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“~ INTRODUCTION ~ ”

written by zagureanu on 07/01/2010

~ INTRODUCTION ~

In the summer of 2009 I was sat in a darkened cinema when I first saw the teaser trailer for the movie 2012. Instantly I knew that it was a movie that I would really like to see because I saw the words "From the Director Of Independence Day" appear at the start of the trailer. Independence Day is in my all time top ten movies and was a movie I thoroughly enjoyed. With the looks of the trailer ... 2012 was going to be just as good. There was a sense of global disaster, a hint of an emotive storyline, just a little bit of sci-fi perhaps and some stunning looking special effects.

2012 was eventually released on Friday 13th November 2009 and I saw the movie on it's first weekend in a packed cinema. The movie is rated 12A ... which seems appropriate but it does contain several harrowing scenes of injury and death that more sensitive viewers may find distressing.

So, did 2012 live up to my expectations ? Well, l hope this review answers that question !!!



~ THE 2012 PHENOMENON ~

The movie 2012 is based on what has become known as the "2012 Phenomenon" which in a nutshell is a prophecy that predicts that on or around 21st December 2012 the world will end. This prophecy is based on a 5,125-year-long Long Count calendar that was started by the Ancient Mayan Civilization coming to an end on that date. On this date, "apparently", the world will face a time of great transformation with cataclysmic outcomes for everyone on the planet. The ancient prophecy itself has divided scholars around the world. Historians, Archeaologoists, Theologians, Astronomers and Scientists have all put a great deal of research into the 2012 Phenomenon and whilst many discard the prophecy as complete nonsense other have claimed that it could be possible. But there are many other issues that make up the 2012 Phenomenon too from the completely acceptable issues related to climate change and global warming to various interpretations of what has been written in the bible and other religious books ... there are even bizarre tales of extra-terrestrial influences thrown into the "2012 Phenomenon" too !!!

It isn't hard to see why the subjest matter appealed to director Roland Emmerich ... two of his most successful movies, Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow, were based on themes concerning the end of the world.

~ THE 2012 PLOT (WITHOUT TOO MANY SPOILERS) ~

There is nothing as annoying as a movie review that essentially gives away the entire plot. For anyone reading who hasn't seen the movie (but would like to do so) it simply takes away all sense of discovery and leaves them watching a movie with far too much knowledge about what is going to happen. Therefore, I wont give away too much but instead will give you a taste of what this movie is about ...

2012 is a movie that uses the Mayan prediction as it's starting point but cleverly mixes modern day environmental issues to create a storyline that is both far-fetched but at the same time quite easy to accept !!!

The movie actually starts in the here and now ... it is 2009 and Doctor Santam Tsurutani has discovered that the earth's core is radidly over-heating as a result of solar flares creating microwaves in the earth's atmosphere. This information is passed to Gelogist Adrian Helmsley who then passes it to Carl Anheuser (The White House Chief of Staff ). It isn't long before The President himself is made aware of the situation and due to the fact that the scientific discoveries have predicted a series of natural disasters that could potentialy destroy the earth he decides to share the information with other world leaders. A top secret project is then created to guarantee the survival of the human race ... a project based on the creation of several Arks with enough room for 400,000 people !!! Whilst many places are taken by politicians and world leaders places on the Arks can be be bought for one billion Euros (which will help to fund such a massive project).

That's the background information ... but the majority of the movie actually takes place in 2012. In addition to the political storyline and the Ark project the story of the movie is seen through the eyes of a "normal" person ... a writer by the name of Jackson Curtis (portrayed by John Cusack). Jackson Curtis is meant to be the character we identify with ... his life is far from perfect, he has seperated from his wife and all he wants to do now is work hard and try and be a good father. He is also the character who makes the discoveries within the movie and as he realises that all is not well so do we !!!

Jackon Curtis first becomes aware that all is not well when he meets a man called Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson) whilst on a camping trip with his children at Yellowstone National Park. Charlie Frost is a conspiracy theorist but he also has enough evidence that certain theories may be true and that the leaders we are meant to trust are working on a number of secret projects that we aren't aware of. Being a writer, Jackson Curtis is intrigued ... and when earthquakes hit San Franscisco he starts to think that maybe Charlie Frost was right. When Los Angeles disappears into the Pacific Ocean it's all the proof Curtis jackson needs and his opprtunity to be the world's greatest father is thrust upon him. As the end of the world approaches his only concern is to get his children to safety ... and the only safe place is on board the Arks !!! We meet several other characters along the way and see the story form a number of different points of view. We see how the wealthy and priviledged who have bought a place on the Ark see the events. We see how world leaders struggle to cope with decisions that effect billions of people and meet a number of characters from both scientific and religious backgrounds who each have their own personal stories to tell. At the centre of the movie, however, is Jackson Curtis and his own personal struggle to save the ones he loves.

I won't tell you any more other than that the global events that are initiated with Los Angeles falling into the Pacific Ocean are truly eye-opening and that Curtis Jackon's task is monumental. Does the movie have a happy ending ? I think if you want to know the answer to this question then maybe you should go and see this movie yourself !!!

~ THEMES ~

There are so many interesting themes that 2012 explores that it would be hard to cover them all but I will pick out three of my own personal favourites.

* FAMILIES: To begin with the theme of "families" is central to what makes this movie essentially a tale that people will e able to relate to. As a father myself I know I would do anything to save my own son so I admire the character Curtis Jackson for doing everything he does. But there are other characters within this movie that also face difficult decisions that will effect not only their own families but families across the globe and if you put yourself in their shoes you realise that personal feelings and the responsibilty of leadership do not always go hand in hand. Within 2012 we learn a great deal about families ... fathers and sons, mothers and daughters and, of course, husbands and wives. Disaster movies have a great way of making relationships much more intense and as time running out there always seems enough time to deal with any "unfinished business" that may have influenced how things were in the past !!!

* POWER AND WEALTH: The two themes of power and wealth are also exlored in a great deal of depth within 2012. The simple fact that your life could be saved by getting a place on one of the Arks simply because you are seen as being important or because you have enough money in your bank account is one that will divide opinion. If the events of 2012 were "real" I know that I wouldn't get a place on one of the Arks under this rule which means nor wold my family. I think that would anger me and I would also want to question why certain people were chosen. 2012 also examines how those in power get to make decisions and how a simple decision can have a global impact on the lives of everyday people.

* SACRIFICE: The ultimate question of would you sacrifice yourself to save the ones you love was explored on several occasions withn 2012. I'm not got to give away any specific details as there is nothing worse than watching a movie you haven't seen when you enter the cinema aleady knowing who is going to die !!! All I will say is that as you watch the movie there are a number of scenes that make you question waht you would do if you were ever in that situation yourself. I knew how I would have felt and what i would have done and that was good enough for me !!!

~ DID IT LIVE UP TO MY EXPECTATIONS ? ~

I can honestly say that despite being an thoroughly enjoyable movie 2012 wasn't quite the movie I expected. Just like Independence Day it was visually stunning to the extent that it was a breathtaking experience to watch it but I do feel that far too much emphasis was placed on the effects at the expense of the actual narrative. Yes the whole "end of the world" scenario does need its fair share of computer generated imagery but seeing as it essentaily a human story I found the emotional depth of the movie to be quite lacking at times ... especially when you consider that billions of people were killed during the events that took place.

In my opinion, Independence Day got the balance between blockbuster special effects and emotive storytelling just right and it seems a pity that Roland Emmerich could not bring the edge that was needed to 2012.

However, what I feel made 2012 successful was that despite the events of the movie taking place on a global scale much of the movie is seen through the eyes of a character that it is very easy to relate to. In Independence Day the Earth may have been facing an alien invasion but the personal stories of the characters played by Will Smith, Jeff Goldblum and Bill Pullman added emotional backbone to what was in essence a sci fi spectacular. In 2012 it is the character of Curtis Jackson that gives the audience this feeling of familiarity.

It is in the role Curtis Jackson that John Cusack manages to provide the audience with a link to the events themselves. In a movie that focusses a great deal on characters who ere either "in the know" or in a position of power and influence it is John Cusack's performance as an ordinary everyday person that truly demonstrates what effect the events of 2012 would have on us. Yes at times the storyline is a bit far fetched but at the heart of his performance is a very believable performance of a father trying to save his children. I have always admired John Cusack as an actor

and I think he was perfectly cast in this role ... Woody Harrelson's character "Charlie Frost" was also a character that I found intriguing (and sadly underused too). I love conspiracy theories and am a massive X-Files fan so any character that devotes their entire life to tearing down the walls of power to get at the truth gets a thumbs up from me ... Woody Harrelson's performance is edgy and original and he takes part in a couple of key scenes that directly influence Curtis Jackson's own destiny.

The fact that Roland Emmerich can direct a blockbuster movie has once again been demonstrated and thrill seekers will ot be disappointed in any way by 2012 and it's spectacular visuals. And, like I said earlier I wasn't disappointed either as it was a breathtaking and thought provoking cinema experience ... I just wanted a little more in terms of storytelling and narrative as I felt this movie relied a little too heavily on the visual aspects of the production.

~ PRODUCTION ~

2012 was co-written by Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser. Emmerich was also the movie's Director whilst Kloser was the movie's Producer as well being the Composerof the musical score. This creative partnership seems to have worked well and due to the success of Emmerich's previous "blockbusters" Sony pictures Entertainment and Columbia Pictures were willing to grant the team an impressive budget of around $260 Million as they realised that it was a script that would need a some pretty impressive special effects it it was to be fully realised on the silver screen.

~ DIRECTOR ~

2012 was directed by Roland Emmerich a German director who has built an impressive reputation making action and disaster movies. The first movie he ever directed was The Noah's Ark Principle (1984) and he went on to direct several other movies including Making Contact (1985), Ghost Chase (1987), Moon 44 (1990), and Universal Soldier (1992). It was in 1994, however, when he made he made his first "big budget" movie, Stargate ... a franchise that was so successful that it was later made into a cult television series.

He first became a force to be reckoned with when his 1996 movie Independence Day made Hollywood History by becomming the first ever movie to gross $100 Million in it's first week. With a blockbuster movie under his belt he created his own film studio and has since gone on to direct a number of big budget movies including Godzilla (1998), The Patriot (2000), The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and 10,000 BC (2008). 2012 is Roland Emmerich's latest movie ...



~ CAST ~



. John Cusack >>> Jackson Curtis

. Amanda Peet >>> Kate Curtis (Jackson's ex-wife)

. Liam James >>> Noah Curtis (Jackson and Kate's son)

. Morgan Lily >>> Lilly Curtis (Jackson and Kate's daughter)

. Thomas McCarthy >>> Gordon Silberman (Kate's current partner)

. Danny Glover >>> Thomas Wilson (The President of the United States)

. Thandie Newton >>> Laura Wilson (the President's daughter)

. Oliver Platt >>> Carl Anheuser (The President's Chief of Staff)

. Chiwetel Ejiofor >>> Adrian Helmsley ( The President's Scientific Advisor)

. George Segal >>> Tony Delgatto (A traveling musician)

. Blu Mankuma >>> Harry Helmsley (Tony's musicl partner and father of Adrian Helmsley)

. Zlatko Buri >>> Yuri Karpov (A Russian billionaire)

. Beatrice Rosen >>> Tamara (Yuri's girlfriend)

. Chin Han >>> Tenzin (A worker in Tibet)

. Osric Chau >>> Nima ( A Buddhist Monk and Tenzin's brother)

. John Billingsley >>> Professor Frederic West (An American Scientist)

. Johann Urb >>> Sasha (A Russian pilot)

. Jimi Mistry >>> Dr. Satnam Tsurutani (An Indian Scientist)

. Woody Harrelson >>> Charlie Frost (A conspiracy theorist)

~ FINAL THOUGHTS ~

Does anyone remember the Y2K bug and the theory that on New Year's Eve 1999 the world would go into meltdown ??? I can ... and I remember all the discussions I had with peple who were genuinely worried. I think the movie 2012 has kind of re-created that same sense of doom in many people and although it is a fictional story it is in some way based on a prophecy from the "real world" that some people seem to have taken too literally. I read recently that in the run up to the release of 2012 the movies publicity team did a online "just for fun" competion to promote the movie in which tickets for the Ark were given as prizes ! I also read that this caused a great deal of alarm and that several people had felt suicidal after not winning a ticket because they feared that the events in the movie would be happening in real life within the next few years. Having released 2012 I do hope Roland Emmerich realises thsat on 20th December 2012 there will be many people around the world who may be feeling let's just say "aprehensive" about what tomorrow brings ... which itself is ironic when you realise that his other blockbuster movie was called "The Day After Tomorrow" !!!

THANKS FOR READING ...