Starts out great, but exhausts itself towards the end

Rating: 6/10 (9 October 2010)

When you thought that disaster movies cannot renovate themselves, this movie comes along and sets a whole new standard. The special effects not only gave a highly realistic sensation, they provided beautiful images, which the viewer will not soon forget. The action scenes were thrilling, elegant and creative.
However, the film was too long and tended to play itself out after the first half. The second part of the movie showed the survivors trying to fix a malfunction in one of the arcs that were supposed to shelter them from the earthquakes. This part proved to be long, tedious, predictable and quite unrealistic. The idea that the main character – a limousine driver and failing novelist – could somehow become a humanity saving hero with almost supernatural powers (illustrated by the under-water scene) – is highly unbelievable and tends to put a dent in the whole movie experience.
The movie also tried to convey a social and moral lesson: we were supposed to understand that moral issues should be put into politics, and not merely cold calculations, even if it means carrying on greater risks and sacrifices. That to was quite unrealistic: our world leaders hardly acknowledge moral considerations in peaceful times. Why would they start doing so when their own survival is at stake?