton john glasses, or the whole "talk to the hand" bit that leave you cringing, and a pg-13 cert that tones down the harder stuff considerably.

But on it's own merits, t3 is a fun sci-fi summer b-movie, yes it's content to not really stand out or advance the story, or even the reach the hights of Camerons classics, but it has some superb action scenes, including an amazingly orchestrated car chase, is well paced, decently acted and entertaining.

But the real reason this film deserves at least a tiny bit of consideration is it's ballsy ending, an alarmingly bleak, bold turnaround on what you expect from the story, and is one of bravest, and most resolutely dark climax's to a studio movie in ages, it sticks in the mind long after the rest of this otherwise ropey film fades away.