Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

When the second Terminator movie made so much impact, nothing but absolute stardom was set for each person that was responsible for the success of the movie. Cameron went on to direct absolute blockbusters as True Lies and Titanic, Schwarzenegger became the only hero to the public that could successfully look cool, act cool and state the one liners we have come to expect today with movies, Furlong became a young hot star that appeared in several strong movies and composer Brad Fiedel's theme alone made the biggest impact when viewing any terminator film. However for the third, only Schwarzenegger had the honor in saying "I'll be Back" since neither Furlong, Cameron (not as director) nor Fiedel returned. Cameron nonetheless produced the feature but it isn't the same. Still Mostow made a movie which was entertaining and interesting from begin to the surprising end. Also Fiedel didn't get the opportunity in restating his music for the third film since director Mostow hired rising and falling star Beltrami to compose the music. In context it doesn't really stick out behind the massive sound effects and mixing. Because what surprised me was that, when I heard T3 for the first time, I said it was a pure Beltrami effort but a slightly non fitting score. I felt almost that Beltrami scored it like he did Blade 2, Scream or other films in that genre. And so I could understand why there was criticism to be made upon Beltrami's effort. It is basically a different score then I first expected, making always the impression at first disappointing. However, while the score grew on me, I feel Beltrami didn't push all the pedals, something I hoped he would do with this effort.

Why I used rising and falling is simple, Beltrami made big name with his Scream and Mimic score and fell down when he just kept scoring horror movies, which resulted in non inspiring efforts like Joy Ride. Not the fault of Beltrami but he needed a different movie, and what better way to get into the spirits with the long awaiting Terminator 3. Altogether it feels to me as a pure score from Beltrami, with all his trademarks and personal stylistic habits. However, if I was to listen to this score without knowing what, I would have never led my idea to move into the direction of a Terminator score, except for tiny small ideas reappearing from the second. This is why I never heard this as a Terminator score, hence why I'm also a bit disappointed in Beltrami's effort. But apart from that, this is actually a good score. If you don't consider this to be T3 but a Beltrami score, then it does contain potential and then you can enjoy the score for what it brings of music. Why people only remember the Terminator theme, composed by Brad Fiedel is a strange point, since Beltrami wrote one theme and used another small subtheme from the second picture to tie things together. 'A Day in the Life' states a growing theme with choir (which is very, very similar to Dragonfly's theme) and makes somewhat an apocalyptic impact, when the new theme appears briefly, namely John Conner's theme. This theme would either receive soft somber but emotional cello impact in 'JC Theme', growing with a Blade 2 fanfare in 'Magnetic Personality' and showing relieving melody in 'Radio'. This theme is actually very emotional and grows on you when you hear it on more then one occasion. The other returning subtheme is actually the growling synthesizer effect Fiedel used to signify the T-1000 in Terminator 2, here in T3 it returns again in stating the villain, the terminator who was sent to kill John Connor, the beauty that is Kristanna Loken, appearing with effect in 'Hearse Rent a Car', 'Kicked in the Can' and most powerfully in 'Magnetic Personality'.

There are examples of Beltrami's own music somewhat sounding like Fiedel, namely in the following tracks 'Hearse Rent a Car' and 'Terminator Tangle', they carry the stamp of both composers. The action music on the other hand carries the stamp of Beltrami clear enough, even though ideas of Fiedel occasionally steal the impression. Beltrami's pieces are riveting in pace and easy to enjoy when played loudly but not really melodic, and therefore aren't really remembered when the CD is over. The tracks from 10 to 16 do offer a very rhythmic and enjoyable percussive whole that (when listened loudly) can sound entertaining enough for the fan. The ending with JC's theme appearing relieved in 'Radio', a beautiful and melodic string theme appearing to entertain us during 'T3' while ending with the T-1000 theme is lovely, but it is the classic theme that appears at the final score track that steals the show. The main theme by Fiedel was a necessary inclusion into the score, and while it is sad that it doesn't appear in the film but only at the end credits, it was demanded from the first second on disc. A more bolder and faster version of this theme by Beltrami gives a terrific rush and concludes the score most promisingly. The two songs (one having theme ideas as underscore) aren't intrusive even if I first listen to them and let the score do its work, its always nice when Fiedel's theme can end the score and not the songs. Actually, from the third listen I enjoyed Beltrami's score very much. The rhythm during the action tracks was fun, the melody during the themes pleasing and the appearance of old ideas nostalgic. So for a Beltrami score, the soundtrack growls and moves most pleasingly for a 3 and a half star rating. However, I still feel that it is more a Beltrami score then a Terminator score (hence the 3 stars) and it could substitute several Beltrami horror / drama efforts and work still well in that context. This is perhaps why Terminator 3 received the bad criticism like that. In the end Beltrami could have catapulted his career more then what he did today, but he didn't fail the mission, like John Connor keeps repeating to Arnie in the movie. In fact he can come back when Arnie is in his '70 and when he is protecting Connor in a wheelchair. In fact, then Arnie would still look cool.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. A Day In The Life (3.41)

2. Hooked On Multiphonics (1.48)

3. Blonde Behind The Wheel (2.08)

4. JC Theme (3.34)

5. Starting T1 (1.50)

6. Hearse Rent A Car (1.49)

7. TX's Hot Tail (3.39)

8. Graveyard Shootout (1.31)

9. More Deep Thoughts (0.58)

10. Dual Terminator (0.51)

11. Kicked In The Can (2.03)

12. Magnetic Personality (4.36)

13. Termina-Tricks (2.12)

14. Flying Lessons (0.56)

15. What Do You Want On Your Tombstone? (1.20)

16. Terminator Tangle (3.22)

17. Radio (2.21)

18. T3 (3.14) Excellent Track

19. The Terminator * (2.17) Excellent Track

Bonus Tracks

20. Open To Me: Dillon Dixon ** (3.45)

21. I Told You: Mia Julia (3.12)

* From the Motion Picture The Terminator, composed by Brad Fiedel

** Music by Marco Beltrami

Total Length: 51.32

The use of artwork or photos is posted for non profitable reasons

=== Link to Composer Site: Marco Beltrami ===