Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines **** (2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes) – Classic Movie Review 1445

Director Jonathan Mostow’s 2003 sci-fi action thriller blockbuster is fast, furious and funny. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s back for a third time with a loaded arsenal of weapons and a full deck of witty one-liners. T3 sees him as a new Terminator, sent back in time to protect young John Connor (Nick Stahl), the future saviour of the human race, and Kate Brewster (Claire Danes) the girl destined to become his wife.

Arnie’s fighting fit, the kids are game for it and Kristanna Loken is an eyeful as the scary new killer Terminatrix, T-X, out to destroy the trio. The film’s a lean, mean machine, pared down to a breathless 109 thrilling minutes, making every second of its awesome, non-stop action count. It all goes out with a bang, and, for sure, with this sequel-promising ending, Arnie will be back for T4.

It was Schwarzenegger’s final starring role before becoming Governor of California until his 2013 comeback The Last Stand. Arnie said at the London premiere on July 21 2003: ‘I would never rule out there being another Terminator movie. I am evolving all the time, so I never say never.’ In the event, Terminator Salvation followed without Arnie in 2009. But Arnold Schwarzenegger is planning a comeback with Terminator: Genesis in 2015.

The film’s final cost was $187.3 million and it earned a worldwide gross of $433million, quite a bit less than its predecessor. Schwarzenegger received a salary of $29.25 million, plus 20 per cent of the profits.

James Cameron stated he felt his first two films The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day were better than T3 or Terminator Salvation. Schwarzenegger tried to persuade Cameron to produce the third film but Cameron declined as he felt that he had already finished telling the story upon the conclusion of T2. But believing the Terminator character was as much Schwarzenegger’s as it was his own, he advised Schwarzenegger to do the third film.

Edward Furlong, who played John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day, reportedly was not asked to reprise his role in T3 because of an alleged substance abuse problem. He said in 2004: ‘It just wasn’t the time. I was going through my own thing at that point in my life. Whatever, it just wasn’t meant to be.’

Nick Stahl, who won the role, said: ‘I went in for the first audition, which led to five or more auditions and two or three screen tests. It was pretty intense – each time it was one or two hours, really hatching it out.’

On July 1 2015, Arnie will be back in Terminator: Genisys.

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© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1445

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