Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
© James C. Hess
In a conversation I once had with an acclaimed and award-winning screenwriter I came upon a certain truth that every writer, regardless of his chosen medium or genre, must face: This screenwriter confided (which is why he remains unnamed here) to me that regardless of the situation he might find himself in he would never, ever, for love or money, write a sequel. The reason for this decision, he explained, owed not to artistic pretensions or prejudice. It was, he said. A matter of self-preservation and self-respect. (As a writer myself I can and do greatly appreciate the latter much, given how little respect the writer and writing nowadays merit.)
Write a sequel, this screenwriter continued. And it is very likely you will all but admit you lack creativity, originality, and, perhaps, talent.
I thought about that conversation, those specific remarks recently while exposing myself to "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", the much-anticipated poster child for this summer season of sequels, and realized not only was this a certain ugly, horrible, terrible truth but in that otherwise innocent exchange there had been an undeniable prophetic element: With this cycle of films and movies the Hollywood Machine has all but admitted the truth, the reality it now occupies: It has no creativity, originality, or talent available for exploitation.
How else to explain the obsession with sequels? And why, specifically, make another sequel to "The Terminator", a movie, at best, that was anything but creative, and original? (For comparative creativity and originality make an effort to find and read the source material for "The Terminator". You will shocked and delighted, once the shock of the truth regarding "The Terminator" becomes apparent.)
There is, of course, justification provided for this second sequel, and it is as disturbing as the movie itself. But if one were to end-run and go straight to the truth for the producing of this flick it is this: Why not? Moviegoers know the story of this mechanical man and want it again and again.
Of course, doing so, they only act to deny themselves the opportunity for creative and original films and movies, resulting in diminishing returns.
But set aside most of these valid concerns and complaints for a moment and allow a discourse on "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines": Like its predecessors it showcases the Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger). Like the first two flicks in the series (there are reports more sequels are forthcoming) this one has to do with future tenses and what must be done in the present tense to assure or avoid events and actions that might wipe out the present and past, and, perhaps, the future.
