Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003, USA/GER) C-108m. SCOPE **½ D: Jonathan Mostow. Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Nick Stahl, Claire Danes, Kristanna Loken, David Andrews. Continuation of THE TERMINATOR saga has a dull, often gleefully absurd plot. This time Schwarzenegger must protect the savior of mankind (Stahl, who's really a slacker) from ultra-vicious terminatrix Loken. There's not much more to say about the story. Action set-pieces are explosive (the crane scene is a wow) and film is endowed with an interesting twist ending. Otherwise, this is big budget and no brain.