A Black Leather jacket, a pair of thick boots, the plain coolers: Guess what that guy thinks in his mind ’’I’ll be back’’. Such a grip this character has got on its this century, there is no age, sex or race which is spared from its influence. So much so his one liner ’’I’ll be back’’ is the one of the Top 5 Movie Quotes as per Guinness Book.
After 12 years, here comes the Terminator with a new director, new villian, and brand new crew, only that 2 people are still around from the old movie. One is Arnie and another is the Doc from the Maximum Security Hospital!!
The Background
Sarah Connor who was battling a Leukamia survived till she saw August 29, 1997, the supposed Jundgement Day, which came and went and nothing happened, died in Mexico. Machines did not take over the world. John Connor (Nick Stahl) now stays off the grid. No home, No phones, No Cards, No job, no record of his existence. John is still afraid that SkyNet might attempt to kill him for the third time. And his worst fear comes true : Skynet sends its most sophisticated cyborg killing machine, the T-X, to finish the job left undone by the T-100(T1) and T-1000(T2): Kill Primary Target John Connor. This new killer is shaped like a woman (Kristanna Loken) and she is exponentially more powerfull than its predecessor. The T-X is a Metal Alloy endo-Skeleton covered in a liquid metal exterior with extremely high morphing capabilities. In addition to that it has onboard weapons like Plasma Cannon, Rapid Cluster Gun, .45mm Cascader, Nano Disrupter, IAD-ChemTech (Flame Thrower). The T-X has Nano technological instruments with which it can interact with any other machines, automobiles or robots and control them.
The Story
The T-X is sent back in time by SkyNet to kill John Connor. But since John is not traceable, its secondary mission is to eliminate all future John Connor’s Lieutinants. When it is on the process of eliminating a veterinarian, Catheryn Brewster (Claire Danes) a vital part of John Connor’s future, it finds a bloody cloth with John Connor’s blood. Enter the T-101 (Arnie) who’s mission is to protect John Connor and Catheryn ’’Kate’’ Brewster. When Kate’s past collides with her present, confused and angry, she finds herself ’’kidnapped’’ by John and his T-101. En-route the T-101 details them about the future and declares that the Judgement Day is today, and it all happens because of Kate’s father, Robert Brewster (David Andrews), a general in Pentagon’s secret programme named : SKYNET.
Though many reviewers have already revealed the plot, I prefer to make sure you suffer the agony and angst I experienced by watching the movie. So go catch the movie for the rest of the plot.....
The Plot
The plot is all about how John in his attempt to stop Judgement Day from happening, realises how important his contribution to mankind. In the end he gets the answer to a question that has been troubling him for the past 12 years. How did he end up the leader of the mankind that is left after the Judgement Day.
The Judgement Day was never or cannot be stopped. It was only postponed. When it was done, it came back big way.
Now lets start analysing the movie....
Story & Plot (3/5)
This is an OK story. They killed Sarah with Leukamia. They added Kate to the story. Just one saving part is the villian is too powerful to handle by Arnie. But why make it a woman!!! I still find no reason for that twist to the plot?!?! The previous Terminator (T-1000) was a little inconspicuous in its movement but this one is just buldozing its way ahead to achieve its mission(s). Probably the reason maybe that when the whole thing is happening is on Judgement Day, why hold back!! Otherwise this is a regular predictable story and plot.
Cast (3/5)
Quite obviously there is no argument on Arnie. Arnie is the same robot with no expression only that he is fast in learning things (on human contact), than his predecessor. 100% performance just like before. But only that he doesnt get to display his acting prowess as he did in T2.
Loken has done a good job as a T-X but she can never surpass the milestone erected in the viewer’s mind by T-1000, Robert Patrick. There is no capturing scene like when that metal piece melting and sticking back to the Boots of T-1000. You might find the puny sized T-X tossing the giant Arnie, but it doesnt have that power, which does not make her presence that huge. (Remember this line and observe carefully when that happens, you will understand what I meant. If you have then play the T2 CD again (the last fight), you will see the difference.)
Claire Danes is just a confused girl who is not able to come in terms with the present and not ready to accept the future, her expressions are very predictable and ordinary. She plays just a victim who shouts for help in every possible moment. No blame on her, but she does not display the strength for the character which is supposed to play a major role in the future of John Connor.
Now that brings us to John Connor, well Nick Stahl has played the 23 year old John Connor. A character which is paranoid, despite the eventless August 29, always afraid the machines will find him. To an extent this guy convinces us that he is confused and afraid of everything. But in most of the occasions, he looks like a sissy. He doesnt have the cockiness, arrogance and rebellious nature of the 12 year old Edward Furlong in T2. Stahl is OK, but not fit for the role ’’John Connor’’.
Finally why in the heavens did they kill Sarah Connor. Didnt they realise how powerfull was her presence in both the T1 and T2??? Boss you will surely miss Linda Hamilton in scenes when John is under attack or on the run from the T-X. Can anyone forget the scene when Linda points a gun on the temple of the Computer Guy in T2??
Movie Pace (2/5)
Ok this is a debatable issue. It is only the explosions and chase that make you think the movie is fast. But when you look at the story and the sequence of events it potrays, this is a slow movie. Many a times it kinda gets into a Time Paradox and gets into some emotional matrix. (The director and Writers wanted these to ’’Touch’’ the viewers like T2, yeah whatever...)
Direction & Screen Play (2/5)
Just one word : Poor. We accept the fact that James Cameroon’s shoes are too big to be filled by anyone other than him, let alone Jonathan Mostow(U-571). But even some basic things which come to a viewer’s mind seems to have been missed by miles by the Director and his team. I have listed the same in the end, you know, for your own analysis.
The movie has the booms and explosions without all that slow motion kicks and gravity-defying fighting sequences. It shows the ruthlessness and determination of the T-X through the mindless destruction it causes. But, yes a big but, characters (other than Arnie) does not carry that message across to the viewers and the movie falls flat in all other respects. The director has forgotten the way in which the T-101 got in our hearts and the fear the T-1000 created when it appeared. Even so the T-X does not have a powerfull music which was a major push for Robert’s character in T2. Frankly T3 has some extra-ordinary digital effects and thrilling scenes (just a little ;) ), but it lacks totally, the human aspect that it predecessor(s) had. What I mean by that? Check the Comments Section
Some dialogues are ridiculous, like the one Connor says ’’The life we live, all the stuff we take granted for... is not gonna last’’, yeah right, what a great line in a serious moment!!!.
Final Verdict....8K sucks... Check comments...