Terminator 3’s Bathroom Battle: Franchise’s Best Action Scene Outside T2

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Although Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines didn’t quite live up to James Cameron’s films, it still delivers one of the most intense action sequences within the series. The Terminator films, while they’ve had their highs (like Judgment Day) and lows (such as Genisys), consistently deliver on action. Even though the technology was pushed to its limits by James Cameron in the first two movies, even lesser-regarded films like Salvation have some standout action scenes.

It’s undeniable that following James Cameron’s movies, there has been some level of disappointment across the board. For instance, consider Terminator 3, a film that took a decade to develop and saw both Cameron and Linda Hamilton opting out of returning. The movie, titled Rise of the Machines, can be seen as a poor imitation of Judgment Day, with yet another Arnold Schwarzenegger-shaped Terminator model safeguarding John Connor (Nick Stahl) from a new cyborg creation. Despite its flaws in humor and plot, the sequel does deliver on the action front.

The Terminator vs. T-X In Rise Of The Machines Is A Great Action Sequence

Terminator 3’s bathroom battle is flush with great moments

Regarding Terminator 3, there are criticisms to be made, but it’s undeniable that the film showcases some skillfully designed action sequences. The most costly (and arguably the scene that the sequel was marketed on) is a thrilling chase involving the T-X (Kristanna Loken) chasing John Connor and the T-850 in a crane truck. This truck seems to demolish half the city during its pursuit, with many practical effects used rather than extensive CGI. The most memorable confrontation, however, takes place near the end between the two Terminator units, where an intense brawl occurs – this epic fight spills into an abandoned restroom between the T-X and T-850.

Redefining the concept of a “restroom interlude,” these two hefty cyborgs engage in an intense battle, sending each other crashing through walls, mirrors, and cubicles as they exchange blows that would instantly incapacitate ordinary individuals. This Terminator brawl may be slightly diminished by comical sound effects, but considering it’s essentially a fight between two heavily armored juggernauts, it’s an entertaining spectacle.

In the movie “Rise of the Machines”, director Jonathan Mostow might not have perfectly captured the series’ tone, but he was consistently skillful in delivering action-packed scenes. From the underappreciated “Breakdown” starring Kurt Russell to the tense submarine drama “U-571”, Mostow has a knack for crafting intense action sequences. The way “Terminator 3” unfolded seemed like a fusion of all his accumulated knowledge up until that point. While it’s important not to ignore the film’s flaws, it does live up to its blockbuster expectations in terms of cool action scenes.

This Bathroom Fight Is The Best Action Scene Outside The First Two Movies

The T-X vs T-850 fight was worth the price of admission

In a class of their own, Cameron’s initial Terminators made it highly unlikely that a third film could ever surpass them. It seems as though Rise of the Machines consciously (and perhaps shrewdly) avoided this challenge. Instead, it prioritized action and humor without pushing many boundaries. Essentially, it’s a rehash of Terminator 2, but with a larger budget to show for it. However, despite not surpassing any of the Cameron films in terms of action, the bathroom fight scene stands as the most impressive setpiece among all the sequels.

This bathroom fight scene, while perhaps not as exceptional as some other action sequences in the Terminator series that had trouble creating engaging set pieces, is still a standout. It’s packed with intensity and has a satisfying crunch to it. Moreover, it offers brief glimpses of character for the cyborg assassins, as they clash heads against walls. The scene where the T-X grabs the T-850 by the groin, lifts him, and walks him through walls might seem a bit ridiculous, but Arnold’s amused expression makes it work.

If Cameron had personally participated in this bathroom brawl, there’s no question it would have been given more attention and prolonged significantly. However, even without his involvement, this scene remains a notable highlight in Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, a fight that the entire sequel had been leading up to. Despite the T-X being clearly superior, Arnold’s T-850 puts up quite a fight before eventually succumbing.

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2025-06-01 16:27