Schwarzenegger rises with the machines
By Harinda Vidanage
Schwarzenegger, the name dominated action movies in the 80s to the early 90s till muscles became obsolete criteria for the action heroes in the late 90s. Arnold Schwarzenegger and The Terminator were never perceived as two but one since 1984 to date Arnie remains The Terminator.

The above comparison was made in honour of a man who is now feeling the effects of age but has a last hurrah before having to give up or made to give up the crown of action hero of all time. Parallel to this thinking the new Terminator 3 movie has a line where Arnie says “I am an obsolete design” comparing him with the new Terminatrix sent by his former creators to kill the eternal target of all three Terminator movies, Jack Connor.

The T - X a Sexy female Terminatrix played by Kristanna Loken is the new ultimate killing machine far more advanced than the old T 101 of Skynet reprogrammed by the resistance to protect Connor played by Schwarzenegger.
Customized for battle T - X can change shape at will and telepathically make other machines, including cars and trucks, operate under her command plus an onboard weapon system. But her role is only fulfilled when in battle mode with the old T 101 or The Terminator we know.

The best thing about the mechanical Arnie in the movie is though he lacks the high tech edge over the new T-X the ability to survive or keep on rolling like an old World War II destroyer amidst taking a lot of hits and also surviving to protect Connor, played this time by Nick Stahl and in the previous movie it was Edward Furlong as Connor who fought to defeat the machines.

In the new T 3 Connor is not living a life he should after defeating the machines a decade ago. Instead he goes underground without address or phone number, so the machines can’t find him as if anticipating another effort by the machines to kill the person who will lead human resistance after the so called Judgment day against the machines. But in the new Terminator movie he finds that the new T X is not just looking to terminate him but another of his child hood friends who is destined to become his wife and be the second in command of the human resistance movement Kate Brewster played by Claire Danes.

In direction of the movie James Cameron the figure behind the success of the earlier Terminator movies are not in the seat but instead Jonathan Mostow. Though his name lacks the marquee value of that of James Cameron, Mostow’s skillful work in his own previous features, “Breakdown” and “U-571,” has made him a good choice. In those films as well as this, Mostow shows a gift for doing action right by not dumbing things down and by emphasizing the underlying reality of even far-fetched situations making sure that $175-million project which includes five producers and four executive producers doesn’t go wasted.

Any way for any person who has no idea of the early Terminator movies the “T3” smartly recaps it in the film’s opening voice-over, in which John Connor relates that mechanical killers from the future, terminators, have twice tried to murder him because he is fated to grow into a commander who will lead remnants of the human race to victory in a war with a deadly machine complex called Skynet in the aftermath of a nuclear apocalypse.

Ironically the Skynet is the brain child of Kate Brewster’s father. T 3 features the first battle with the Skynet as well.With breathtaking action sequences and special effects and extraordinary skills in handling the cameras the T 3 production team has brought into the life the Terminator 3: Rise of Machine sans most of its former production crew in its former glory and placed it among the list of best action movies ever made.

This is a fortunate break for Schwarzenegger who after some ordinary performances in “End of Days”, “6th Day” and “Collateral Damage” to show that he still has steam to become one of the greatest action stars of all times.
2003 seems a good year for Arnie with the line “I’ll be back” in 1984 Terminator I has been voted the best parting shot in movie history. And the “Hasta la Vista, baby”, from the sequel Terminator II: Judgment Day, also polling the fourth highest votes.

Teledrama questions motherhood
By Susitha R. Fernando

Where there is dynasty there is deception, intrigu, murder and fraud. All these actions take place to preserve the apparent integrity and status of the inheritance. Director Lucky Dias’ production “Suwanda Obai Amme” has all these yet it goes beyond these to explore the depth and heartache that comes with motherhood.

After losing her husband and three sons to a hereditary disease Mrs. Weerasinghe is left with Cyril on whom she lavishes her affection. Suspicion arises when a blood test reveals that Cyril’s child doesn’t posses his genes. After this Senehelatha Cyril’s aristrocratic wife and the child are treated with contempt by Cyril and his mother.

Senehelatha a teacher by profession leaves home to stay with Achala. Longing to end a marriage where he had been cheated Cyril seeks a divorce. Senehelatha refuses to consider it.

Meanwhile Ramani another woman who is rejected by her husband thinking that she has been unfaithful is anxious about her child who is sick. Cyril seeks her help to forge a letter that will help him to proceed with the divorce. Ramani refuses to help him.

Piyadasa was a driver who served in the Walawwa. His son, an undergraduate claims blood relationship with the Weerasinghe’s when he is chased away as a result of the affair he has with Menike’s niece.

Menika had an idea to propose her niece to Cyril. However, Piyadasa’s son later breaks off the affair with her when he realises that he was a sick man himself. And so the story develops with mothers and sons. Ramani’s child dies suddenly leaving her grieving. Senehelatha grieves alone with her child rejected by Cyril. Cyril grieves over his inherited disease.

Menike is refusing to take the blame for her actions and hopes that the family will prosper one day. What will be the outcome of the conflicts in marriage between Ramani and her husband?

Veteran artistes Lucky Dias and Malani Fonseka have joined with Maureen Charuni, Chitra Wakista, Damitha Abeyratne, Gamini Jayalath, Jayangani Dikkumbura, Wijeratne Warakagoda and Roshan Pilapitiya to make the cast complete.

Leel Ananda Gajanayake has written the screenplay and Leel Chulawansa, Gamin Chaminda Gunathilake has filmed the play while Lalantha Jayakody edited it. Singer Nanda Malani has sung a playback song to the lyrics set by Dharmasiri Gamage. Music is by Navaratne Gamage.

“Suwanda Obai Amme” will be the prime time teledrama telecast every Thursday at 8.30 on Rupavahini sponsored by Siddhalepa Group of Companies.