Email |

Movie Review: Apocalyptic '2012' sacrifices story for special effects

Published November 20th, 2009 | 1 Comments

“2012” director Roland Emmerich is a strange bird, indeed. For one, he seems completely obsessed with the destruction of the planet, this film being the third installment of a disaster trilogy of sorts that includes “Independence Day” and “The Day After Tomorrow.”

Also, the glad-handing executive suits that surround him seem perfectly comfortable giving him whatever amount of money he needs to play the mad scientist, bent on destroying the world (on film, of course) in new and exciting ways.

I don’t mind effects-driven popcorn movies. They have their time and place, and can often make for a fun time at the ol’ picture shows. What I DO mind, however, is when they are pushing three hours long and play out as essentially one LONG effects extravaganza (I’m looking at YOU, “Transformers 2”).

It is difficult anymore for any movie to justify a three-hour run time. Someone in charge over there in SoCal needs to grasp the concept of “too much of a good thing” and act accordingly.

“2012” is, of course, about the end of the world according to the Mayans. If you watch any amount of television I’m sure you have heard all about it. So, what’s the end look like this time around? Global climate change? Alien attack? Does our technology turn against us? No, no and no. This time, the Earth’s crust detaches itself and begins to violently shift. Go figure.

The film follows several key characters, as many of these films do, throughout the last hours of planet Earth. We have our typical American family (a mixed family in this case) made up of John Cusack and Amanda Peet as Jackson Curtis and his ex-wife, Kate. In tow we have the couple’s kids, Noah and Lilly, and Kate’s new husband, Gordon (Thomas McCarthy).

Then we have the President and his daughter (Danny Glover and Thandie Newton) as well as myriad other players, including suave scientists, Tibetan monks and the token crooked politician (Oliver Platt).

Also, Woody Harrelson is in there somewhere as a crazy AM radio host who runs an end-of-the-world conspiracy show out of his trailer in Yellowstone National Park. I loved Woody in this. His role here is reminiscent of his role in the indie sci-fi masterpiece, “A Scanner Darkly.”

That said, “2012” is formulaic in its structure and clichéd in its themes. However, I must give credit where credit is due. This movie has some of the more crisp and astounding effects we have yet to see in popular cinema. I didn’t mind the $8 ticket price for the visuals alone (isn’t that the ONLY reason people see Roland Emmerich films anyway?).

Watching a plane take off from a runway that is falling into the depths of a crumbling Earth is exciting, no doubt about it. Then watching that plane fly through a giant chasm, in which a subway train comes straight out of the ground to free fall in front of it is jaw-dropping.

The detail within the destruction is truly mind-blowing. You watch freeways slowly slipping into the cavernous depths below, and running up those freeways in a hopeless effort to escape their doom are tiny little people.

It’s best to never mind the science of all this. Emmerich is notorious for having ridiculously dramatic sequences full of close calls (too close to believe) and coincidences (too coincidental to believe).

For example, if you saw Emmerich’s, “The Day After Tomorrow,” you might remember Jake Gyllenhaal running for his life from THE COLD as it creeps up the walls and chases him throughout the New York Public Library. Emmerich loves silly things like that.

If you love big action, big sound and big effects, then “2012” could be worth your while. But remember it is a LONG while — almost three hours. If you love a well-told story and well-rounded characters, then “2012” is most definitely NOT your cup of tea. As for myself, the film polarizes itself with incredible effects and crappy storytelling. For this reason, it lands smack dab in the middle, with two out of four stars.

2 stars (out of 4)

STARRING: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton and Danny Glover
DIRECTED BY: Roland Emmerich
RATED: PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language
RUNNING TIME: 2 hours, 38 minutes

Discuss This Story

Be the first to comment: Sign In or Create Profile .

I hate to criticize the critic here, but most of Hollywood's blockbusters are effects driven, so to keep on criticizing movies because of special effects is just beating a dead horse. Besides, how could the movie makers tell this story without special effects and still get people to watch it? Would any of you watched "Transformers" if it were stop-motion animation (i.e. "Clash of the Titans")

Dark Dragon | 11/21/2009 - 10:28 AM - ( Comment

Suggest Removal )

To comment, you must register.

Comments are the sole responsibility of the registered user participating in online discussions. You agree not to post comments off topic, abusive, obscene, defamatory, vulgar, threatening or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be banned.

Click here to review our complete user agreement.

Times-News Online on Facebook

Featured Blogger

2009 Good Year for Civil War Preservation in Virginia.

By Ned Jilton - 1-11-2010

2009 turned out to be a good year in Civil War preservation in Virginia thanks to many state and local organizations teaming up with the Civil War Pre...

Read Post | Comments (1)