Terminator 3
This one probably had the most to live up to of all the sequels out this year. The first two Terminator films are legendary in genre entertainment, and in Hollywood period. James Cameron crafted one of the most complex stories ever with those two films, and it seemed almost sacrilige that someone else would try to make another. Even with Arnold involved, it had to fail.
Jonathon Mostow, best known for the dreadful (in my opinion) U-571, took the helm of this film. Arnold joined on, but none of the original cast did. The story was pretty close to the other two: a Terminator has come back to the past to kill John Conner and his lieutenants in order to stop a human victory in the future. Another Terminator is sent to stop the first. The first is the new Terminatrix, played by the delectable Kristanna Loken. the second, is of course, the old T-800, or Arnold.
This movie did what it was supposed to. It continued the story Cameron began in 1984. It does not try to top the last movie, although the major chase scene, is a spectacular sight to behold. I have seen a great many chase scenes this year (most in Bad Boys II, but that's another story) and this has to be the best. The overall movie is pretty incredible. I was rivetted in my seat for the entire two hours. And, it sets up perfectly for the rumored fourth and final sequel. I'd have to give this one a 7 out of 10 stars.
Dumb & Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd
Out of all these, probably one of the least anticipated movie was Dumb and Dumberer: When Harry Met Lloyd. This movie, a prequel to the 1994 hit starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, stars two nobodies and Eugene Levy. The nobodies are Eric Christian Olsen as Lloyd and Derek Richardson as Harry. The plot makes no difference, because its forgotten a few minutes after it is revealed. What does matter is the absolute balls-to-the-wall phystical comedy of the principals.
These two kids did spot-on renditions of the Harry and Lloyd characters. Olsen especially managed to catch all the nuances of the Jim Carrey performance in the original. It was an enjoyable hour and a half. Levy, of course, has become the new king of gross-out comedy after American Pie, and does his best to steal the show from the boys. He nearly succeeds, but the absolute stupidity of the boys is so overwhelmingly funny. And Bob Sagat's cameo is priceless.
This movie isn't for everyone, but I'm going to give it a 6 out of 10.
The Matrix: Reloaded
This movie was probably the most anticiapted movie of the year period. The origianl Matrix changed the way people make and see movies, way back in 1999. The sequels, Reloaded and Revolutions, are the most hyped movies in recent memory. Add on the Anitmatrix and the video game, Enter the Matrix, you have on of the most complex movie universes ever created.
Perhaps that's why this movie fell short in my eyes. The first was filled with action, while this one seemed to do more talking and philosophising about existance than anything. The overhyped car chase was uninteresting and fairly expensive looking, but not really that exciting. There were some cool parts, however. Any scene with Hugo Weaving's Mr. Smith was worthwhile, and the relationship between Trinity and Neo was great to watch grow. It had its moments, but failed to make the impact that the first one did. However, I might just have my standards too high. Anyway, I'm giving this one a 6 out of 10.
Those are the three I've seen this summer, besides X2, American Wedding and Bad Boys. Those three are up, and you've probably already read them. The others are still on my list to be seen, with the exception of Legally Blonde and Spy Kids. Hopefully things work out and you'll get the sequel to sequelmania.