Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		3.5
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.0

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie Review

You're terminated, 1080i transfer.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman May 19, 2011

Skynet has become self-aware.

Instead of Rise of the Machines, perhaps Director Jonathan Mostow's (U571) entry into the Terminator franchise should have been called Terminator 3: Inevitable, as in a sequel in the franchise that spawned one of the best and most successful small Science Fiction films of all time and one of the biggest and baddest Summer movies ever made was inevitable. More to the point of this film and the franchise, however, it's clear that inevitability plays a critical factor in the fictional future (and past and present) world of The Terminator. Sure, "there is no fate but what we make for ourselves," but fate is merely a fancier word for "inevitable," for fate may be shaped and determined and prophesied, but whatever fate has in store is ultimately the "inevitable." In the Terminator universe, fate -- the inevitable -- is the nuclear exchange initiated by Skynet that brings about, yes, the Rise of the Machines. For all the flak that Rise of the Machines has received, Mostow's film captures the very essence of the Terminator franchise perhaps better than any other picture in the series. It might lack the raw vision of the original or the absolute big-movie bonanza spit and polish and fun factor of the sequel, but Rise of the Machines serves as a meat-and-potatoes sort of entry in the franchise that merely sets the table for the rest of the films in the series, both the two that came before it and those that will come after it. Ain't time travel fun?

We got ripped off! Get it? OK, talk to the hand.

Once again, a Terminator has been sent back in time to eliminate future resistance fighters in man's war against the machines in a post-apocalyptic hell ravaged by nuclear war. Amongst her targets -- yes, the latest Terminator arrives in the shapely figure of beautiful young woman (Kristanna Loken) -- is Kate Brewster (Claire Danes), daughter of an Air Force bigwig who's about to unwittingly unleash Skynet on the world. Kate is also the future first Lieutenant of human resistance leader John Connor (Nick Stahl) who's been living off the grid since his mother's death, working odd jobs and wondering if past adventures have altered his fate and saved mankind. John inadvertently -- or is it fate -- winds up breaking into an animal clinic where Kate works when he comes in need of medical supplies. The two are ambushed by the Terminatrix but are rescued by a captured and reprogrammed model T-800 Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) sent back in time to once again protect John, and this time, Kate, too, from elimination. As they evade the seemingly unstoppable Terminatrix, a model even further advanced from the deadly T-1000, the Terminator brings John and Kate up to speed on their future together in the resistance. When they believe they see an opening to stop the "inevitable" commencement of Judgment Day, they scramble to pull the plug on Skynet despite long odds and the Termintor's specific programming and Kate's father's insistence on guaranteeing the safety of John and Kate above all else.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines may be little more than a long build-up to its ever-wonderful bold finale, but what a fun little build-up it is. Though the film serves a purpose as a bridge of sorts within the Terminator universe, the picture is primarily a loud Summer Action flick that's the very definition of "big." Director Jonathan Mostow rarely allows the film to go more than a few minutes without a major action scene, and the remaining minutes are filled by plugging in holes within the Terminator timeline, paying respect to the series's roots through the implementation of little subtle looks and lines that fans will be quick to catch, or having a little bit of fun to offset the seriousness of the picture and the adrenaline of the action with some much-needed and, surprisingly, zippy and enjoyable one-liners. However, it's action that's the film's big seller, and "robust" aptly describes it. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is everything fans could want in terms of mindless entertainment; it's slick, well-conceived, and strongly executed. The scope of the action befits the Terminator name and the strength of the dueling cybernetic characters who transform their environment into weapons of mass destruction that kill pretty much everything but the primary characters. Mostow proves a worthy helmsman for a picture of this size, not only one-upping the previous entries in terms of sheer scope of action but refusing to settle for anything less than one of cinema's most daring finales that is definitely this film's claim to fame, a critical element in the franchise, and a bold statement that challenges traditional Hollywood structure while reinforcing the series's primary theme of inevitability.

For the sheer pleasure that is the film's ending -- and, no, it's not wrong to "cherish" a finale such as this; that's the beauty of cinema and art in general, the ability to relish in something that would elicit the opposite response in real life -- it would not work without a quality script, delicate direction, and a few convincing performances that all not only treat the series's history and established lore with respect but establish Rise of the Machines as a necessary cog in Terminator history. James Cameron's fingerprints are all over Rise of the Machines, even if he's associated with the film only in the capacity as the series's creator. Maybe Mostow's film isn't quite as tight, smart, or instantly classic as Cameron's films, but as far as its place in the franchise, there's no question that Rise of the Machines is a welcome and necessary addition. Granted, it certainly takes the ending to make the picture worthwhile -- there's really not a lot going on other than a few revelations and plenty of action before it -- but that final act really solidifies the franchise as something more tangible, and actually witnessing the start of the war rather than merely hearing about is not only a treat for fans but the realization of series's cornerstone theme. That the film doesn't sacrifice the integrity of the franchise is its best asset, followed closely by a few good performances that sell the greater picture. Schwarzenegger is, of course, terrific once again in his signature role; he's somehow not quite as menacing in this film as in either of the first two installments, looking a little older and moving a little slower but still playing the part like he was born for it. Stahl and Danes are good, if not a little whiny; Stahl is definitely the weakest of the on-screen incarnations of John Connor, but by the end Stahl has audiences believing him to be a viable leader of the resistance.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines's initial Blu-ray release was notable for a bugaboo that displayed a 1080i image for the primary feature but displayed the proper 1080p image only in conjunction with the included picture-in-picture supplement. Warner soon thereafter issued a corrected pressing. At this time, it appears that all new stock at Amazon.com is the 1080p transfer, but extra-nervous buyers can verify the corrected pressing through the UPC code "883929016938." Now, as to Warner's 1080p transfer, it's good, but not quite elite. Black levels fluctuate between appearing a little too heavy-handed in spots, revealing a fair bit of evident crush, but looking inky and sturdy in other scenes; the beginning of the movie looks particularly overwhelmed by crush. The 1080p transfer does retain a light layer of film grain, but the image is nevertheless a hair soft throughout and detailing generally ranges between "adequate" and "good," favoring the latter. Facial textures are nicely intricate, but a somewhat flat overall image doesn't allow the smaller nuanced details to spring to life. Colors are steady, but this isn't exactly a vibrant movie. The cemetery shootout midway through the film features lavish greens, but there's otherwise little in the way of bright colors in the film; even the Terminatrix's maroon-colored outfit doesn't jump off the screen in suitably bright scenes. Flesh tones tend to favor a slightly warm shade. The transfer is technically strong, featuring only an inconsequential amount of banding and no perceptible blocking. A few random white speckles do appear from time to time. This transfer could stand to be a little less soft and show a little more detail, but for the most part it's a solid, if unspectacular, Blu-ray image.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

While the 1080p/1080i mix-up has been corrected for this release, Warner chose not to take advantage of the redo to include the lossless soundtrack Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines deserves. Indeed, this release features the same carryover Dolby Digital 5.1 track as its mixed-up predecessor, but the good news is that as far as lossy soundtracks go this is one of the best in the business. It belts out every action scene with positive authority, delivering not only a tight and potent low end but throwing out surround information like there's no tomorrow. The mix is well-engineered, too, so the heavy surround usage isn't just for oohs and aahs. Directional effects enjoy pinpoint placement and control, imaging is excellent, and everything sounds like it is right where it needs to be. Music is the biggest loser, sounding a little underpowered at times, but the track more than makes up for that shortcoming with that prodigious use of the entire soundstage in creating devastatingly realistic and highly enjoyable action sound effects. Whether the thump of a shotgun, the zipping of missiles through the soundstage, or the constant barrage of automatic weapons fire, Warner's track delivers a sustained and more-than-competent deluge of Action movie goodness. Dialogue, no surprise, is centered, focused, and always crisp. It might be blasphemy to call a Blu-ray lossy soundtrack as "satisfying," but this one is just that. It could be better, sure, and a point off the top for no lossless options, but this certainly isn't a fiasco of epic proportions.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines carries over the same grouping of extras that were found on the accidental 1080i release.

• In-Movie Experience: A picture-in-picture commentary (the culprit in the previous release's 1080i/1080p boo-boo) that features Director Jonathan Mostow and cast and crew discussing the picture-at-large, working with a legendary Hollywood Action star, Terminator 3's place in the franchise, and plenty more. Fans are treated to behind-the-scenes footage in addition to the interview sequences. Mostow proves to be quite engaging throughout the feature; here's hoping he has future opportunities to speak on his films.
• Behind the Story (480p): This four part feature starts off with a brief introduction by superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger (0:33) that serves more as an introduction to the special features as a whole rather than this individual grouping. This is followed by the HBO First Look special (13:02) which is a typically bland behind-the-scenes look at the making of the film. Arnold discusses why he is a good fit for this film while the crew describes the moviemaking process and the core of the story as presented in the movie. As usual, there is a lot of back-patting going on amongst the cast and crew. Storyboards (3:54) features a scene presented side-by-side with the storyboards that were drawn beforehand to lay out the way the scene should look on film. Finally, Dressed to Kill (2:11) is a brief look at the famous costume worn by Arnold Schwarzenegger in this film, not to mention the clothes worn by some of the other characters.
• Audio Commentary: Director Jonathan Mostow and Actors Arnold Schwarzenegger, Claire Danes, Nick Stahl, and Kristanna Loken are recorded separately, their comments edited together after-the-fact for flow. Each participant offers up some quality insights into the making of the film, but of course it's Arnold -- as the biggest man in the room both literally and figuratively -- who fans will want to hear from most. He speaks on the franchise as a whole and his role in this film in particular, making for the track's indisputable highlight.
• Audio Commentary: Director Jonathan Mostow mans track two by himself. He uses this commentary to discuss "the process of directing" the film. He covers the need for purpose behind the three separate studio logos at the beginning of the film, what that meant for the method behind making the movie, and how not producing the movie inside the usual "studio structure" allowed for the not-so audience pleasing ending. He also covers the more technical side of the filmmaking ledger, such as the process of shooting particular scenes on a soundstage with moving plates rather than on-location. Like his commentary in the PiP feature, Mostow proves to be engaging and entertaining. This is the best track of the three.
• Audio Commentary: Director Jonathan Mostow, writers John Brancato and Michael Ferris, production designer Jeff Mann, and Director of Photography Don Burges provide the insights on the third and final commentary. As one might expect, this is, overall, the driest and most technical of the tracks, but there is quite a bit of engaging discussion about the decisions that make this film work. This is probably the least "fan-friendly" track of the three, but budding filmmakers and those more interested in the nuts-and-bolts process of making a mega-millions studio film will find much to love in this track.
• Additional Footage (480p): Two supplements fall under this heading. Sgt. Candy Scene (1:50) is a deleted scene featuring a comical "commercial" for SkyNet's weapons systems and the reasoning behind the Terminator's Austrian accent. Terminal Flaws (3:01) is a sometimes-funny blooper reel.
• Fun & Games (480p): Another two-part tab. Toys in Action (6:35) looks at Todd McFarlan's famous toy and product line relating to this film and how they decide which scenes will resonate most with audiences and therefore make for the best figurines. There is also a fascinating look at how these figurines are created and the intricate detail that goes into making each one. Making of the Video Game (480p, 8:57) explores the way in which the tie-in video game expands on the world created in T3.
• Trailers (480p): Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2:23) and a preview for the above-referenced video game (1:36).

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines is the weakest entry in the series, but that's more an observation than a criticism. It's certainly the most "independent" of the (now four) pictures in the series in that it plays, for the most part, more as a Summer spectacular Action movie than it does a Terminator film, but at least Mostow's picture hits all the necessary notes that were required of it, and hits them hard to the point that Rise of the Machines should go down as a movie with one of the best endings in Hollywood history. Sure the film could have been better and sure it takes a few liberties, but as a combination Summer Action movie and a film playing the part of a bridge that brings the past and future installments together, it would be difficult to imagine anything all that much better than this. Warner's Blu-ray release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines fixes the 1080p/1080i glitch and delivers a good overall video presentation. Unfortunately, the disc retains the same (albeit high quality) lossy soundtrack, but it also retains the exhaustive array of extra content. Recommended.