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In 1984, James Cameron revolutionized the sci-fi world while terrorizing audiences by introducing us to the Terminator, or T-101, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. A machine sent from the future, built essentially to find and kill. 7 years later, he hit it again, this time with a spin: Arnold's Terminator was now the "good guy", reprogrammed and sent from the future to protect John Connor, the future leader of the Resistance.
A lot can be said about that decision, and how that changes the tone of the film (and the franchise!) or how it's just an excuse to keep putting Arnold in this role forever and ever... regardless of how silly it might be, from stealth purposes, to send an identical Terminator back in time
but the truth is that Cameron nailed it both times. Both his films became massive hits and icons of the sci-fi and action genre. So with Judgment Day prevented, where would the inevitable sequel go when the time comes? That's the question that this film tries to answer.
Set approximately 10 years after T2, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines follows John (Nick Stahl) as he lives off the grid now, unable to adapt to a normal life. When a new Terminator is sent back to target his "future" lieutenants, another obsolete T-101 is taken off the assembly line and sent again to protect John. Meanwhile, they realize that the Skynet project has been taken over by the military. But can they do something to stop it and save humanity again?
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to Terminator 3 was... lukewarm, to put it mildly. Coming on the heels of an iconic sequel like T2, it was expected. But still, I've found myself loving it ever since I saw it in theaters. That is no secret for most people that know me. I've fought for the film ever since, which is why when the opportunity came to "defend" the film on a friend's podcast, I jumped at the opportunity.
I will start by saying the main thing I have issues with on this film and that is the tone. It juggles a more comedic tone than the previous two, while also handling some really dark stuff. Not sure if the attempt was to counterbalance one with the other, but it does feel a bit jarring at first. However, after adjusting my bearings to it, it doesn't bother me as much as it did at first.
Some of the things it does well for me is reminding us that, after all, the Terminator is just a[nother] machine taken off the assembly line, and not the "lovable" father figure we met in T2. And still, we can see how despite that, it can still overcome its programming to complete its mission of protecting John. Something that we can also see in how Sarah, despite succumbing to leukemia, managed to live 3 more years than what the doctors gave her in order to "complete" her mission, and know that they had succeeded.
To me, it succeeds in showing us a flawed and reluctant hero in John Connor, a young man that was essentially "groomed" since he was a child to be this leader of the future. But when that is supposedly gone, he finds himself aimless and without purpose. A man that is burdened and haunted by a future that hasn't happened or might not even happen. I think Stahl did a great job of showing that. Even if the script doesn't fully dive into his psyche, you can see that insecurity, paranoia, and reluctance is there.
The other thing I like about this film is how it pulls the story back into bleakness by telling us that Judgment Day was just postponed. Even Arnie said it back in T2: It's in our nature to destroy ourselves. Pair that bleakness with some kick-ass action setpieces, the crane chase, the scene at the cemetery, the bathroom fight, and that ending... I think the ending succeeds in being both bleak, obviously for what it's happening, but at the same time hopeful that somehow, despite what is happening now, we already know humanity will prevail in the end.
Grade:
TERMINATOR 3
RISE OF THE MACHINES
(2003, Mostow)
Freebie
RISE OF THE MACHINES
(2003, Mostow)
Freebie
John Connor: "What, do you guys come off an assembly line or something?"
Terminator: "Exactly."
Terminator: "Exactly."
In 1984, James Cameron revolutionized the sci-fi world while terrorizing audiences by introducing us to the Terminator, or T-101, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. A machine sent from the future, built essentially to find and kill. 7 years later, he hit it again, this time with a spin: Arnold's Terminator was now the "good guy", reprogrammed and sent from the future to protect John Connor, the future leader of the Resistance.
A lot can be said about that decision, and how that changes the tone of the film (and the franchise!) or how it's just an excuse to keep putting Arnold in this role forever and ever... regardless of how silly it might be, from stealth purposes, to send an identical Terminator back in time
but the truth is that Cameron nailed it both times. Both his films became massive hits and icons of the sci-fi and action genre. So with Judgment Day prevented, where would the inevitable sequel go when the time comes? That's the question that this film tries to answer.Set approximately 10 years after T2, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines follows John (Nick Stahl) as he lives off the grid now, unable to adapt to a normal life. When a new Terminator is sent back to target his "future" lieutenants, another obsolete T-101 is taken off the assembly line and sent again to protect John. Meanwhile, they realize that the Skynet project has been taken over by the military. But can they do something to stop it and save humanity again?
Unsurprisingly, the reaction to Terminator 3 was... lukewarm, to put it mildly. Coming on the heels of an iconic sequel like T2, it was expected. But still, I've found myself loving it ever since I saw it in theaters. That is no secret for most people that know me. I've fought for the film ever since, which is why when the opportunity came to "defend" the film on a friend's podcast, I jumped at the opportunity.
I will start by saying the main thing I have issues with on this film and that is the tone. It juggles a more comedic tone than the previous two, while also handling some really dark stuff. Not sure if the attempt was to counterbalance one with the other, but it does feel a bit jarring at first. However, after adjusting my bearings to it, it doesn't bother me as much as it did at first.
Some of the things it does well for me is reminding us that, after all, the Terminator is just a[nother] machine taken off the assembly line, and not the "lovable" father figure we met in T2. And still, we can see how despite that, it can still overcome its programming to complete its mission of protecting John. Something that we can also see in how Sarah, despite succumbing to leukemia, managed to live 3 more years than what the doctors gave her in order to "complete" her mission, and know that they had succeeded.
To me, it succeeds in showing us a flawed and reluctant hero in John Connor, a young man that was essentially "groomed" since he was a child to be this leader of the future. But when that is supposedly gone, he finds himself aimless and without purpose. A man that is burdened and haunted by a future that hasn't happened or might not even happen. I think Stahl did a great job of showing that. Even if the script doesn't fully dive into his psyche, you can see that insecurity, paranoia, and reluctance is there.
The other thing I like about this film is how it pulls the story back into bleakness by telling us that Judgment Day was just postponed. Even Arnie said it back in T2: It's in our nature to destroy ourselves. Pair that bleakness with some kick-ass action setpieces, the crane chase, the scene at the cemetery, the bathroom fight, and that ending... I think the ending succeeds in being both bleak, obviously for what it's happening, but at the same time hopeful that somehow, despite what is happening now, we already know humanity will prevail in the end.
Grade: