Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

An robotic warrior from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to protect a 20-year old drifter and his future wife from an most advanced robotic assassin and to ensure they both survive a nuclear attack.

Director:

Jonathan Mostow

Writers:

James Cameron (characters), Gale Anne Hurd (characters),

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes

1 win & 17 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Arnold Schwarzenegger	...	Terminator
Nick Stahl	...	John Connor
Claire Danes	...	Kate Brewster
Kristanna Loken	...	T-X
David Andrews	...	Robert Brewster
Mark Famiglietti	...	Scott Petersen
Earl Boen	...	Dr. Peter Silberman
Moira Sinise	...	Betsy (as Moira Harris)
Chopper Bernet	...	Chief Engineer
Christopher Lawford	...	Brewster's Aide (as Chris Lawford)
Carolyn Hennesy	...	Rich Woman
Jay Acovone	...	Cop - Westside Street
M.C. Gainey	...	Roadhouse Bouncer
Susan Merson	...	Roadhouse Clubgoer #1
Elizabeth Morehead	...	Roadhouse Clubgoer #1

Storyline

More than 10 years after 'Terminator 2', John Connor now exists only as a drifter - living 'off the grid', so no more Terminators from the future can hunt him down. Unfortunately, SkyNet does send another one back - and this one is called the T-X, even more powerful & advanced than the dreaded T-1000. However, another CSM-101 Terminator is also sent back to protect John against the T-X. Now, Skynet is patiently assuming control of civilian computer systems, under the guise of a computer virus. John has also met his future wife, Kate Brewster, whose father - a U.S. Air Force General - is in charge of the military computer systems & is leery of up linking SkyNet. However, when the SkyNet virus infects the U.S military computers & leaves the country open to attack, the machines begin their horrific takeover. Soon a nuclear war will result - and the war against the machines will begin. Can the outdated CSM-101 Terminator eliminate the highly advanced T-X - or will a darker future await ...

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Plot Keywords:

future | skynet | machine | drifter | computer system | 

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Taglines:

The Machines Will Rise

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sci-fi violence and action, and for language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Columbia TriStar Film GmbH [de] Official site [ru]

Country:

USA Germany UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 July 2003 (USA)

Also Known As:

T3

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,107,698 (Italy) (19 September 2003)

Gross:

$150,350,192 (USA) (17 October 2003)

Company Credits

Production Co:

C-2 Pictures, Intermedia Films, IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. 3. Produktions KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

109 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS (8 channels)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Terminator 2: Judgment Day came under fire for being too sentimental when it came to Schwarzenegger being a good Terminator. Jonathan Mostow tried to avoid that by adding some ambiguities to Schwarzenegger's character, e.g. refusing John Connor's orders, being corrupted by the T-X at the climax, etc. Mostow did admit the sentiment was appropriate to the last movie, but not to this one.

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Goofs

When the Terminator crashes the truck into T-X and the Vet Clinic, the parked car to the left of the truck explodes, even though it isn't hit.

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Quotes

[first lines]
John Connor: [voiceover] The future has not been written. There is no fate but what we make for ourselves. I wish I could believe that. My name is John Connor, they tried to murder me before I was born, when I was 13 they tried again. Machines from the future. Terminators. All my life my mother told me the storm was coming, Judgment Day, the beginning of the war between man and machines. Three billion lives would vanish in an instant, and I would lead what was left of the human race to ultimate ...

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Crazy Credits

Jay Acovone is credited as Jay Acavone.

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Connections

References Vertigo (1958)

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Soundtracks

"The Current"
Written by Goldman, Stanton, Wink, Dyas, Gleitsman
Performed by Blue Man Group featuring Gavin Rossdale
Blue Man Group appears courtesy of Lava Records
Gavin Rossdale appears courtesy of Atlantic Records

User Reviews

Who cares!

Have just returned after a triple show of T1 + T2 + T3. An excellent way in which to spend a rainy day!

Before the films my three friends and I were looking very much forward to re-see T1 + T2 on a big screen. As for T3 we didn't expect too much.

While the copies of T1 + T2 were slightly dated, to say the least, both films were absolutely superb, also despite the fact that the effects in T1 were quite primitive compared to today. Nevertheless, T1 remained our favorite not the least because of its very stringent and no-nonsense non-moralistic narrative. T2 was also strong in this aspect, though there were slightly more plot holes and a little too much sentimentality, something which unfortunately plagues many American films. Nonetheless T2 is also great.

Then came T3 ... well, a film taste is very individual. Therefore you, dear reader, should not be deterred from going to see this film, despite the fact that my three friends and I all couldn't care less about it.

Why didn't we like it? Well, surprisingly we were all in agreement about the lack-of-Cameron-touch as one of the worst failings of the film. The new director does not have the ability to time scenes, events, statement and the narrative anywhere near the brilliant level of Cameron.

Therefore the new director tries to make up for this deficiency in making the car chases and the explosions bigger, the new enemy T-X more deadly, and destruction more extreme. But it all lacks energy, soul and credibility. The narrative is messy and coincidental, as if the director thinks "now it will be nice to have this scene from a previous Terminator film included and just beefed up" or "let's try this - it might be funny".

This unfortunately lets the actors down, leaving them with empty hulls and we couldn't care less if they die or live. This, incidentally, is comparable to the Matrix II and the new Star Wars films. The director believes that he has a good film if he/she can include some cool effects. Doesn't work, though!

Furthermore, the scenes lack anything that might even remotely draw the audience into the film. While you can feel the anguish of the humans and the one-mindedness of the robots in the earlier films, this piece of junk left my friends and I with the feeling of "who cares!"

The first and second Hellraiser movies were absolutely splendid. However, what followed should not ever be mentioned anywhere - especially number three sucked big time and should never bee seen by anybody. Terminator 3 is not so bad that it shouldn't be seen, though. However, it is highly advisable that you lower any expectations - and the lower them again. Then you might enjoy this film. Alternatively wait for the cheap version of the DVD.

Finally, if the studio really wants to make a T4, which is highly suggested in T3, then they better get Cameron back on the job. Otherwise they will have just another silly action flick, with no real innovation or originality on their hands, like a gazillion other action flicks from Hollywood - because this is what they have with T3. So unless they rediscover the respect they owe to the great old Terminator-films : Who cares!