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July 2, 2003
By Veronica Mixon
In Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines, Arnold
Schwarzenegger returns as a modified
version of a futuristic killer robot
whose mission in the protect John Connor,
the man who will ultimately succeed
in defeating the machines. Although
the story lacks the intriguing twists
of time travel, the series has been
refreshed with the casting of Nick Stahl
as an adult John Connor. He surfaces
in Los Angeles after spending years
drifting around the country, working
and living under the radar and not possessing
credit cards, home address, telephone
or anything that can be traced. John
believes that he and his mother (Linda
Hamilton) averted the nuclear war between
the man and machines however, he remains
vigilant in case something he does targets
him again.
Of course the machines are still working
in the future to win the war. Skynet,
the machines intelligence, sends T-X
(Kristanna Loken), the most sophisticated
cyborg-killing machine back in time
and she starts to hunt John Connor's
lieutenants while they are still innocent
and ignorant of the future. Meanwhile
John Connor crosses paths with Kate
Brewster (Claire Danes The Hours
and TV's My So-Called Life)
who mistakes him for a junky after he
breaks into her veterinarian office.
Slowly she recognizes him from junior
high school years ago. Then, T-X shows
up to execute Kate and detects John
Connor's presence. As the hunt intensifies,
the Terminator (Schwarzenegger) reappears
too.
In the original Terminator
film, Schwarzenegger became a superstar.
Audiences delighted in his stony awkward
speaking robot that fooled humans with
his fleshy exterior and his seemingly
invincible murderous determination.
Even though he was a villain, the Terminator
was a metaphor about defying authority
and winning against all odds. Of course,
once he was a star, Schwarzenegger's
role changed to hero but it's still
fun watching him.
This series always had 'heart' and
that set it above the usual action adventure
movies. The central themes of woman/man
fighting for human survival and a passionate
love story were a nice mix in the original
film. Nick Stahl (In the Bedroom
and Man Without A Face)
and Claire Danes - who is all grown
up and still a striking beauty - enliven
this installment with their love story.
The actors' eyes gently embrace each
other tenderly and you're convinced
of their attraction, which first surfaced
when they were kids. While Newcomer
Kristanna Loken is a special effects
marvel - she licks a bloody bandage
and discovers John Connors' DNA! - I
wished the filmmakers had introduced
more menace in her character especially
when she encountered unsuspecting civilians.
Nevertheless, the chase scenes and battles
are exciting. When Schwarzenegger and
Loken square off on the open road in
fire trucks and big machines that chew
up everything in their path, the action
is outstanding!
Terminator 3: Rise of the
Machines is an exhilarating
thrill ride!
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