Great visuals, non-existent storyline, mediocre acting

Rating: 5/10 (20 November 2009)

I went into this film knowing there would be a LOT of CGI. But I had also hoped for a coherent storyline that at least tries to explain the 2012 doomsday event. Instead, apparently the Sun had a momentary spaz which begins to heat the Earth (like that isn't already happening). I wish Emmerich put in the Mayan theory a bit more, as this would put the movie on some kind of firm basis.
The visuals were awesome, but it seems to be the only thing Emmerich can do properly. I thoroughly enjoyed the super volcano explosion, as well as the destruction of Los Angeles, but after a while, it seemed that from then on, a lot of the stuff than happened was completely unnecessary.
The acting was concerning. Amanda Peet did jack. She would just sit there and scream pretty much throughout the film. Danny Glover also did jack. To me he was more of a new broadcaster rather than the president of a nation. The Russians were also a bit annoying, as it was clear Emmerich tried to put comedy with the billionaire. Adrian Helmsley was the only character who at least acted concerned about the human race. He at least tried to save people. Oliver Platt's performance was alright, as he demonstrated the typical man who cared more about his own life than others.