Surprisingly great

Rating: Null/10 (16 November 2009)

WARNING: MANY SPOILERS Before I'm utterly dismissed from the IMDb community for enjoying this movie, I will say the following: I never expected this to be a good movie, and yes it certainly has its flaws. Some of the stunts are far too preposterous to be believed, the "science" is non-existent (I'm supposed to believe that all of California is sinking into the pacific ocean) and there are one or two in-your-face references to 9/11. However, throughout this 158 minute epic, I was thoroughly entertained, excited, and even emotionally moved. Roland Emmerich's disaster movie to end all disaster movies really delivers in every way, from the spectacular scenes of destruction of famous landmarks (Yellowstone is a super-volcano!) to the hilarious tongue-in-cheek jokes, to the gripping personal stories of the characters. Technically, the film is brilliant; the CGI effects are stunning and horrifying, just as they needed to be, the cinematography really compliments the beautiful scenery (that is, before the scenery is either blown up by a super-volcano, flooded by a tsunami, or shaken up by an earthquake), and the music is exciting and powerful. As for the humor, I found myself laughing a lot, and not because the movie was bad, but because it was genuinely funny. And of course, the big surprise of this movie, the personal elements. It all seems cliché: the divorced father trying to make right with his family, the president and his daughter trying to mend their relationship, a young scientist proving himself, but it all works really well and hits home. Full of wonderful personal stories, you'll find yourself rooting for the characters non-stop, even the a**hole Russian who sacrifices himself to save his two boys.
In the end, I was one of many audience members clapping, crying and cheering, and a little more appreciative of life. This movie is optimistic and hopeful, reminding us to value every chance we get to talk with our families, hug our children, enjoy the beauty of the world, and ultimately treat each other with respect and kindness. This film reminds us of the potential of the human spirit, and how great we can all be. Believe me when I tell you this is a must see, and despite what other critics have said, if you go in with an open mind, you'll enjoy it thoroughly.