Maybe I'm just too 'general public' to be a critic...

Rating: 7/10 (30 July 2010)

As a disclaimer, the only spoiler I have included is the overall tone of the ending, no plot specifics. Promise :)
I'm not sure whether to think of myself much of a movie critic or not. I know what I like in a film for sure, but it seems to me that I'm quite nicer to most films than a lot of people on this site. So, particularly in this review because it seems to very much from the others, I hope that you find this review somewhat helpful but it seems impossible to promise that you will agree with me.
I judge a film based on how it leaves me feeling. Not like sad gets 1 point and ecstatic gets 10, but based on the level of effect that the pull of the emotion proposed in a film has on me. I don't go off on a checklist and explore every little detail down to the last byte (i.e. character depth, particular performances, little filmmaking goofs) Thus 2012, to me, is quite possibly one of the best films I have ever seen.
I had a phase in around eighth grade when I first found out about the 2012 conspiracy in which I started freaking out. I didn't want the world to end so soon! I did a little research and learned that there was no way anything could happen, but still the thought lowered my spirits quite a bit whenever mentioned.
Now, when this movie came out I did whatever I could to avoid it, the whole depression residue still left in the deep, dark pits of my soul. However, as in today's case, when you're on a 9 hour plane ride and have seen every other film in the seatback entertainment system, you don't have much of a choice. So, I entered the world of this film at 30,000 feet not expecting much of anything but a bunch of explosions and $50 million of special effects.
That's where I was wrong.
You see, this film wasn't just several edited clips of explosions. It was a film following the journey of an average American family, under harsh stresses, facing the end of the world. And even though a few parts are clichéd to the point where you want to rip your hair out of your head (I swear if I ever hear that 'you cannot fill a cup that is already full' analogy in a film ever again...), the ending, surprisingly enough for dealing with the end of the world, brings an extremely uplifting emotion. It proposes many possible morals to the story. It installs a sense of hope in the viewer.
Oh yeah, and then there's that special effects and bang boom KABLOOSH!!!! BAM BAM BAM BAM KSSSHST!!! BANG!!! and stuff.
Overall, don't get put off by the grim prospect of the world ending. See this film. You'll be happy you did.
So, the verdict