Terminator 3
<div class="IPBDescription">Review</div> I'm trying to walk a fine line between summary and review, so bare with me.
QUICK SUMMARY: The Robots send a new Terminator, The TX, back to kill John Conner and his cheif advisors as yound adults. Ahnold is sent back by the humans to protect them. Hilarity ensues.
Terminator 3 starts off as a mixed bag. You see a nicely animated sequence detailing the end of the world, and then the vast human and machine armies. Then comes the introduction of John Connor (Who he is, why he matters, etc). It catches the unitiated up on Terminator lore. Then we meet TX. She goes and kills some people, and then Ahnold is introduced.
The first half of the movie is somewhat lacking. Its mostly action sequences. We're introduced to the female lead though a roundabout set of circumstances. Long story short, TX wants to killer her. If this were the first movie in the serious, instead of the third, the action sequences would be incredible, only because you'd be left wondering "What are those things? Whats going on?" amazed at the brutality the robots do to each other. As the third, however, the wonder is gone and it quickly degenerates into car chase after car chase. Typical action. As a side note, it was the unique Kung-Fu and Sci-Fi aspects of Matrix that its action sequences revolutionary. Terminator 3 suffers form same old, same old, though computers have very nicely enhanced the battles.
Back on track. Things really pick up plot wise about half way through the movie. You're given a great deal of information about the coming war and judgement day, and John Connor's future. The plot takes a somewhat expected turn, as Connor and his new friend plan to take down SkyNet, the Evil Computer System that eventually destroys the world. After some nicely done action sequences, involving the activation of SkyNet, the plot takes a nice turn. I don't want to spoil it, but it puts into question the robotness of T1000.
I don't want to spoil the ending, but it has some really, really nice action sequences and moments that just eminate coolness.
The ending is perhaps one of the best I've ever seen. Its totally unexpected. Its nice to see a movie that doesn't follow the normal ending path. :-)
Arnold is really good. He proves that, even at 55, he's still incredibly tough and talented. His character is 1 dimensional, but thats the point. He'll crack jokes without realizing it, many that the audience gets as a result of the 1st 2 movies. It ruins the seriousness of the film slightly, but it provides much needed relief from the action. There are still a good number of honest funny moments, such as the shopping incident.
TX on the other hand, has no personality at ALL. She says a few lines the entire movie. Its obvious that she was just eye candy. It would have been nice had the character shown some of the intense hatred for humanity that the AI obviously has. Arnold was a robot as well, but he managed to create a character for it. She's hot, she has some incredible action moves... but other than that, not much.
Overall, I highly recommend that people see this movie. Its a guy movie, by far. The whole story takes place in the course of a day, so plot is clearly subservient to action. The first half of the movie is pretty dull, standard action movie stuff. The second half gets much, much better and the ending will blow you away.
The ending?
Lets just say T4 is going to have some incredible CGI :-)
QUICK SUMMARY: The Robots send a new Terminator, The TX, back to kill John Conner and his cheif advisors as yound adults. Ahnold is sent back by the humans to protect them. Hilarity ensues.
Terminator 3 starts off as a mixed bag. You see a nicely animated sequence detailing the end of the world, and then the vast human and machine armies. Then comes the introduction of John Connor (Who he is, why he matters, etc). It catches the unitiated up on Terminator lore. Then we meet TX. She goes and kills some people, and then Ahnold is introduced.
The first half of the movie is somewhat lacking. Its mostly action sequences. We're introduced to the female lead though a roundabout set of circumstances. Long story short, TX wants to killer her. If this were the first movie in the serious, instead of the third, the action sequences would be incredible, only because you'd be left wondering "What are those things? Whats going on?" amazed at the brutality the robots do to each other. As the third, however, the wonder is gone and it quickly degenerates into car chase after car chase. Typical action. As a side note, it was the unique Kung-Fu and Sci-Fi aspects of Matrix that its action sequences revolutionary. Terminator 3 suffers form same old, same old, though computers have very nicely enhanced the battles.
Back on track. Things really pick up plot wise about half way through the movie. You're given a great deal of information about the coming war and judgement day, and John Connor's future. The plot takes a somewhat expected turn, as Connor and his new friend plan to take down SkyNet, the Evil Computer System that eventually destroys the world. After some nicely done action sequences, involving the activation of SkyNet, the plot takes a nice turn. I don't want to spoil it, but it puts into question the robotness of T1000.
I don't want to spoil the ending, but it has some really, really nice action sequences and moments that just eminate coolness.
The ending is perhaps one of the best I've ever seen. Its totally unexpected. Its nice to see a movie that doesn't follow the normal ending path. :-)
Arnold is really good. He proves that, even at 55, he's still incredibly tough and talented. His character is 1 dimensional, but thats the point. He'll crack jokes without realizing it, many that the audience gets as a result of the 1st 2 movies. It ruins the seriousness of the film slightly, but it provides much needed relief from the action. There are still a good number of honest funny moments, such as the shopping incident.
TX on the other hand, has no personality at ALL. She says a few lines the entire movie. Its obvious that she was just eye candy. It would have been nice had the character shown some of the intense hatred for humanity that the AI obviously has. Arnold was a robot as well, but he managed to create a character for it. She's hot, she has some incredible action moves... but other than that, not much.
Overall, I highly recommend that people see this movie. Its a guy movie, by far. The whole story takes place in the course of a day, so plot is clearly subservient to action. The first half of the movie is pretty dull, standard action movie stuff. The second half gets much, much better and the ending will blow you away.
The ending?
Lets just say T4 is going to have some incredible CGI :-)
Comments
Then that whole thing where she increases her breast size (no, im not making this up) just added to the feeling I was watching Legally Blonde: Rise of the Machines.
Was ok, tied up all the loose ends nicely, special fx were blended in well. I just can't get used to her being a killer machine.
The movie was also...I dunno...brighter then the others. It didn't have that dirty, dark, grungy feel that the last 2 did. It felt very prestine and plastic.
Weeeeee
*goes off to watch T3*
And yes, Arnold might seriously run for governor, and he might seriously win, he is in all honestly not just a stupid actor.
Weeeeee
*goes off to watch T3* <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
***Follows***
Weeeeee
*goes off to watch T3* <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
***Follows*** <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
***Follows some more***
What rating is it? UK wise..
12A? 15?
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ok, I just choked. Funniest post for today for Tensix.
12A? 15? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
in the U.K i think it's 15
*checks cinema*
Not to mention in the director's cut of T2 there is even more focus on the fact that they destroyed ALL of the technology.
I'm pretty sure T3-T4 are prequels to T2 correct me if I'm wrong.
Anyhow it's not directed by Cameron Crow so don't go in expecting T2 with better graphics. But I'm still going to see it and probably enjoy it.
**SPOILER**
<span style='color:purple'>Im not sure about it, but somewhere in the movie John mentions how if the Terminator hadn't come back through time 10 years ago (T2) that doomsday would have happened then. All they did was delay Skynet, no matter what they do Skynet is still going to become sentient and try to wipe out humanity.</span>
**SPOILER**
**SPOILERS**
<span style='color:purple'>
It turns out the chip and all the technology being developed in T2 wasn't the cause of Judgement Day, it was all due to SkyNet. SkyNet wasn't destroyed in T2 (probably because it didnt exist at that time, it wasnt that guy's technology in T2 that led to the rise of the machines at all). Also, the Arnold that appears in this movie is a different terminator from T2, they are made in assembly lines apparently.
</span>
First of all, if you'll remember, the ultimate downfall of T1000 was his liquid skin.
He could be bashed, blown to pieces, and he's vulnerable while he is trying to heal himself together.
As for the whole "destroyed the chip" thing:
Technology has to come from somewhere. I always wondered how this would "stop" skynet, as it had to start from scratch at one time or another, you just can't have a future body with no past except that of sending itself to the past to be made. Can't happen.
I always figured that judgement day would always arrive (and wondered about the basis of the 2nd movie) and would <b>really</b> like to see a future set movie in which they finally win over the machines... or maybe it could be a T5/Matrix-Prequil crossover <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Lets just say T4 is going to have some incredible CGI :-) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Oh... my... god...!
They're going to ruin it.... please, for the love of god, PLEASE DON'T RUIN IT!
Watch Terminator 2 and you will notice how dark and grungy it is, by the end of the film all the characters were bleeding and had their clothes ripped and dirty, in T3 they looked like they just stepped out of the shower. And most of it was set either at night or out in the desert.
If they do make T4 hopefully it will show the final destruction of Skynet, since the plot for it is all set up. Although im not sure how Arnold will have a role in it. As long as they make it darker a'la T1/T2/Alien rather then sterile and plastic a'la Marvel Comic Movies (not that thats bad, it just dosent fit the Terminator theme).
Also, as mentioned, I doubt they were the same terminator. The terminator in the first movie was not the same as the one in the second though they're both played by mr. arnold. So logically the 3rd one isn't the one destroyed in the 2nd movie. Or something.
*SPOILER!*
The reason Skynet couldn't be destroyed in T2 is because it was developed by the Department of Defense as a software program, not a hardware device or a mainframe. Not sure if everyone picked up on this. I went and saw T3 on Tuesday night, the sneak preview, so I went and saw it again and finally picked up on it. I can be a bit slow some times <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Out of the 3, it was my fav. I really hope they do a movie, or even movies, on the Future War with the SkyNet machines. By the time they get around to making them, it could be Arnold's last chance to play the T800 we all love so much.
I thought the first scene with Arnold and his sunglasses was pretty funny. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Much to my suprise, this movie is terrific, very true to the originals, and is just a fun movie to watch. The twist at the end, yes its a kicker.
Unlike others in the thread, I won't spoil things (so this post is safe to read if you haven't seen it yet), but they've done a good job of filling in people on who is who (amist introducting completely new characters you don't know who are) for those that missed the first two films, explaining what happened to john & sarah after the second film ended, and introducing the cold machine heart of arnold's character (ah now now why you cri, bu it dis someding dat i can neva do) as well as expanding it a bit as to why he is who he is.
There's a great chase scene that blows away the sewer motorcycle chase from T2, which I felt was one of the greatest chases in history. The fighting between the two terminators is also quite intense, and the smashing through walls and stuff is quite nice too see. Best part is none of it is CGI, at least not that I can tell in any way.
In my opinion there's only three flaws to the entire film:
1) The T-1000 had personality even in his cold hearted effeciency. The new TX attempts this ("that's a nice car") but ultimately, is all business and no style. Maybe I'm just still upset my beloved Famke didn't make the role. ;)
2) The HK (land based and the flying ones) looked great in T1 and T2, but in T3 they completely changed the look of them, going for that sleeker, smoother look. Bah I say, I want bulky and damned noisy. Really this is the worst part in my opinion.
3) The fuel cell part didn't make sense. I won't spoil it for anybody else, but its the only real plot hole w/ the previous 2 movies, but even that's just a small technicality.
Overall, T3 really rocks. I'll probably go see it a second time in few weeks. And when T4 comes out on DVD, I know I'll be buying a box set. :P
Oh. yah, these could probably be considered **spoilers**
1. Hi! I can shoot explosive bursts of plasma out of my hand. My primary objective is to kill John Connor. I can't put two and two together, especially when he's in a car directly in front of me, and you know how cars always explode in movies.
2. Hi! I've transformed into my secondary target's fiancee. Rather than get close, and perhaps kill her while she hugs me, I'll transform into my normal self about 20 meters away from her, giving her a chance to run away.
3. Hi! I can kill people by impaling them with my arms. I'm able to grab my targets a number of times. Hmmm... I think I'll just throw them.
4. Hi! I just got my ankle crushed by a TX. But I can still limp and put any kind of pressure on it without feeling incredible amounts of pain.
5. Hi! I have the ability to control other machines. This includes the ability to control motor vehicles. So, rather than try and take control of the motor vehicle that my primary target is driving, I'll take control of 5 other vehicles and try and use them to ram my target off the road.
And it goes on.
I didn't *hate* it. There are very few movies I actually hate. But I won't be seeing this again any time soon.
[/jaded]