2012

Rating: 5/10 (9 April 2011)

I had heard a few people tell me that this disaster movie was pretty terrible and not worth watching, even though I saw a trailer that made it look good, so I gave it a chance, from director Roland Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow). Basically over a period of three to four years, geophysicist Dr. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) has found devastating evidence concerning earth radiation, and it appears that the earth's core is heating up. He warns colleague Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt), and even the President of the United States, Thomas Wilson (Danny Glover), and warns them that if action isn't taken as soon as possible the human race is doomed. Forward to the year 2012, where on a regular day writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) and his family, wife Kate (Amanda Peet) and children Noah (Liam James) and Lilly (Morgan Lily) having a regular day together. Large cracks start appearing in the ground, and quakes are occurring, and soon Jackson finds out about the impending danger from radio host and conspiracy theorist Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), based on the predictions of the Mayans. Then the earthquakes become much more powerful, causing the Curtis family and amateur pilot Gordon Silberman (Thomas McCarthy) with his family, to escape the danger and fly to safety. Then Yellowstone Caldera erupts, causing chaos everywhere with the dropping rock bombs and collapsing ground, and collecting a map it looks like the only place likely to have less devastation is China. Meanwhile it seems precautions have been taken with the four billion dollar arks that have been built to load all important people to safety, and obviously Adrian, along with the First Daughter, Dr. Laura Wilson (Thandie Newton) are heading for it. The next, and seemingly last, disaster to occur are the quakes creating the world's biggest tidal waves, and the water floods all over, but Jackson and his family, against all odds, secure themselves a place on the ark. In the end, after millions of deaths, including Frost and the President, the waters recede, and it appears that all continents of the world have merged together in the shape of Africa. All the actors do their best to give credible performances, but they cannot be outdone by the spectacular special effects as the world and all its notable cities, landscapes and monuments are destroyed by the solar phenomenon, it may get repetitive at times, but it's not a bad disaster movie. Worth watching!