Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines [Blu-ray]

Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken, Claire Danes. A T-100 cyborg is sent back from the future once again to protect John Connor from another assassination attempt, this time from a vastly superior and lethal T-X Terminator. 2003/color/125 min/PG-13.

With a reported budget of $172 million, ITerminator 3: Rise of the Machines/I starts in high gear and never slows down. The apocalyptic "Judgment Day" of IT2/I was never prevented, only postponed: John Connor (Nick Stahl, replacing IT2/I's Edward Furlong), now 22 and disconnected from society, is being pursued yet again, this time by the advanced T-X, a sleek "Terminatrix" (coldly expressionless Kristanna Loken) programmed to stop Connor from becoming the savior of humankind. Originally programmed as an assassin, a disadvantaged T-101 cyborg (Arnold Schwarzenegger, bidding fond farewell to his signature role) arrives from the future to join Connor and his old acquaintance Kate (Claire Danes) in thwarting the T-X's relentless pursuit. The plot presents a logical fulfillment of IT2/I prophesy, disposing of Connor's mother (Linda Hamilton is sorely missed) while computer-driven machines assume control, launching a nuclear nightmare that Connor must survive. With IBreakdown/I and IU-571/I serving as worthy rehearsals for this cautionary epic of mass destruction, director Jonathan Mostow wisely avoids any stylistic connection to James Cameron's ITerminator/I classics; instead he's crafted a fun, exciting popcorn thriller, humorous and yet still effectively nihilistic, and comparable to IJurassic Park III/I in returning the ITerminator/I franchise to its potent B-movie roots. I--Jeff Shannon/I