Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

I’d like to tell you that the third installment of this franchise is something well worth the 12-year wait, but I’d be lying! As it stands, it’s a moderately good, serviceable action pic that manages to entertain during some stretches while doing nothing for your mind. Considering the classics of science fiction that were the first two installments, that’s a letdown. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns as a Terminator sent to protect John Connor (Nick Stahl, replacing Edward Furlong). A baddie female Terminator is also sent back to do some killing, and the two machines go to war. Basically a retelling of the second film, with only minor upgrades in special effects. James Cameron, director of the first two films, is gone, and he is sorely missed.