Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Unlike the first two movies in the series this one seems to make an effort to throw away everything that made them work in favor of big effects, non-stop chaos and mayhem, and pointless destruction, whose function seems to be setting the stage for the next sequel.
This time around Nick Stahl plays John Connor, he who be savior of mankind, and from the start his presence on screen goes to prove a point already offered: There is NO point to this movie. Edward Furlong, who previously played John, did so with an edge that reflected the reality he lived in. Stahl comes across as a boy toy who must be a hero instead of a victim of fate as directed by shadowy types in control.
Further, unlike Furlong, who stood as a man alone against destiny, Stahl almost immediately finds himself a kindred spirit in a woman named Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), and, gosh, wouldn't you just know it? Both of them are on hit lists belonging to killers from the future.
But I digress. The killer that pursues them is the latest and greatest in Terminator models, named T-X, also known as 'the Terminatrix', played by Kristanna Loken. Unlike the previous advanced Terminator, as played by Robert Patrick, this Terminator comes across as a reject from a low-budget horror flick featuring homicidal blondes.
Of course John and his love interest must be protected, and Ah-nuld arrives from the future almost before you can mouth 'hasta la vista, baby'.
As previously mentioned, and it bears mentioning again, there is no point to this sequel. Which may go to explain the action set pieces that make up much of the action and destruction.
Now. A word about John's love interest, and why it is the machines want her dead: Her father is a paper pusher who actually plays an instrumental role in the forthcoming nuclear holocaust. (A disaster, incidentially, that will give rise to the machines. Now. If the machines want to conquer they need the ruin of humanity. To assure this wouldn't it follow they would want the girl alive? Not dead, as prescribed?)
Claire Danes does an acceptable number as Kate, but I kept wondering if she was really needed in this story. The only explanation I could come up with was that she will be carrying John's child in a sequel, and that most certainly will lead to more
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