Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003)

Let's say you're "King of the World" and you haven't had much else to do since 1997. What do you do for fun? Why not go back to a successful series of movies you wrote before and pick up another paycheck by lending your name to another one? But which series? How about Aliens? Naw, Sigourney Weaver is going into politics and doesn't want to be seen as a kick-ass, take no prisoners kind of gal. Might turn off the electorate. OK, how about doing a third Terminator movie? Schwarzenegger is still really popular and as "Conan the Republican," he'd be a big box office draw.

You're not going to see this movie based on a reviewer's opinion. If you liked the first two in the series, you're going to give this one a chance. (Kind of like Star Wars. It may be getting stale, but you're invested in the character.) The first two were entertaining and there was no reason to believe this would be any different.

Absolutely correct.

As a warmup for T3, we watched T2 the night before and though the two are separated by a more than a decade of time, the story line held up well and the movie was quite entertaining. Plenty of fights, explosions, deadpan Arnold jokes (can't wait for his State of the State speechs) and a bunch of references to the past movies to make you laugh.

John Connor (savior of the human race, must be protected, etc. etc.) is now in his 20's and a female teminator (good twist this time - much more fun to look at), a T-X, or Terminatrix is after him. Played by Kristanna Loken (Panic), this T-X is a new, even more improved killing machine. Another T-800 (Governor Arnold Kennedy-Schwarzenegger) is sent back through time to protect Connor and we're off and running. Connor finds out that we have a new judgement day (the first was in August 1997 when George W. Schrub decided to run for President), and it's TODAY. Can he get to the military base in time to and stop it? Let's find out. I'm surprised the machines don't put a nuclear device inside the T-X and take care of Connor once SkyNet has taken over, but then we wouldn't have a way to go for "T4: Connor and Brewster Have Sex in a Bunker."

Who's Brewster? That's Claire Danes (Igby Goes Down, My So Called Life), the girl voted "Most Wanted To Be Stranded Under A Mountain With Until The Next Sequel." Danes and Connor (Nick Stahl from In The Bedroom) are fated to meet up and marry and go on to save the world. Turns out the chick's born to handle automatic weapons.

T3 was a fun flick If you like adventure shoot 'em ups, it was worth the bucks, popcorn and Diet Coke. And if you REALLY like it: don't worry, Arnold will be telling more True Lies during the End of Days this fall on the television sets of California.

Hank Yuloff is one of those who voted to be stranded with Claire Danes.