# Why of WHY did they make "Terminator 3"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 30, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556 "2003-01-30T05:48:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/1 "2003-01-30T05:48:54Z")
I mean, where the hell else can this story go?! What was Swarzenegger [sic? so sue me!] thinking?! I mean, Eddie Furlong couldn’t be in it because he’s too coked up, Hamilton’s character is apparently dead. I can’t tell for 100% certainty, but I think James Cameron only HELPED write it, and didn’t direct or produce. I sense a huge dud in the making, and a very steep decline in Arnie’s career soon to follow. Thoughts? (And FTR, I’m really surprised no one else has posted a thread on this.) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/2 "2003-01-30T06:16:37Z")
Cameron _didn’t_ have **anything** to do with this movie. He got sued over the first two and has refused to have anything to do with this movie because of it. (And yeah, there have been other threads on this.) ---
**Author:** ![Lizard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@Lizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lizard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/3 "2003-01-30T06:21:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tuckerfan \* > \*\*Cameron _didn’t_ have **anything** to do with this movie. He got sued over the first two and has refused to have anything to do with this movie because of it. (And yeah, there have been other threads on this.) \*\* Cameron is listed on the IMDB as a co-writer. And where are these other threads? I did a search, and didn’t find any! ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/4 "2003-01-30T06:26:09Z")
based on characters created by. That’s about all he has associated with this future bomb (especially if it is rated PG-13 like rumored! I want naked Terminatrix!!!) ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/5 "2003-01-30T06:43:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*Cameron is listed on the IMDB as a co-writer. And where are these other threads? I did a search, and didn’t find any! \*\* Let’s see [here’s one](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=124292&highlight=straight%2Bdope:%2Bterminator), and [another](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=151983&highlight=terminator) and [one more](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=124347&highlight=terminator). Most of them have “T3” in the subject line, so that’s why you couldn’t find them. ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/6 "2003-01-30T06:49:37Z")
Because this is the Year of the Relentless Sequels. A Dumb and Dumber prequel A second X-Men Two Matrix installments and more. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/7 "2003-01-30T07:21:59Z")
One word: Money. Plus Arnie’s decided that sequels are the way to go since all his original stuff is tanking. Hence Conan 3. ---
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/8 "2003-01-30T07:27:26Z")
Is King Conan actually a go? I thought it was still Rumor City ---
**Author:** ![Iteki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/eada6e/32.png) [@Iteki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iteki)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/9 "2003-01-30T10:29:41Z")
I can’t understand either what in gods name inspired them to do this in such a half-ass way. I could have been into a proper T3 with the proper John etc, but if it ain’t got no “sara cawna” in it, then what can the point possibly be? This just screams “Hannibal” at me. Good gawd, looking at the trailer I just shudder, tv-movie-of-the-week stuff ☹ and Arnie look SO old! I mean he really looks old, _really_. I am so annoyed! The first two films are amongst my favourites. Each was ground-breaking in it’s own way. I believe that T2 was probably the first movie I was actually “wound up” about, I was hyped for weeks before it was realeased. ---
**Author:** ![Silentgoldfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@Silentgoldfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silentgoldfish)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/10 "2003-01-30T11:04:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tars Tarkas \* > \*\*Is King Conan actually a go? I thought it was still Rumor City \*\* Hmm. You caught me. Upon closer inspection, I am wearing loafers. Plus I didn’t do my research. To make up for it I give you [True Lies 2](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0238674) ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 11:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/11 "2003-01-30T11:21:42Z")
Why did they make this film? I dunno and I don’ care, because it paid Mr. Rilch’s and my bills for two months! Yee-ha! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 12:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/12 "2003-01-30T12:09:07Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\* I sense a huge dud in the making, and a very steep decline in Arnie’s career soon to follow._\* How can Arnie’s career decline any further. Oh, wait, True Lies 2. Probably starring Dana Carvey and Shanon Tweed. ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/13 "2003-01-30T12:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > What was Swarzenegger [sic? so sue me!] thinking?! “Miniguns are cool.” ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/14 "2003-01-30T14:06:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Silentgoldfish \* > \*\*To make up for it I give you [True Lies 2](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0238674) \*\* I’ll see your True Lies 2, and raise you a [Havana Nights: Dirty Dancing 2](http://us.imdb.com/Title?0338096) :eek: ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/15 "2003-01-30T15:03:20Z")
Does anyone else seem to recall that in the original **Terminator** , the Terminators looked _different_ from one another. The one that blew up the shelter didn’t look a damned thing like Arnold (aside from being a body builder and all). Would people watch another well-done Terminator sequel if it didn’t have Arnold in it (I’m just trying to think of a way to get around the fact that this “ageless machine” has gotten thirty damned near thirty years older). ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/16 "2003-01-30T15:48:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lizard \* > \*\*…and a very steep decline in Arnie’s career soon to follow. \*\* As opposed to the upward trajectory it’s been following the past few years? Hear of _Batman and Robin_? _End of Days_? _Collateral Damage_? Lately, Arnie’s having better luck in California politics than he is at the box office. ---
**Author:** ![El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@El\_Elvis\_Rojo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Elvis_Rojo)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/17 "2003-01-30T16:46:10Z")
Hey, **Dewey** , don’t start there. What about _Hurcules in New York_? _Junior_? _The Last Action Hero_? _ **Jingle All the Way** _? Face it, he’s really only got about five REALLY good movies…the rest are pretty much crap. ---
**Author:** ![elf6c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c57346/32.png) [@elf6c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elf6c)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/18 "2003-01-30T16:55:01Z")
Reminds me of the Simpsons episode where they ask Rainer Wolfcastle how he sleeps at night after making such horrible movies: RC: On a large pile on money, with many beautiful women. T3 looks to stink. Did you see the horrible T3 promo during the Superbowl-- ugh. True Lies 2, might be good if the writing is consistent with the first one. Still plenty of spy movies to riff off of. Still Arnold gettin’ to old for this crap. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/19 "2003-01-30T17:04:33Z")
> [@](#): > > A second X-Men > Two Matrix installments Hey, these are going to be good! > [@](#): > > True Lies 2, might be good if the writing is consistent with the first one. Still plenty of spy movies to riff off of. IOf it makes him happy and it makes money, who cares? BTW, you really can’t blame him for Batman and Robin. I mean, he did the best acting in that movie. Which is in itself rather disturbing, but had they gone the “campy, but fun” route of Batman 3 rather than the “moronic and dull” route of Batman 4, then he would have fit in perfectly. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/13edae/32.png) [@Dewey\_Cheatem\_Undhow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Cheatem_Undhow)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556/20 "2003-01-30T17:18:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > \*\*Hey, **Dewey** , don’t start there. What about _Hurcules in New York_? _Junior_? _The Last Action Hero_? _ **Jingle All the Way** _? > > Face it, he’s really only got about five REALLY good movies…the rest are pretty much crap. \*\* Yeah, but the movies you list were interspersed with successful films. After _Junior_ came _Eraser_, which wasn’t great but IIRC did pretty well at the box office. After LAH came _True Lies_. And I always thought _Jingle_ did OK, considering it was a cheap movie to make (good return on investment for the studio). So lately he’s been in decline; before that, he was a mixed bag. And before that he could do no wrong: between 1985’s _Commando_ and 1991’s T2, only _Red Heat_ was a bomb. (I discount the earlier barbarian films and T1 because he wasn’t a star quantity yet – those were films that happened to have Arnold instead of being “Arnold films.” [Arnold’s filmography](http://us.imdb.com/Name?Schwarzenegger,+Arnold) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-of-why-did-they-make-terminator-3/151556.md?page=2)