Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Set seven years after Terminator 2, John Connor lives off the radar to avoid detection.  

Unable to locate the future resistance leader, evil computer overlords Skynet send a new sexy Terminator back in time to hunt and kill his future Connor’s future lieutenants.  

To protect the vulnerable targets, including Connor’s future wife, a T-850 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is despatched through time to save humanity.  

With virtually the same plot as T2, this was a chance for the studio to print money by sticking to a tried and tested formula. Unfortunately, with the series creator James Cameron sitting this one out, the sly humour, pathos and originality that had been the hallmark of previous entries is sadly absent. 

Luckily for fans of exploding helicopters, the disappointment is tempered by a wonderful double chopper fireball set piece. 

Connor and his wife flee to a military base in a desperate attempt to shut down Skynet. They are pursued by the T-X which crashes through the hangar doors in a small police chopper which skids to halt against the wall without exploding. 

The T-X emerges from the damaged aircraft and is almost upon the pair when Arnie crashes through the hangar doors in a huge transport helicopter obliterating everything in its path including the smaller police copter.  

Artistic merit 

What exploding helicopter fan isn't turned on by a little chopper on chopper (Oh-er, missus!) action? 

Exploding helicopter innovation 

Despite the frequency with which helicopters blow up in movies, it's rare that you seem detonate by crashing into one another. 

Do passengers survive? 

The T-X has its legs shorn off but the pesky blighter still drags itself out fighting. Arnie emerges from his wreckage with half his face missing to give a triumphant: “I’m back.” 

Favourite Quote 

Terminator: “Your levity is good, it relieves tension and the fear of death.” 

Interesting Fact 

Perhaps one of the most interesting scenes never made the final movie and explains why all the Terminators look like Arnie. Through a promotional video Schwarzenegger plays a Texan sergeant selected as the template to which all future Terminators will be based. When his southern accent is questioned by the top brass, an Austrian scientist (with Arnie’s accent overdubbed) declares: “We can fix it.”