2012 (2009/I)

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers (WGA):

Roland Emmerich (written by) &
Harald Kloser (written by)

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

We Were Warned.

Plot:

An epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. |

Plot Keywords:

Cataclysm | Father Son Relationship | Fall From Height | Luxury Car | Corgi

US Showtimes:

The Bridge: Cinema de lux

11:55am | 12:55pm | 3:20 | 4:20 | 6:45 | 7:45 | 10:10

(personalize)

Cast

John Cusack	...	Jackson Curtis
Amanda Peet	...	Kate Curtis
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Adrian Helmsley
Thandie Newton	...	Laura Wilson
Oliver Platt	...	Carl Anheuser
Thomas McCarthy	...	Gordon Silberman (as Tom McCarthy)
Woody Harrelson	...	Charlie Frost
Danny Glover	...	President Thomas Wilson
Liam James	...	Noah Curtis
Morgan Lily	...	Lilly Curtis
Zlatko Buric	...	Yuri Karpov
Beatrice Rosen	...	Tamara
Alexandre Haussmann	...	Alec
Philippe Haussmann	...	Oleg
Johann Urb	...	Sasha

Also Known As:

Farewell Atlantis (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language.

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44575) | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG | Norway:11 | Japan:G | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Taiwan:PG-12 | Sweden:11 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Iceland:10 | Brazil:12 | Malaysia:U | Thailand:G | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Jacksons' son's name is Noah, an obvious reference to the biblical story of Noah's ark.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the camera pans to Caesar's Palace before the boxing match, you can see for a small moment the Las Vegas Strip and the Caesar's Palace marquee showing Bette Midler's "The Showgirl Must Go On" poster. While Midler's last show is slated at the end of January 2010, it is entirely possible that Midler's show has a second run in 2012.

Quotes:

Lilly Curtis: I'm not scared. No more Pull-Ups.
Jackson Curtis: Nice.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: (#5.41)" (2009)

Soundtrack:

It Ain't the End of the World

What happened to the Mayan prophecy?

I went to an advance screening of 2012 a few nights ago and I have to admit that this movie was entertaining at best and that's it. The whole movie is almost entirely comprised of special effects. Of course you'll see all of the lead characters survive scenarios that a regular human being would not. Some of the scenes are so ridiculously unbelievable that you want to laugh at the fodder that's being expected of you to believe. Emmerich certainly pushes "suspension of disbelief" to its limit.

John Cusack and Woody Harrelson are the only actors that attempt to hold the film together, while Danny Glover and Thandie Newton were an utter and complete let-down considering their previous work history. You won't see any remotely Oscar-worthy performances here. The casting of this film seemed off and poorly executed. You could tell the bulk of the financial budget went to the special effects and not the actors.

The thing that I found thoroughly disappointing about 2012 is that it's almost entirely lacking of any interesting backstory or intellectual substance whatsoever. There's very little mention of the Mayan calendar, Mayan history, or any of the prophetic wisdom that has foreseen the supposed end of days. The fear, analysis, curiosity, and everything else you've ever wondered about this new mysterious year that is quickly approaching is almost entirely removed from this film. That would have and could have made this film closer to a 10 if I didn't feel like my brain was utterly wasted on this CGI and special effects bonanza. They try to cram so many explosions, eruptions, earthquakes, and natural disasters into two hours that I might be a little desensitized to the real thing if it ever happens. After awhile nothing felt realistic or interesting about it at all.

It's novelty entertainment at best and that's it. You won't wince at how painfully awful this movie is, and you won't walk away knowing anything meaningful about 2012, but hopefully you'll help repay Sony pictures for the exorbitant amount of money that they and Roland Emmerich spent on their special effects budget. Don't say you weren't warned.