Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) – 8/10 science fiction action movie

Cast / crew Arnold Schwarzenegger: Terminator Nick Stahl: John Connor Claire Danes: Kate Brewster David Andrews: Robert Brewster Kristanna Loken: TX Producer: Hal Lieberman Producer: Colin Wilson Producer: Mario Kassar Producer: Andrew Vajna Producer: Joel B. Michaels Writer (Story): John Brancato Writer (Story): Michael Ferris Writer (Story): Tedi Sarafian Writer (Screenplay): John Brancato Writer (Screenplay): Michael Ferris Director: Jonathan Mostow

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003) Judgment Day averted, John Connor has grown up under the radar but the future is about to catch up with him again as two terminators are again sent back through time: one to terminate, one to protect. 8/10 Following up two all-time classics was never going to be easy but talented director Jonathan Mostow delivers a satisfying actioner that is far, far better than anyone could have hoped for. Spectacular and iconic action sequences and Arnie’s one-liners make the movie but the lovely Claire Danes is the cast stand-out. It even boasts a surprisingly unforgettable ending. This movie contains sexual swear words and extreme violence, gory and unpleasant scenes, inferred extreme violence and non-sexual nudity. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult. Links Next: Terminator: Salvation

U-571 (2000, WWII Submarine Action) – 7/10 movie review

Director: Jonathan Mostow Writer (Screenplay): Jonathan Mostow Writer (Screenplay): Sam Montgomery Writer (Screenplay): David Ayer Writer (Story): Jonathan Mostow Producer: Dino De Laurentiis Producer: Martha De Laurentiis Matthew McConaughey: Tyler Bill Paxton: Dahlgren Harvey Keitel: Chief Jon Bon Jovi: Emmett Jake Weber: Hirsch David Keith: Coonan T.C. Carson: Eddie Jack Noseworthy: Wentz Thomas Guiry: Trigger Thomas Kretschmann: Wassner Matthew Settle: Larson Erik Palladino: Mazzola

U-571 (2000) World War II: a critical turning point arrives when a German U-boat floundering in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean radios for help. The message is received by both German and US navies and the US embark on a daring mission to recover the code machine aboard the U-boat: the famed Enigma. Disguising themselves as a German rescue submarine, the crew of the S-33 sail toward U-571 in a race against time to capture the machine. All goes smoothly until the real German rescue U-boat arrives and blows the S-33 out of the water. The survivors must scramble aboard the crippled U-571 and fight for their lives to save the code machine and turn the tide of the war. 7/10 Thrilling, and entirely fictitious, World War Two action-adventure that hits all its entertainment targets. It doesn’t really mean anything and, despite being a film about submarines, there is no depth to the screenplay. Instead, a whole pile of WWII clichés have been trotted out and presented for the audience’s entertainment as they revisit old friends: the Executive Officer (Matthew McConaughey) passed over for a captaincy, the salty sea dog (Harvey Keitel), the doomed best friend (Jon Bon Jovi), the scum-of-the-earth Gerry (Thomas Kretschmann), the enemy inability to hit a barn door at two paces, the heroes ability to hit targets despite adverse circumstances, a token black man making token black man comments and I could probably dig up a few more. Nevertheless, Mostow ensures the film remains uncommonly focused and, critically, extremely thrilling. This movie contains mild swear words and graphic gun violence, war violence. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Surrogates (2009) – 6/10 science-fiction action thriller movie review

Cast / crew Director: Jonathan Mostow Bruce Willis: Greer Radha Mitchell: Peters Rosamund Pike: Maggie Boris Kodjoe: Stone James Francis Ginty: Canter James Cromwell: Older Canter Ving Rhames: The Prophet Writer (Original Graphic Novel): Robert Venditti Writer (Original Graphic Novel): Brett Weldele Writer (Screenplay): John Brancato Writer (Screenplay): Michael Ferris

Surrogates (2009) In a world where almost everybody uses a surrogate (a robot perfectly communicating with their brain) to conduct their daily life, FBI Agent Tom Greer is stunned to find himself investigating a homicide (there hasn’t been one for years). And it’s not just the crime, it’s the manner: a surrogate operator was killed when their surrogate was killed; something that cannot possibly happen. 6/10 Feeling oddly broken, this takes some nice ideas and doesn’t waste them exactly, but zips through so fast that it feels like it doesn’t make sense (the movie is under ninety minutes long). The two super-powered action sequences are edited to barely-functioning oblivion as is the law in 2009. However, it is genuinely refreshing not to have that most ridiculous and well-worn of plot devices, the machine that gains sentience (the technology concept is clear and adhered to and we get all sorts of other hope-you-won’t-notice continuity shortcuts), and it is remarkable how welcome the true human faces of beardy Bruce Willis and a fat, bearded dude are amongst the not-quite-human surrogate population. It provides an odd sense of relief, probably a bit like seeing someone real after looking at the unsettling manufactured face of 2009 Nicole Kidman for too long. Along with that feeling, it definitely does strike an emotional nerve (I remembered Willis’ character name after the movie, a good sign), albeit weakly, but the technical and editing deficiencies nearly stopped this movie working at all. This movie contains strong violence, strong fantasy violence, unpleassant scenes. Classified 12A by BBFC. Persons under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

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