Sun-mat

Many put down the third instalment but to my mind, it makes the most sense of the three originals. Two is still iconic, one I wasn’t crazy for … three is far closer, to my mind, to where we are now.

At 1:09:07, Skynet designer says to subordinate officer … so you’re saying this country is completely open to attack. Subordinate … we could be under attack already.

This is part of one review (my comments follow that):

I didn't go to see this movie with very high expectations, because it has gotten such varied and sometimes disparaging reviews on this forum … Instead, I found that I enjoyed the movie as I watched it, saw some flaws, but have discovered that the more I think about it, the more I want to give it a higher rating than I initially did (7). 

The film's two major dramatic flaws, in my opinion, are: 

(1) An over-the-top chase scene that comes way too early in the script without sufficient build-up in suspense leading up to it; 

(2) A little too much campy humor recycled from the first two Terminator movies.

The good outweighs the bad by a large margin. 

(1) The screenplay has some intriguing plot subtleties that grow on me after awhile, the most notable of which is the actual nature of the safe place. It could be the way it is for several possible reasons, some strategically favoring SkyNet, some the humans. Any of them could be spun into a major plot element for a sequel. The rest you'll just have to find yourself. 

(2) The character development of both John Connor and Kate Brewster is elegant, believable and moving, and also opens possibilities for future character development. 

(3) The plot is an interesting variation of the "Reluctant Hero" theme, which is a classic in literature and drama and always will be. John Connor is a hero who is almost an anti-hero. True, they could have sharpened his ambivalence a little (sacrificing some chase footage for it would have been an excellent trade, in my opinion). 

(4) The Terminatrix is a very good villain: She's young, she's sexy, and she's chillingly soulless. She is actually too smoothly sexy and physically perfect, but that makes sense when you consider that she has been created and programmed by other machines who, lacking the real-world experience of humans, can only base her appearance and humanoid behavior on their knowledge of human stereotypes.

I go along with most of that except the “campy” bit … it all fitted nicely imho. The long early chase was the main set piece, so all right … a bit long.  What was really very good was the developing respect and caring between the two humans.  

Forget Arnie’s recent tosserness … in this, he was near the end of his time and he did it well. “I’m back.”

The last part, inside the complex, was great, even to the forlorn, disembodied voice asking if anyone was there. To me, that’s how it’s going to be in RL. Also the utter disbelief by people, voiced by Katherine Brewster in the film in the early part …