Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

A machine from a post-apocalyptic future travels back in time to protect a man and a woman from an advanced robotic assassin to ensure they both survive a nuclear attack.

Director:

Jonathan Mostow

Writers:

John Brancato (story by), Michael Ferris (story by)

Stars:

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken

3 wins & 24 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 Can the outdated CSM-101 Terminator eliminate the highly advanced T-X - or will a darker future await ...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:

skynet | humanoid cyborg | exploding truck | time travel | nuclear launch | 

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Taglines:

Experience the 3rd time in IMAX!

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Genres:

Action | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

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

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tedi Sarafian wrote a script for the movie, but since his ideas would have resulted in the movie costing more than $200 million (a scene featured a Boeing crashing in downtown LA and exploding half of the city) his script was refused. Some of his ideas were used, though (the evil Terminator is a woman, Sarah Connor doesn't appear), so he earned a "story" credit.

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Goofs

(at around 1h 6 mins) When Kate and the Terminator are talking in the RV, when the camera is closer to the Terminator, the armrest for his right arm is down. When the camera is closer to Kate, the armrest for the Terminator's right arm is up. This change happens repeatedly.

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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

During the initial opening credits, a wind can be heard blowing in the background.

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Connections

Referenced in The Eric Andre Show: Russell Brand (2012)

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Soundtracks

Can't Hide This
Written by Dawn Fintor, Jeff Richards, Scott Sadlon & Buck Sanders
Performed by Mega Jeff
Produced by Mega Jeff & John Wells

User Reviews

Unwanted parody of two of cinemas finest action films

No matter what people say Terminator 3 was a turkey.The tone was wrong and bad decisions were made in the casting and character phase of the film.Sarah Conner is feebly written out of this story and the film suffers badly for missing her presence.There is also too much self referential parody,there are times when Arnie is made to look silly through the use of badly timed and misjudged comedy moments.I partly blame Jonathan Mostow,he held the reigns on this one and would have had a big say in how it all played out.I couldn't believe they went as far to copy the scene in T2 when Arnie gets his leathers in the bar only this time he gets them from a gay bar and ends up wearing 70's style plastic Elton John style glitz glasses instead of his iconic shades.This was embarrassing.Ed Furlong is replaced by the inferior Nick Stahl and Clare Danes is just filler. The Terminatrix doesn't really come off although Kristianna Loken tries her best.In all this is a hugely disappointing experience for people that have followed Terminator films so far.It has some great standalone action sequences but as a whole is a lazy retread that indulges parody and comedy far too much divorcing itself from the serious tone set by the previous two films.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

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 USA:

$44,041,440, 6 July 2003

Gross USA:

$150,371,112

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$433,371,112

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:

2.39 : 1