The Terminator (1984) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1993) provide for arguably two of the most entertaining sci-fi/action plots of all-time. Both films fascinated viewers with the concept of a cybernetic organism traveling back through time to prevent future events from occurring and the money statistics more than prove this. With the third installment in the series, the captivating plot continues.  While Terminator 3 is a worthy film to share the Terminator title, it is not up to par with its prior one-two punch. It still entertains and garners a recommendation, but it falls short in comparison to James Cameron’s knockout hits.

Upon hearing of the rise of The Rise of the Machines script, most were thrilled yet hesitant, knowing Arnold was the only returning member of the original casts. Furthermore, with a new director on board, Jonathan Mostow, things were not looking up. Mostow cautiously stepped up to the plate after the director of both installments, James Cameron, said he couldn't put the movie together in time for it to become a 2003 summer blockbuster. Cameron wanted more time to make it good, while Mostow was told to motor something up quick before Schwarzenegger entered the world of politics. Mostow filled the directorial shoes rather nicely in creating a respectable representation of the third film in the series (and notice I did not say, the third and final film in the series).

Mostow claims there are already screenplays in the works and that they already have ideas down for the fourth, fifth, and possibly sixth film. In fact, Nick Stahl, who skillfully takes the place of Edward Furlong in the role of John Connor, has already signed on to make two more Terminator films. Stahl was chosen for the part of Connor after his superb acting in the Academy Award nominated and highly recommended film, In the Bedroom. At this point, it is unknown if Arnold will return for any or all of these future installments due to his role in the realm of politics. Either way, Schwarzenegger wins. People will either pay money to see his films on the big screen, or they will continue to support him in office. If Jesse Ventura (the former pro-wrestler) can make it in politics, Arnold Schwarzenegger (the emperor of action films) can sure as heck make the cut.

It is hard to tell if Arnold Schwarzenegger, who is now in his fifties, is up for another run as the Terminator. Before the third film's production, the muscular Austrian had to undergo strenuous workout sessions in order to get back into the built physique of the T-800. Arnold worked hard for this feature and it shows; every bulging bicep and rippling muscle found in the original T-800 prototype can be found in the same Schwarzenegger character some twenty years later.