Give me back my 158 minutes!!!

Rating: Null/10 (21 October 2011)

It is rare to never that I get nothing from viewing a movie, but then 2012 came along. The potential to be great with a topic of world destruction and old legends.(Of course I never expected to get any of this, when I learned that Emmerinch was going to direct. Look at the man's work. All Effects, no story) I was however expecting a blast of these effects, but after the viewing I am left with utter disappointment. Maybe even a few million brain cells lighter.
The effects are average at best. For some reason they are so very repetitive. They lack not only in excitement, but also sheer realism. One scene is a grim example of this, when the Vatican is destroyed, and crashes to kill thousands of spectators. Not only does the building slide along the ground, which must be a first in the history building destruction. Secondly it drags out so long that it is very easy to see flaws. One being the distinct difference between the people running close to camera, and the people being crushed further back.
The Vatican is just one example. Emmerich has decided to show the world destruction in pictures, and he is showing it all. This makes the scenes somewhat recognizable. Whether he destroys a city with an earthquake, lava or a tsunami, it is still buildings being destroyed with no human aspect.
And about the human aspect. Don't expect to get one from the characters. The clichés are plentiful and embarrassing. The script is downright pitiful and the acting is nothing to praise (Of course much of the reason for this the script). Woody Harrelson makes a somewhat decent appearance in a rather small role, but other than that it is pretty poor.
In the end you get a film that keeps you going on CGI and effects, so you might enjoy it for that. But I bet that you will pray for some kind of story after the first 45 minutes. Well, you ain't gonna get it!