Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language.
158 Minutes
Directed By: Roland Emmerich
Written By: Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser
Staring: John Cusack, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Oliver Platt, Wooddy Harrelson
When they tell you not to panic… that’s when you run! – Jackson Curtis
Review:
I remember growing up and watching Airplane I and II loving them as spoofs of disaster classics. I then fell in love with movies like the Poseidon Adventure and Towering Inferno which are great disaster films. Then you have the ultimate disaster blockbuster of Titanic. 2012 is in some good company in a cool genre in my opinion. There are so many great aspects of this film that I can’t even begin to explain fully. I highly recommend that if you have yet to see this movie, go see it immediately. It is well worth the trip to see it on the big screen in awesome surround sound. This movie could have been an awesome summer blockbuster in my opinion like other Roland Emmerich films such as Independence Day.
For those of you who have been living under a rock, 2012 is a film about the end of the world thanks to radiation that is emitted from the sun and has begun boiling the earths core which has been building up over time and is going to cause massive earthquakes which will lead to tsunamis around the world. Luckily, this natural disaster is discovered by some super smart scientist played by Chiwetel Ejiofor who is able to alert the government so that steps can be taken to save humankind.
Roland Emmerich is truly the king of blowing shit up! I used to think that Michael Bay had the corner on that market, that has been obliterated in my opinion. In my opinion this is the BEST end of the world film that I have ever seen. You will be taken on a wild ride once the action starts and your pulse will be pumping with each scene. The special effects, while not on the level of James Cameron are still very awesome. I loved the complete destruction of California, it was amazing to watch and the little details of people running for their lives and falling from building was unbelievable.
What sets 2012 apart from other action films is that it actually has a decent story. It is not a great story, but I actually felt compassion for the characters and was rooting for their survival through the entire film. John Cusack is one of my favorite actors, he is very quirky and fun and is versatile which makes him a perfect fit for this film. He is a struggling writer who is divorced from his wife played by Amanda Peet. She and the kids live with the ultra cool Gordon who is a plastic surgeon. While taking the kids on vacation Cusack’s character meets a crazy conspiracy theorist played by Woody Harrelson who shows him what the government has not told the general public about. At first he does not take him seriously but that soon changes.
The Bottom Line:
2012 is a perfect well-rounded film for the whole family. It is full of action, adventure, and jam packed with enough thrills to keep you amped up well after the credits have ended. In addition, you will love the way you are drawn into each of the characters and their individual journeys throughout the film. Also if you love special effects you will enjoy this film and should see this on the big screen. This film has kicked off the holiday movie season with a bang!
Popularity: 3% [?]
