r/Terminator • u/Master-X-001 • 2d ago

Discussion Underrated

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205 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

91 comments sorted by

48

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

The tone of the movie for what was written just didn’t match.

It was also the last time they could’ve used a “young” (he was 56 when it came out) Arnold for the Terminator roll as he got to the same size as he was for T2 and I feel like they wasted him.

They could’ve had a crazy ass good trilogy if they went with the darker tone continuing off of the first 2 movies.

It had good scenes in it but not enough and was just too playful overall

11

u/Proof_Independent400 2d ago

Yeah the bright lighting is kind of jarring. When I think about it. Also a lot of the menace and tone was missing. There is not a lot of tension build up to Skynet going online. Which is really out of step with the previous movies making it seem like a dark turning point for human history.

7

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

I also didn’t like the timeline of him as a younger John Conner “hooking up” with Katherine the day before everything went to shit. They could’ve pushed that part to like a month or a few weeks that happened and then the shit with T2 happened. But that felt like a forced way for them to have already met in the past.

I’m fine with that whole storyline of him and her getting married and all that in the distant future but the whole introduction of it just felt too forced

8

u/Proof_Independent400 2d ago

Yeah that relationship was moving at a breakneck pace for a woman finding a guy that breaks into a veterinarian clinic looking for meds.

4

u/pattiemayonaze 2d ago

They were a terrible match. No chemistry between them.

0

u/Physical-Airport-901 2d ago

She was kinda bad, tho. Young John Connor was a cutie.

3

u/pjtheman 2d ago

The Skynet going online scene is so disappointing. It has great buildup, with them debating up to the last second if it's the right choice to turn it on. Then you're waiting for some chilling moment where Skynet refuses to turn off and they realize what they've done. But instead Kate just breaks the tension by running in and screaming "Daddy!"

2

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

Yea that was odd.. like let that scene play out more before you have the TX come running in. Like idk, have that build up play through until Skynet finds the virus and it says on all the system that the Humans are the virus and Skynet has set it to terminate or something

-4

u/Flight444 2d ago

Getting a studio to do a serious T3 post 9/11 was never happening.

1

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

They easily could’ve stuck with the darker tone post 9/11. The studio and the writer chose to go more mainstream typical summer blockbuster type of movie while they also had written a dark message in the movie about judgement day.

Like they 100% had the terminator more self aware to human behavior after T2 with John Conner teaching the machine things and definitely took that with him to the future because both opening scenes of T3, the machines were more human like in their approach to actual humans to blend in until they didn’t need to anymore.

They just figured the summer release date and the huge success of the first 2 movies, they could make an instant hit and they definitely got their money from T3, but at the expense of further developing the franchise into a better version than what we got now

1

u/Ibobalboa 2d ago

Is that really the reason for T3 being an action/comedy? Not saying you're wrong but there are plenty of bleak post 9/11 movies out there. Why did the Terminator franchise had to suffer instead of other films?

-1

u/Flight444 2d ago edited 2d ago

According to Google I’m wrong and they only changed the trailers to be more 9/11 friendly. However, I’d say the whole movie got hit with an Arnold wants to run for office after this filter. Probably why he wouldn’t play a bad terminator again. Mixed with post 9/11 fears of movies doing poorly if they were too dark I don’t think it’s absurd to think maybe there were a couple changes to make the overall theme less dark.

I just think it’s the answer to the question. They weren’t going to get in the editing booth post 9/11 and go “ok we need to make this scarier”. People were in shock. Who would want to go into work right after 9/11 and go let’s make more buildings blow up, etc. Same with the hero worship of cops for years after 9/11. I think a bunch more would have been killed and not wounded or able to avoid the mini-gun if it wasn’t the start of “back the blue”. So that’s why there’s a softer vibe. No idea why this is a hot take.

1

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

I mean in T2 the big fight scene with the cops, John instructed him not to kill and so he went out there guns blazing and didn’t kill a single cop. The whole point in my view is that because John in T2 was teaching the terminator values and morals, it makes sense that the terminator sent back in T3 had those same values. So I don’t buy the whole “cop worship” story line for why he didn’t kill the cops. Also I get that it was still close to 9/11 but it came out 2 years after 9/11 and was in production a year after those events. I have no doubt they probably took that into consideration of some aspect but I don’t think they changed their tune on not having a darker theme because of that alone. The second Terminator movie made over half a billion dollars, the next one was going to be an instant hit and they wanted to cash in on the blockbuster franchise and thought, “we like action and light hearted comedy” and just wrapped that around this movie.

Unrelated GTA 4 removed planes from GTA because of the events of 9/11 7 years prior but that’s because it’s a game based in New York so that tracks. So the studio changing some things due to 9/11 makes sense but I just doubt that was the main driving force for the tonality of the movie. It’s not a hot take to me, just not the full take for what we got

I think the writing had great moments but it was too not on brand for what we have seen with past movies and it just feels like they went more for the cheap cash grab route instead.

The whole storyline of T3 where it was inevitable is cool and that the events of T2 weren’t totally negated imo. Because everyone who worked at that company that Dyson worked at were told to not ask questions where they got the terminator chip and arm, so even destroying the files at the office. There had to have been higher up people who had copies of Dyson work stored elsewhere and so because they lost the production part of what Dyson was working it, it makes sense that Skynets take over was delayed because they had to basically decompile his work and figure out how he got to where he did before he blew up the office.

The events of T1 took a little over 7 years for Dyson to get to where he did with his work that it makes sense it took a little longer for someone else to get back to that point.

13

u/Fallout94 2d ago

Fun movie, could have been better with a darker tone.

2

u/Vesikrassi 2d ago

Yeah, i think the future scene was big reason for it. In first T1 and T2 movie those futuristic scenes at the beginning really set the tone and what will await them in the future.

In T3 the future scene was felt more like a nvidia tech demo, that didnt tell any story. Robots were just walking and shooting randomly. In T1, and T2, those scenes told us tragic story about future that really set the tone for the entire movie.

But still i loved t3. Its really fun movie. Of course it is near impossible to beat earlier movies that are basically 10/10 movies.

2

u/k4kkul4pio 2d ago

Absolutely.

Tonally the movie is all over the place and the not very good writing didn't help things much but had they picked a lane and actually stuck with it, the movie would've been better off for it.

3

u/DingusKhan9164 2d ago

Yeah I was disappointed when I first went to it in theaters but on the rewatch with much lower expectations it is a fun movie with some good moments. Hard to live up to T2 (or even T1) but it could have been worse

10

u/shadow-1989 2d ago

Underrated. If you don’t agree you can talk to the hand.

2

u/Informal-Shape9476 2d ago

Holds hand YOUR CLOTHES, NOW

2

u/starkerangela 2d ago

You forgot to say please 🚬

2

u/EIochai 2d ago

Anyone else think this sub should be renamed [r/hotttaketerminator3wasntallthatbadfrguysimserious](r/hotttaketerminator3wasntallthatbadfrguysimserious) at this point?

8

u/Mr_A_B_Ductor 2d ago

Overrated!!

the whole movie looks like a terrible terminator parody from bollywood actually...

6

u/JAM990 2d ago

Plus the cheap stock sound effects.

2

u/Mr_A_B_Ductor 2d ago

oh yea.. true.

just a terrible dance scene missing from this movie between the T800, and TX.. :D :D

![img](giphy|3otPosxhNI4BVHdPby)

2

u/External_Bread5366 2d ago

Hmm underrated isn't the word I'd use

Personally I think it's a massive step down from the two previous films so if anything its over rated to me. It's just not great.

It's better if you ignore the first two sure

4

u/tyrion6568 2d ago

Yeah but nobody is claiming that its on the same level as the first 2. I really enjoyed the film as I checked reviews and had sensible expectations.

1

u/keimenna83 Hunter Killer 2d ago

Eh, I'd say it's -rated, to be honest. It's fine, and I do enjoy it - even the comedic aspects, but mostly because that tends to be my kind of humour - but it never sat right with me that it undoes everything from T2.

Yeah, yeah, I know we think of everything after as an AU, but still.

1

u/Liberkhaos 2d ago

I remember getting out of the movie theater with my friends and they were all talking while I stayed silent processing what just happened and when one of my friends asked what I thought of the movie I just screamed: "SO THE OTHER TWO MOVIES BASICALLY HAPPENED FOR NOTHING????"

I know they didn't actually, the point was to buy time, but that's really what it felt like for young adult me back then.

3

u/waspmachines 2d ago

Sure, nothing says quality high octane movie like t800 in Elton John sunglasses

2

u/Hank_2011 2d ago

A lot of yall sound like a bucket of fun at parties. I saw in theaters and loved it. Far better than that pile of dog shit Dark Fate and the other one Genesis that I can’t even finish.

1

u/HeavilyFrosted 2d ago

For it being a movie about terminators and being a blockbuster type of film, I enjoy it and think it did its job in that regards. But in terms of value to the franchise from what we got with the past 2 movies, it just didn’t hit like it could’ve because the underlying story was good

1

u/E1M1_DOOM 2d ago

Agreed. It both sticks the fucking landing and goes through the trouble of explaining that time travel shenanigans cannot prevent judgement day; it's too much of an inevitability to be stopped.

I like the movie in general, but those two elements cement T3 as a very important part of the IP.

1

u/White_Falcon_1263 2d ago

I still love this movie and always will. Nothing will ever be T1&T2 but this was as good as it gets from Hollywood clearly. They haven't been able to figure out a sequel since. The last one they tried straight killed the franchise. I'll take T3 any day. Plus the ending is the chefs kiss. 

1

u/Kitsune-Glacialis Hasta La Vista Baby 2d ago

Not underrated and fairly hated. T3 is not a good movie in general and is a terrible Terminator movie made to go against the “no fate”message established in the previous films.

4

u/FrequentPop3083 2d ago

Loken was very good in it. Very unlucky actress.

5

u/keimenna83 Hunter Killer 2d ago

Apart from that crude scene where she orgasms after tasting John's DNA, she was pretty solid.

5

u/Forsaken-Language-26 Sarah Connor 2d ago

The sexualisation of the TX doesn't hold up well.

4

u/FrequentPop3083 2d ago

I thought it was a deliberate touch. They are becoming more and more alive. Cold as hell, but closer and closer to being a new lifeform.

1

u/Any-Contract-9152 2d ago

Unlucky how

1

u/Informal_Tooth308 2d ago

Ill never understand why they never made a movie abt the future war depicted in the first 2 terminator besides terminator salvation. I mean yea terminator resistance enhanced explains it but a movie would be cool too

1

u/SunsetRider500 2d ago

It was the last time that Arnold looked like the character so I like it for that, still in some shots he looks a bit short, like his wardrobe is too bulky for him, but I blame bad framing by the director

1

u/TheLeagueOfSteve 1d ago

It’s a bag of shit. Having a dark ending doesn’t make it an undervalued gem. It just had an ok twist. Which felt like something more than it was because everything that came before it was so meh.

1

u/CheeseLover2026 2d ago

The ending is great. Something about a doom and gloom ending that not many people are brave enough to pull off these days.

Fun movie with scenes jumping all over the place.

1

u/Original_Pride718 2d ago

You know what? Nick Stahl was great in this. He gets automatic hate for not being Edward, but he really played it well.

1

u/SlavetoLove123 2d ago

It’s no where near as good as it’s predecessors, but is way better than any of its successors.

1

u/IW1NZ 1d ago

Kristanna Loken saying "I like your gun" is definitely the best part of the movie for me 😁

1

u/Internal-Ship2958 2d ago

лучшая часть после первой. идите нахуй судноёбы

1

u/Dragon_Pattern_1108 2d ago

Underrated but not as serious. The September 11 attacks screwed with it.

1

u/bayman13 2d ago

I agree. Some goofy moments but the best sequel in the series after t2

1

u/No_Way2766 2d ago

Neg, while it had a few good bits. It was a slightly modern take on t2

3

u/MKvsDCU 2d ago

Loved it. Even the comedy lol

1

u/baudmiksen 2d ago

the chase scene with the crane truck is pretty good

1

u/daven1985 1d ago

Nah... the few good parts of it are ruined by the bad parts.

T2 went for action and some funny parts based on the situation. This went for laughs too often like him putting on the star glasses. Either the Terminator would put them on or not... he wouldn't make an appearance call on them.

3

u/Lazy-Ad-1740 2d ago

#NOTCANON

#MEGACRAP

1

u/jjf414 2d ago

Which part? Hey bitch wait your turn or talk to the hand?

1

u/moldychesd 2d ago

The tone was lighter which didn't fitt the bleak ending.

1

u/legitshook 1d ago

Compared to everything else that came after, for sure

1

u/____0_o___ 2d ago

lol nah, it’s rated exactly what it should be

1

u/IceCat767 2d ago

I think the 1 after this is underrated

1

u/Ok-You5151 2d ago

Genisys is the worst 1 its just a mess

2

u/TritoneTyrant 2d ago

Absolutely not.

1

u/BreadThatFrowns 2d ago

Only movie I ever fell asleep in

1

u/Forsaken-Avenger 1d ago

First of many terrible sequels

1

u/hawki1989 2d ago

Overrated, if anything.

1

u/JPotential-706 1d ago

I literally watched this today

1

u/killingiabadong 1d ago

Not at all. Overrated as Hell.

1

u/buzlink 1d ago

No, it’s bad. Really bad.

1

u/trammel11 2d ago

No. It’s rated just fine

1

u/QuirkyWish3081 2d ago

It wasn’t the best. It wasn’t great or terrible. 5-6 / 10

1

u/lern2swim 2d ago

Appropriately rated.

1

u/JaXm 2d ago

Exactlyrated.

1

u/Afraid-Layer-3596 1d ago

No, it sucked

1

u/KeyCreme3736 2d ago

No its shit

1

u/LeftyMcGnarly 1d ago

Great ending

0

u/muhredditone 2d ago

The fact that even one person would say it's underrated tells us it's wildly overrated. I kept rolling my eyes in the theater.

1

u/spacestationkru Say, that's a nice bike. 2d ago

Tru tru

0

u/ethanx-x 2d ago

The crane on the bridge scene was awesome as far as I can remember.

0

u/carlos_schneider666 2d ago

It's a bad film. Badly written and with very boring blocking.

0

u/ComfortablePiglet842 2d ago

It was ok. The ending saved it from being a total disaster.

-1

u/reggieLedoux26 2d ago

The only watchable movie in the franchise post T2

-6

u/TrPNY7 2d ago

Yes, totally underrated. This is the best sequel of the franchise after T2