T3 DVD Review :

Here's a sneak preview of the DVD special features! More on the Terminator, the special effects lab and all the behind the scenes info.

DVD Special Features
DTS sound and Dolby Digital 5.1

Commentary - Jonathan Mostow, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Kristanna Loken and Claire Danes
Commentary - Jonathan Mostow only
Terminal flaws - blooper reel
Deleted Scene - Sgt Candy scene
Featurette - Arnold Schwarzenegger introduction to the film
Featurette - Documentary
Featurette - Dressed to Kill - costume design motion gallery
Featurette - Making of the Video Game
Featurette - Storyboards
Featurette - Toys in action
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Introduction
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Crane Chase
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: TX transformation
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Future War
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Crystal Peak
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Cyberdyne research
Featurette - Visual Effects Lab: Create Your Own special effects
Data Files - 'Skynet Database' - weapon and actor profiles
Teaser Trailer
Theatrical Trailer
T3 PC Game
T3 videogame trailer
The 6th Day trailer
Bad Boys II trailer
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle trailer
The Returner trailer
SWAT trailer

And much more....

So, here we are with the third instalment of Terminator, hopes soaring high enough to orbit a rather confused Pluto, we sat down to watch Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines.

First things first, James Cameron didn't direct it (deflated sigh). Arnold nonetheless, did return and reprise his role as the Terminator, for what is a Terminator film without the big dude? Just another Sci Fi movie (let's pretend Alien doesn't exist for the moment). Hold onto your hat Harry as we prepare for carnage of the Hollywood kind.

Live and in colour, T3 is brought to you in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen and Dolby 5.1 EX Track- that nice little perk of audio surround sound. The saturation of colour is decent, but in parts the overall colour and tone can seem lacklustre. Even with saying that, the DVD (no matter what grade) is vastly superior to VHS.

Endoskeletons search for human targets in our baron Skynet infested future.

The 5.1 is as dynamic as they come, unfailingly keeping a smooth and even level of quality in the audio, allowing the viewer to differentiate between sounds whilst being spatial and atmospheric. All bases are covered whether it be the detonation of the Judgement Day explosion or the fast-paced action sequences, it doesn't let you down.

Depending on how close attention you pay to the environment, the soundtrack is stalwart in its level of distinction, the cemetary shootout is a prime example- after the rain of bullets blasted into police cars, you can still hear the ever so sweet sound of birds going about their daily business of stealing shiny objects from tourists.
The mix of booming bass and shattering treble add a great deal of ambience to the film, sit back and soak it up people. Waste not want not.

The bonus disc...

What a world we live in when a person will look forward, with girlish glee, to the Special Feature disc more than the actual film, but hey- it happens.
Get your penny polishers at the ready because there are some pretty pretty things on the bonus disc of the DVD: a deleted scene starring the big Austrian himself which looks to be a promo for the SkyNet Soldier of The Future programme that the film is said to promote. There are some rather nice inside jokes (picture wide-eyed innocence followed by the strange sound of guffawing).
The commentaries are always worth a peek: the "on location" featurette and part of the HBO "first look" featurette (yawns discretely) the second is more informative than entertaining but you can't have your ham without your peas needing some attention, so suck it up.

Try not to stay too long in the alternate universe known as factual Terminator worship or you may find you've lost the only part of yourself worth keeping... screw it, go get lost in the love of bot (robot) and ALWAYS sniff the milk first.

Right, we've reviewed the translation of flim to DVD and weighed the pros and cons, what did we think of the actual film... ?

If I'm honest the film was good,- if it wasn't a Terminator film it would be the kind of summer blockbuster which screams Kerching at the very top of its lungs whilst playing bongos maniacally. The problem is, it is a Terminator film and the quality of the previous instalments begged for the bar to be raised, which it simply wasn't. Having a bigger budget didn't mean more of what we like, for some strange reason it meant less and sitting there in the dark watching a film that, as I've already described, was "good" well let's just say... The war has just begun...

Terminator 3: Rise Of The Machines... was it all just a dream?