Film Review: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

The third instalment of a film series often faces the challenge of maintaining the quality and impact of its predecessors. This trend is evident in iconic science fiction franchises like Star Wars and Back to the Future, where the third films failed to capture the magic of the earlier movies. In the case of the Terminator series, which began in 1984, the curse of the third film not being the charm struck with Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Despite high anticipation and initial commercial success, this sequel is widely regarded as a significant disappointment by loyal fans of the franchise.

The plot is set roughly ten years after the events depicted in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. The protagonist, played by Nick Stahl, is John Connor, young man who was supposed to become leader of human resistance in war against sentient machines in post-apocalyptic world. That world never came to be, because the Judgment Day – nuclear war caused by Skynet, artificial intelligence in charge of US defence sisytem, was prevented by Connor’s mother. Young Connor, whose life appears to lose much of purpose, is still troubled by possibility that Skynet and war might come, and his fears are justified. Machines from the future send T-X (played by Kristanna Loken), female-looking robot (“Terminator”) to kill either him or top future members of human resistance. Connor is being protected by T-850 (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger), another Terminator, this time being sent by his future wife Kate Brewster (played by Claire Danes) who in present-day California works as veterinarian.

In retrospect, The Rise of Machines perfectly illustrates phrase “sequel nobody needed”. James Cameron, author of the first two Terminator films, initially felt that the story had reached its pinnacle with Terminator 2: Judgment Day and chose not to be involved in the sequel. In contrast, Arnold Schwarzenegger's return was primarily motivated by financial considerations and the opportunity to revisit his iconic role. The decision to release the film in the summer of 2003 also, quite conveniently, coincided with preparations for Schwarzenegger's successful gubernatorial campaign in California.

John Brancato and Michael Ferris, the screenwriting duo behind Rise of the Machines, struggled to fill the void left by James Cameron's absence. Their script attempted to alter the established universe of the franchise, running contrary to the conclusion of Judgement Day which had allowed possibility of future being changed. Their script reverted to a grim and deterministic view of the future, closer to the first film. Director Jonathan Mostow failed to bring the same level of innovation and creativity as Cameron, resulting in a film that felt derivative and uninspired, especially in its repetitive sequences reminiscent of earlier instalments.

While Schwarzenegger delivered a solid performance in his iconic role, the rest of the cast faced challenges due to the lacklustre material they were given. Nick Stahl, who had replaced Edward Furlong in role of John Connor over his drug addiction problems, lacked the charisma and depth needed to carry the film, while Claire Danes struggled to establish chemistry with Stahl's character. The introduction of Kristanna Loken as the female Terminator added a visually striking element but failed to resonate due to a combination of weak writing and direction. Loken, a former model, despite valiant acting efforts, failed to repeat the feat of Schwarzenegger and Robert Patrick and turn portrayal of human-like killer robot into stepping stone for acting career.

Despite its R rating, Rise of the Machines opted for a more family-friendly approach during the summer blockbuster season, toning down the violence and edgier content (like nudity) compared to its predecessors. The film achieved box office success largely due to Schwarzenegger's star power and the enduring fandom of the franchise. However, critical reviews were notably harsher than previous entries, leading to a sharp decline in enthusiasm for the film and subsequent instalments. The lukewarm reception paved the way for new explorations of the Terminator universe that, to various degrees, ignored the continuity of Rise of the Machine, such as the well-received TV series Sarah Connor Chronicles in 2008 and the 2009 "soft reboot" with Terminator Salvation.

RATING: 3/10 (+)

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