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Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, a review by Tom

Title: Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
Year: 2003
Director: Jonathan Mostow
Rating: FSK-16
Length: 105 Min.
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 2.40
Audio: English: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: Dolby Digital 5.1, German: DTS 5.1, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo, Commentary: Dolby Digital Stereo
Subtitles: Commentary, English, German, Turkish

Stars:
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Nick Stahl
Claire Danes
Kristanna Loken
David Andrews

Extras:
Booklet
Commentary
Deleted Scenes
Featurettes
Interactive Game
Outtakes
Photo Gallery
Scene Access
Storyboard Comparisons
Trailers

I will probably be only one of few people, who did like the third installment of the Terminator franchise the best of the three. I saw it in the cinema, and more than five times since then on DVD.
The plot is similar to T2 (Arnie comes back to protect John from an advanced Terminator), but has much more action. In a matter of fact, this movie is non-stop action with hardly anything else. And in this case, it is good. Nothing else have I expected from another Terminator movie.
We do not have to suffer a teenage John Connor. Instead we got Nick Stahl as an adult John, which he did a great job with. Also we have a no-nonsense Schwarzenegger Terminator back without him having to learn human emotions. And we got a hot female Terminator as an advisary. What else do you want?
I think the special effects are great in this movie. Beginning with the crane chase in the beginning, the effects with T-X (especially her fights with Arnie) and the great special effects with Arnie's face half gone at the end.
And I loved the ending. Just the right way to finish this trilogy.
Until recently I have thought it an error to continue this franchise from here with other movies, but Sarah Connor Chronicles has shown, that it can work without having Arnold Schwarzenegger a big role in it. I am hoping, that the new movies will integrate the stuff, we have learned in the first three movies. Like Kyle Reese getting the picture of Sarah Connor and being sent back in time by John. Or having John killed by an T-800 (rumors have it, that there will have permission to use Arnold's face to superimpose on a double and that Arnold probably has voice recorded. I hope that is true.) and have that Terminator sent back in time by Kate.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Reviews on January 17th, 2009)

Tri orísky pro Popelku, a review by Tom

The film stars Libuse Safrankova as the title character, a young woman who is put upon by her stepmother and stepsisters. The film employs a twist, though, when a handsome prince comes knocking. Cinderella does not simply fall into the prince's arms. In this version, he must actively pursue the young woman who is a skilled sharpshooter prone to wearing hunting outfits. Cinderella also has three wishes at her disposal, gained from three magic nuts.

My thoughts:
This is a charming Czech/German co-production and tells the czech version of the Cinderella story (and not the version by Charles Perrault made famous by Disney, which is mostly known in the US). Also this Cinderella is quite a cutie 

What I would like to see as a movie based on the version I know from my childhood. This version is by the Brothers Grimm and is called "Aschenputtel". It is well-known here in Germany. From Wikipedia: "The tale is called "Aschenputtel" and the help comes not from a fairy-godmother but the wishing tree that grows on her mother's grave. In this version, the step-sisters try to trick the prince by cutting off parts of their feet in order to get the slipper to fit. The prince is alerted by two pigeons who peck out their eyes, thus sealing their fate as blind beggars for the rest of their lives." 

(From Weekend Movie Marathon: Cinderella Stories on January 19th, 2008)

Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews, a review by Tom

ENT 4.18 In A Mirror, Darkly
Cast: Scott Bakula (Jonathan Archer), John Billingsley (Phlox), Jolene Blalock (T'Pol), Dominic Keating (Malcolm Reed), Anthony Montgomery (Travis Mayweather), Linda Park (Hoshi Sato), Connor Trinneer (Charles "Trip" Tucker III), Vaughn Armstrong (Captain Maxwell Forrest), Franc Ross (Grizzled Human)

In the fourth season of Enterprise they finally understood what potential making a prequel series has.
This episode completely plays out in the mirror universe. We see the mirror universe twist of the first contact of Cochrane with the vulcans (with footage from the movie ST: First Contact). And we see the mirror universe version of Archer's crew which is similar badass as Kirk's mirror universe crew. And a great idea to combine the story about the missing Defiant from the "Tholian Web" episode of the original series with the mirror universe. They even changed the opening credits for this two-parter.

Rating:

(From Tom's Random Star Trek Reviews on September 26th, 2009)