Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
for strong sci-fi violence and action, and for language and brief nudity.
Reviewed by: Jay Levitz
CONTRIBUTOR
| Moral Rating: | Very Offensive |
| Moviemaking Quality: |
|
| Primary Audience: | Teens Adults |
| Genre: | Sci-Fi Action Adventure Thriller Sequel |
| Length: | 1 hr. 49 min. |
| Year of Release: | 2003 |
| USA Release: |
July 2, 2003 (wide) |
“The Terminator” series paints a rather bleak picture of the future of mankind. What’s the truth? Is there HOPE for humanity? Answer
Death in the Bible
VIOLENCE—How does viewing violence in movies affect families? Answer
CHANGE THE WORLD—A single man or woman can help change the world. Read about some who did with faith and God’s help…
Jesus Christ, Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, and David
| Featuring | Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl as John Connor, Kristanna Loken, Claire Danes, See all » |
| Director |
Jonathan Mostow |
| Producer | C-2 Pictures, Intermedia Films, IMF Internationale Medien und Film GmbH & Co. 3. Produktions KG, Mostow/Lieberman Productions, Andrew G. Vajna, Mario Kassar, Joel B. Michaels, Colin Wilson, Moritz Borman, Guy East, Nigel Sinclair |
| Distributor |
 Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company |
Rooting for robots
Terminator 3 is thus named, as it’s the third in a series of highly successful action films, the first produced in the ’80s, the second in the ’90s, and now comes the third in what looks to be an even longer saga. In each film, lone representatives from the future, one sent to murder, the other sent to save, wage war over the life of John Connor. In The Terminator, John was not yet born, in “T2: Judgment Day” he was an adolescent, and, in this installment, he’s a young adult getting ready to fulfill his Savior-like destiny.
All three films have had high production values, mixing amazing stunts and explosions with a story of desperate survival against seemingly invinsible machine-enemies (the Terminator robots from the future). All three are rated R for extreme violence, continuous profanity, and some nudity (non-sexual in the case of “T3”).
What is new in “T3” is its director, Jonathan Mostow (U571, Beverly Hills Bodysnatchers), replacing the series creator James Cameron (Titanic, Pirhana 2). Plus, this time Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Good Terminator is pitted against a Female-Disguised(!) Terminator killer. Maybe the filmmakers were expecting laughter when Arnie smashes a urinal over his female enemy’s head? Or when he plunges her head into a toilet? Or… you get the idea.
If you feel entertained watching teenagers being shot to death point-blank in their homes and fast food restaurants; if you get your kicks watching countless cars and their drivers colliding, flipping, and exploding; if you’ve ever dreamed of slaughtering a roomful of office workers with a machine gun, then maybe “T3” is your film of choice. To learn more about the effects of violence on viewers, click here.
If honest and thoughtful character counts in the heroes you’re asked to root for; if you enjoy a good story that is not simply “Hero Runs From, Fights, and Runs More From Evil Woman Robot” for nearly two straight hours; if you have a brain in your head, then sprint away, don’t walk, from any date, group, or impulse that tries to guide you into seeing “T3”. This film is not “just action.” It’s pointless mayhem dressed up as an apocalyptic warning and, as such, a waste of your time, money, and Hollywood’s imagination.
Please don’t send a message with your ticket-purchase that you’re craving more of the same drivel.
“T3” pictures human beings as victims of their own computers—unable to harness their technology from becoming “self-aware” and, therefore, at war with men. To learn more about the moment when humans themselves became “self-aware” and began their own war against a different kind of adversary, click here.
And if you’re still itching for some action, go rent “The Right Stuff”, a great American epic about the beginning of our space program, when men pushed machines to their limits and inspired a generation. (Although, beware that this PG-rated film has some objectionable profanity and minor sexual references.)
See list of Relevant Issues—questions-and-answers.
If you liked the Terminator films then this is a must see. But I must warn those who are true fanboys of the first 2 Terminator films, this outing is different in tone because it is directed by a different director who has taken the series into a different direction. So don’t try to compare it to the previous Terminator’s but judge it on its own merits and what it brings to the franchise.
[Very Offensive / 5]
[Average / 4]
[Average / 4]
[Average / 4]
[Average / 2]
[Average / 5]
It was also hard to have any feeling for the people who were killed(like reading of a bus crash in India that kill 50 people)it just seemed so mindless that you didn’t care one way or another, you never felt any sympathy like in the other films(respect for cops,etc) It was hard to develop any feelings for any of the characters, a real lack of character development from the beginning to the end of the movie. The action scenes were so-so compared to the(the MAC truck chase scene)the other movies. As a christian there was little if any hope offered for the human race. There was little sympathy to be felt, little compassion, no mercy offered.
I would not recommend this movie as it has not much to offer new or innovative as an action movie and from a christian viewpoint little if anything good can be derived or any deep thinking about God and his Kingdom be brought forth.
[Very Offensive / 2]
It’s rated R, they didn’t have to keep it that clean. I’m very glad they did. I would be happy if this was the last one… not because of any poor quality in the movie making, but because it came to such a good conclusion. The plot was good, the storyline twists were great. No, this isn’t a movie to take little kids to see. No, it doesn’t always have the greatest morals. But it is (in itself) an honest movie. Honest that people are people, who have emotions, and who make mistakes. And, it is honest about the fact that there is evil out there, and denying evil’s right to be in any movie (or books) is not appropriate. The movie doesn’t glorify war and violence, as some might say… the whole storyline of the three Terminator movies is, in fact, people working towards ending the violence. And that’s a pretty good thing to work towards.
[Average / 4]
[Average / 4]
The reason the main bad guy (err… girl) was a girl, was that there hadn’t been a bad girl in a Terminator movie before. I have read interviews where the director said the same thing. Not because the audience would laugh at her getting beat up by Arnold, or her beating up Arnold.
Yes, the movie had a lot of action, but it didn’t seem excessive, like the Matrix: Reloaded. True, it was a “Hero Runs From, Fights, and Runs More From Evil Woman Robot”-type plot, but hasn’t that been what all the other Terminators have been like? Shake your head yes. The movie was very entertaining, and I do recommend it to people (not young people).
[Very Offensive / 5]
There is some strong profanity, but it is not excessive like Training Day. The ending is unforgettable, shocking, and original, it breaks the “good guys win and everyone lives happily ever after” trend in other blockbusters. This is not a movie to take the kids though(some irresponsible parents the theater I went to, brought their kids). But think about this, the people who say senseless violence in fiction is morally wrong is somehow justifying a real senseless war with violence in real life. Christ is looking down on liberal Hollywood AND a conservative administration.
My Ratings: [Very Offensive / 5]