2012

REVIEW: 2012 IMDB

SYNOPSIS

• Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments.Centuries ago, the Mayans left us their calendar, with a clear end date and all that it implies. Since then, astrologists have discovered it, numerologists have found patterns that predict it, geologists say the earth is overdue for it, and even government scientists cannot deny the cataclysm of epic proportions that awaits the earth in 2012. A prophecy that began with the Mayans has now been well-chronicled, discussed, taken apart and examined. By 2012, we’ll know – we were warned
• Reference - http://uk.hollywood.com/films/2012.fhtml

WALKING IN F&T (FEARS AND THOUGHTS)

• It would be a typical John Cusak movie
• Worried about the possibility of politics interfering with the 'reason' behind the end of the world....global warming
  • happy this wasn't the case, but there were some other political overtones
• Supporting cast would be horrible, because they might have spent all of their money on the effects...couldn't have spent it on John Cusak
• It would be a typical Roland Emmerich movie (all special effects and little to no character development) - pretty much the case...

OPENING SCENE

• I love long movies that are entertaining and it worked for me...once. Won't go and buy it or anything. Will look good on blueray though
• A touch of slapstick, a little political propaganda (my opinion), cool effects,
• More crap disaster movie junk from the modern "master" of the disaster movie.
• His flicks are usually the same, geeky hero that is out of the mainstream, has special talent that can save them all, even if that talent is barely used (Dan Jackson - Stargate, Jeff Goldblum in ID4, Matthew Broderick in Godzilla, and Dennis Quaid in Day After Tomorrow).
• Timing is bad, Hollywood knew this one would not be good...it would have come out on THanksgiving had it been.
• Political scene - "drop the debt" signs and they're bashing cars? I don't remember ever seeing people worrying about bashing cars to get this point across.
  • Oh yes, the French, especially, love to destroy cars when they are protesting...but they usually set them on fire...
• In China - communists create jobs? we find out later this was because of the money from the donors and not the big hearts of the communist
• Woody Harrelson's character was good, but not his best acting role
• Jackson Curtis' kids are great actors, especially the little girl (Morgan Lily) played Lilly Curtis.
• Jackson is late to work, but he left vacation early?
• Arnold's accent was hilarious, I think I can even do a better job.

...OTHER SCENES

• Absolutely amazing effects with the scene in Yellowstone
• Nice touches
  • The giant donut was a nice touch as it rolled by
  • Woody Harrelson's character is getting up from the initial explosion and his crack is showing, hilarious
  • Lilly Curtis' infactuation with hats was cute
  • the Bentley start scene
• Danger with slapstick comedy - the husband's role (thomas mcKarthy)
  • is worried about a preflight checklist? Dumb
• Laura Wilson (Thandie Newton) - recognized her but could remember...Chronicles of Riddick, also Mission Impossible 2
• Zlatgo Buric (Yuri Karpov) did a great job
• thumb scanner on the phone, funny...palm app -
• Dhali Lama used the phrase from a Jackie Chan movie
• Antonov 500!!
  • anyone hear of dumping the cars to save fuel?
• the crack in the sistine chapel - between God and man's fingers
• Noah's ark, flying the animals
• Captain Magnus reminded me of Bison from Street Fighter
• The first to agree with opening the doors...Russian and China? Communists are imperialists and the author knows nothing of their history to write that in the script.
• The ships turn into a Halo Carnival cruise line
• last line of the movie was very anti-climactic - about the little girl wetting her bed?
• They spent lots and lots of time on all sorts of things in the movie, but we never really touched upon the calendar, and we never really saw all the planets align (would have been a nice suspense build-up)
• Too long, 2.5 hours was too much for this thing. They could have gotten rid of most of the White House stuff (which was done better in any episode of West Wing) and trimmed 30 minuted out of it easy...
• Had a really hard time NOT seeing Chiwetel Ejiofor "chew-it-tell edge-oh-for" as the Operative from Serenity...but that is more about me than the movie.

QUESTIONS:

• Why didn't they just use the communiction with them on the bridge? They could see the video and hear the audio, but not be able to punch in the communication the same from the bridge...guess they had to make Adrian Hemsley look like he was 'doing something' when he didn't do anything.
• The door is their peril if not fixed and the only two people to go down is Adrian and one guy he grabs on the way?
• why would the center chamber continue to fill with water if it sealed on both ends? that's a poor seal and the ceiling both the rooms was a grate filled with animals, what were they sealing?
• hatch is closed but they are still being sprayed with water?
• Why reset the time clock for year?
• Everyone is evil as they secretly were wishing the step father would die and they got their wish.
• Does John Cusak just steal a car whenever he needs one? Is this Grand Theft Auto, end of the world edition?

THE MACGUFFIN:

• ...

CLOSING THOUGHTS

CHUCK Rating: 3

• Positives:
  • Special Effects
  • A few good acting roles
• Negative:
  • anti-climactic ending

MIKE Rating: 2

• Positives:
  • Pretty
  • John Cusak was used well
• Negative:
  • Too long - did not really hold my interest
  • Trailer gave it all away...just waiting for the big scenes...