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Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (Full Screen Edition)

Terminator 3 - Rise of the Machines (Full Screen Edition)

List Price: $19.96
Your Price: $17.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good movie, but DVD extras disappoint
Review: Few directors are qualified to take up the reins of Cameron's classic Terminator film mythology. T3 director Mostow does a very impressive and capable job, however, and keeps the story plugging along at a fairly tight clip. With a running time of just under 105 minutes, the movie is trimmed of any fat or scenes of forced sentimentality (like the ones that slowed down T2 a bit).

The chase scene in the first act, in which the TX chases our heroes in a 160-ton crane truck, is such a masterful blend of live-action and CGI that it defies criticism on any level. The directory commentary on the DVD reveals that the sequence was originally intended to be shot at night, but the filming schedule necessitated a Summertime shoot, and the nights were just too short for the number of shooting days that would have been needed.

Edward Furlong has been replaced by Nick Stahl for this movie. Thank goodness! Stahl is a MUCH, MUCH better actor - Furlong just grew tiresome by the end of T2.

Best part about this film: the story thread continues to its only logical conclusion, if not the necessarily upbeat one. I for one would have felt cheated if the film had ended any other way. T3's storyline stays true to the apocalyptic vision set up by the first two films. AND, it leaves open the opportunity for a 4th film. Yes, the story could support another installment. Whether Arnold, Cameron, Mostow, Gale Anne Hurd, or other franchise principals would get on board for #4 remains to be seen. But I'd love to know where the story goes from here.

As for the DVD: the majority of the Disc 2 extras look as if they were culled from an Electronic Press Kit. Where is Van Ling (mastermind behind the special edition DVD extras in "The Abyss" and "T2") when we need him?

The "create your own effects sequence" extra is majorly lame. Majorly.

In short, you should buy this DVD to enjoy the movie but not get too excited about the anemic extras. And there were DEFINITELY not enough extras to merit the second disc. Fortunately the inclusion of a second disc didn't seem to affect the movie's retail price.

I enjoyed this film in the theatres last summer, but I enjoyed it even more on DVD when I viewed it with a less-critical pair of eyes. 12 years was a long time to wait for another "Terminator" film, so starting with my second viewing of this film I could evaluate it more on its own terms and not in comparison to "T2".

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: ARNOLD + PRETTY WOMEN + INCREDIBLE EFFECTS = WORTH SEEING.
Review: After a 12 year absence, a Terminator movie is around. One more time Arnold Schwarzenegger repeats his signature role, and despite this time the director of the first two movies James Cameron, the actress Linda Hamilton and the actor Edward Furlong didn't came back for T3, there's new blood on the series.

In "Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines", there is a new Terminator model, the T-X (Terminatrix), played by the gorgeous Kristanna Loken, who does a good job as a cold and precise cybernetic killer. Also there is a new John Connor, actor Nick Stahl. On this movie John Connor loses a lot of the personality that Edward Furlong printed to the character in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day". However, the pretty Claire Danes fills the hole left by the "new" John Connor, Claire plays Kate, a brave woman that refuses to let the humanity to be destroyed.

The visual effects and the audio effects are incredible. The highlight is a vehicle chase scene, which is jaw-dropping. Despite T3 doesn't have the same depth of the first two movies, is a very enjoyable film and a worthy sequel.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Better than expected...
Review: ...of course, my expectations were not that it was going to be better or even as good at T2. There was just no way that would happen. So I was expecting it to be as good as Demolition Man or something(which I thought was just ok).

Turns out, T3 was way better than Demolition Man! And I personally thought it was as good as the first Terminator movie.

We had awesome action sequences(especially the chase with the crane!), witty one-liners(which every Arnold movie MUST have!), and a decent plot that didn't seem as depressing as one would think it would be. Nick Stahl was great as John Conner. He's a better actor than Edward Furlong, although he doesn't look much like what Eddy looks like. Claire Daines was a good new character too. The T-X was the hottest robot I've ever seen, and she was one tough machine! But I'm glad they didn't make a big deal out of her, and focused more on the plot of judgement day.

[SPOILER]

And the twist of the T-800(Arnold) killing John Connor in the future, as well as judgement day actually happening sets us up for a great new kind of new Terminator movie for T4(if it gets made), because it could take place in a post-apocolyptic world with the human surviors battling against the machines. It wouldn't be the classic "good terminator gets sent back in time to protect Connor/bad terminator gets sent back in time to kill Connorz" scenario. It could be taken to a whole other level because of the plot of T3!

Good movie, great set up for T4!

[END SPOILER]

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Blows up real real good
Review: The concept remains the same. The T-101 model terminator (Arnold Schwarzeneggar) comes from the future to protect John Connor (Nick Stahl), the future savior of the human race, from a more advanced model (Kristanna Loken) sent to destroy him. This time, it happens simultaneously with the long-dreaded ascendance of Skynet and the revolt of the machines.

T3 lacks the freshness of T1 and the intelligence and human drama of T2, but it certainly delivers as a special-effects laden thrill ride. It also benefits from some genuinely unexpected events toward the end of the film. Very entertaining.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Classic Arnold!!!
Review: Rise of the Machines was just as much fun to watch as the first two. The Governator had a machine gun and he was shooting it. Plus his face was practically ripped off leaving only his metalic skull showing. What more do you want? T3 had intense robot battles and lots of high tech special effects. I myself am not too big on tons and tons of computer generated images. The CGI and the fact that the movie was a bit slow at times lead to me giving it a 4 out 5. But the fights are awesome and the intensity is high. I think Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines fits nicely with the other two and I am hoping for a T4. Plus the ending rocks!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: People whine too much!
Review: I have to admit, I was a little skeptical if this movie would be good. James Cameron and Linda Hamilton didn't participate (in which case, the writers had her character, Sarah Connor, dead before the film started), so naturally that was a concern for me. Arnold Schwarzenegger, however, decided to join up because the script was pretty good, and after I heard that Jonathan Mostow ("U571") was directing, my fears were put away and I laid out some hope.

After watching it, I was blown away. It wasn't overdone and over the top; it REALLY was a Terminator film! Director Mostow kept the film fresh but also using numerous hints to the previous Terminator films. Nick Stahl was good as John Connor (am I the ONLY one that didn't care for Edward Furlong??) and Claire Danes did ok as John's soon-to-be wife. And of course, I can't write this review without mentioning Kristanna Loken as the evil T-X (a.k.a. Terminatrix... sounds like a Matrix cash-in, but oh well); incredibly sexy and deadly at the same time.

And finally, of course, we have Arnold back and he seriously doesn't look any older than he did back in 1991. This guy's 60 now and he played the part as if he was merely on vacation from doing the previous Terminator film! Oh, and remember Dr. Silberman (Earl Boen) from the first two? Watch out for his amusing cameo.

The action hardly lets up and while I don't want to compare it to the other Terminators, I will say this: the action hardly lets up, which is something T2 should've done. Also, I enjoyed the dark ending with its nefarious plot twist.

While it did have its plot holes, it didn't detract from the film much at all. It kept to the style of the Terminator films, but seemed fresh and new at the same time. That is probably its greatest merit, and boy, does Mr. Mostow bring the film to life.

As for you people [complaining] about no James Cameron, get your heads out of your [.....] and accept the film. The movie did great without him and let me remind you that the film still has producers Mario Kassar (T2) and Gale Ann Hurd (Cameron's ex-wife AND CO-CREATOR OF THE TERMINATOR) and creative makeup artist Stan Winston behind the scenes, so they have an idea of Cameron's vision. With that said, just sit back and enjoy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Great movie and great special features in the DVD
Review: I think by now, you have a pretty good idea of what this movie is about from the other reviewers. What I would like to say is that the DVD edition is just jammed packed with speical features. It has an amazing amount of behind the scenes features, the making of the movie, the standard voice over commentary, special effects features, story boards, a self serving making of the video game (which wasn't too good, from what I hear) and much more. This is a very good buy for fans of "Ahnuld", the Terminator. One of the few DVDs that I would consider a best buy.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A worthy installment to the trilogy!
Review: Despite all the bad wrap this movie recieved during it's production cycle, the final product definately is worthwhile. While I think Terminator 2 is still the best film in the series, this movie definately takes a close second. Arnold said he'd be back, and he most definately is. He still kicks major butt as the T-800 terminator, hardly looking a day older than he did in Terminator 2. Kristanna Loken is the sexy and deadly Terminatrix, and she definately looks like she's been one of the best kept secrets amongst movie actresses to show up in quite some time. Nick Stahl and Clair Danes are excellent in their roles as well. The action in the film is top notch, being rivaled only by The Matrix Reloaded, and the story told here is very good, even if it is lacking some of the magic that James Cameron had in the first two films. It's still an excellent addition to the series, and I eagerly await the release of the T3 DVD, as well as the inevitable announcement of Terminator 4.
I can't wait till this film can join The Terminator: Special Edition and the T2: Judgment Day 2 disc set on my shelf.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Uggghhhh
Review: This is by far the worst of the Terminator series. It has almost no story, no character development, horrible humor (the gay strip club scene made me cringe in horror), it was just a piss poor movie. With out James Cameron at the helm it went downhill fast, the story (the little tiny bit there was) was just one 2 hour long chase scene, the acting by everybody but Arnold was piss poor, the special effects weren't as good as in T2, again this is a very bad movie, do not buy this movie.
Anybody praising this movie has no idea what makes a good movie, period. I'm sure if you liked T3 you probably also loved New York Minute with the Olsen twins, and any Barney movie.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Secondary Story
Review: It's not so much Arnold/Terminator/Rescuer (take your pick) this time but John Conner and Claire Danes. It is their story, how they met, how they react, how they will eventually end up - that you become enthralled with. Kristanna Loken as the powerful, merciless bombshell of a Terminator is exquisite in her non-humanity and relentlessness.

The ending was spectacular and, of course, leads to yet another sequel. Good performace by all involved.


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