Review of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) by Filipeneto — 14 Mar 2021

After two excellent films, Hollywood made the mistake of reviving the “Terminator” franchise and ruining it completely. But in this film we are still at an acceptable level of quality where things still seem to make some sense. In this film, we follow John Connor in another race to save himself from a TX machine, sent from the future, in the form of a woman, but with the mission of killing him and all the future human militia commanders. It is more of the same if we think about it and if we want to compare this film with its predecessors. But with less quality.

Overall, I liked the film, it honors its predecessors, but it is not able to do better, nor to do it differently. As has already happened, the film is essentially based on chases with immense destruction and shootings with increasingly powerful weaponry. There are several attempts to create comedic moments, but they don't always work and the dialogues are spiritless and sometimes irritating. And now that I mention it, one thing that caught my attention, and I don't know if it was just me, was the forced way in which the famous catchphrase “I'll be back” was used. And I don't even talk about monologues... I think some of them were perfectly expendable.

Again, as in other times, it is Arnold Schwarzenegger's performance that saves the film. As if he were a colossus, he is the one who carries it on his back. And in fact he is a great actor and is totally at ease in the role, which he already knows and immortalized. Nick Stahl is average and does reasonably in the role of Connor, but it did not convince me much. Better than him, Claire Danes is very good for the role she received and is the only actress who can keep up with Schwarzenegger in his work. Kristanna Loken is also quite good.

Technically, it is a very good film, but I still prefer “Terminator 2”, even though I know that the special effects used do not have the refinement of this film. I think the effects used in the film do their job well, but they can't be as surprising as those used in the older film. The action scenes, of course, are the strongest part of the film, and fill the measures with those who appreciate the genre, with immense destruction, explosions and twisted iron. Cinematography is very good, and makes good use of urban landscapes, the desert and scenes without light or in low light. Good editing and editing also help, and sets and costumes fulfill their role. The soundtrack makes good use of the leitmotiv of the franchise, but it does not stand out particularly.