We waited a long time for this one, and I am not sure how I feel about Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Bad enough the young John Conner role had to pass over the real life struggles of actor Edward Furlong, and while James Cameron wrote the new story - he didn't want to direct it. But losing Linda Hamilton, and the character of Sara Conner - heart and conscience of it all ... well, that is just too much artsy-fartsy hollywierd crapola for me.

But alas ... I am obligated to scrape up the goodies about films. And while I may have my reservations about the $170 million dollar film (which currently makes it the most expensive movie of all time, including the highest paid salary -$31 million - to Mr. Schwarzenegger ... ok, give him credit for taking an 8 million dollar pay cut, so it could be filmed in Los Angeles), I will likely watch it - just like the rest of you. Anyway, the producers who picked this story line up sound itchy for a fourth.

The next film, following the 1994 cult classic (featuring a beefed-up Arnold Schwarzenegger) and 1991 smash sequel (featuring a buffed-up Linda Hamilton), sends us another future wrecking machine into the past to locate and "terminate" the future rebel leader of all mankind, John Conner. John is now an adult, his mom has passed away, and astonishingly enough - nothing has changed for our bleak future of being run over by mankind's mechanical creations. Don't we have another film series out this year about that?? ? ... oh yeah, The Matrix. I guess we won't be seeing many westerns this year, we've got too many naughty robots on the loose. Maybe someone will update Westworld for us.

Arnold returns as a good guy terminator, as he did in the second film, albeit a new and improved model. And likewise, the new bad guy Terminator has an upgrade. The first thing you'll notice about it, is it's beautiful figure as the T-X is female, fondly referred to as "The Terminatrix." Next to having a better body, the T-X requires no weapons, as she is aptly equipped with her own set of firepower. If that wasn't enough, this model can turn into any type of machinery she wishes. Man, why can't I find a Mrs. CapricornOne like this???

While T-850 (Arnold) is sent back in time to protect John, the T-X (Kristanna) is also programmed to "terminate" other cyber terminators. Both man and machine kinda have their hands full this time, with raging fem bot blowing up everything in sight. Do female robots get periods? Might explain the plot ... (ok, that was in bad taste ... so sue me, or better yet - send me a terminatrix)

Since most of the budget went to Arnold and the special effects, you won't see many famous actors and actresses in this one. After all, it's basically your search and destroy mission ... poor civilians are nothing more than fodder:

• T-850, the good Terminator sent back in time to once again protect the future savior of all mankind, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger (I don't think I need to list his past genre credits, I don't get a dime to write these articles, much less 30 million dollars)
• T-X, the "Terminatrix" sent back to kill John, played by Kristanna Loken (the short-lived television series Mortal Kombat: Conquest)
• John Conner, played by Nick Stahl (Disturbing Behavior)
• Kate Brewster, John's girlfriend, played by Claire Danes (Romeo and Juliet)
• Robert Brewster, probably Kate's dad, played by David Andrews (A Nightmare on Elm Street, Cherry 2000, Stephen King's Graveyard Shift, Apollo 13, From The Earth to the Moon, and Hannibal)
• Engineer, played by Chris Hardwick (House of 1000 Corpses)
• Detective, played by Mark Hicks (mostly a genre stuntman, but had a small role in Batman: Forever)

Release Date: July 2nd, 2003

http://www.terminator3.com/