Late Night Thoughts On Watching "Terminator 2"

(Originally published June 8, 2003.)

(With apologies to Lewis Lapham.)

Years ago, as the rain poured, as the sky thundered with the wrath of a thousand gods, I waited for a taxicab. An atypical day in Los Angeles. A day of Eastern weather. The kind the Establishment snobs take pride in -- out of desperation, if nothing else.

A cab pulled up. Valley Cab, I think it was.

"Where to?", the driver asked. "Nowhere special. Just out of this rain," I kidded. But actually, I wanted to go home.

The ride took, how long? Can't remember. Couldn't be more than a half hour, 45 minutes, maybe. The conversation turned, as it often does, to Hollywood.

"Ever seen Terminator 2?" he asked.

"Yeah, great flick."

"Well, guess what? I was involved in that movie!"

"Huh," I said. "Yes, part of the special effects crew. You remember the scene where Sarah saw the nuclear blast? You know -- in her dream sequence?"

"Sure. Who could forget it?"

"I was part of that. Setting up the scene, I mean."

"Really."

"Really."

So the newest sequel is coming out, and the theme of it is, as usual, universal armageddon -- or at least, armageddon of the global variety. The rise of the machines.

And as I listen to the theme from Terminator 2, I wonder: In a thousand years, will any of this really, really matter?