CineFOOLS

2012 review

He went there!!

This is not a movie for Oscars or subtlety. There is no BAFTAS or even Golden Globes here. Even though I do see some MTV awards. To be straight to the point. If I wanted to I could tear this movie apart but instead I am going to be honest and tell you that I really enjoyed it. It is a Roland Emmerich end of days film that gives you everything you want to see from a Roland Emmerich end of days film. The film is chock full of cameos , musical crescendos and everything is right in your face. But like I always say…… Well what did you expect?

Let’s get the little plot out of the way so we can get onto the other stuff. The film is based on the Mayan prophecy that the world will end in 2012 and adds the scientific part about the sun going apeshit and boiling the earth’s core. This then creates earthquakes and a shift of the planets alignment and for earth's crust to shift. The typical world ending/disaster film plot extends with the father (John Cusack) who is estranged from his kids and the bonding that ensues as they race from the disasters. We get to see the dilemmas of the world leaders (Oliver Platt and Danny Glover) as they try to come to terms with the impending doom. Then of course we have the scientist (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who discovers the disaster and the Wacko prophet (Woody Harrelson) who is turns out to be right. We also get to see a couple of other characters and for one reason or another they are all connected and they all interact. They all race to escape the initial disasters to get to the top secret government ARK’s that were designed for the future of mankind.

The film has a good cast of characters and talented actors and they all do the best they can do with what they have. The everyman John Cusack is still the charming dude you knew from Say Anything and is cool to watch as he says everything in that slightly sarcastic way of his. His ex wife Amanda Peet is in a throwaway role as is the rest of the family but they are added to bring some form of human drama in amidst the chaos. Chiwetel Ejiofor is consistent as always as the scientist and voice of reason. This man is a damn talented actor and this flows from the screen. He is the future and will be the next Denzel Washington. His role is the film isn’t groundbreaking but his interaction with his father on the phone is the first disaster movie sequence that got to me. So Kudos, Roland and Chiwetel.

Now we get to the special effects and they are almost flawless. I watched this on a huge screen and the audio was crisp. If there was any crap in the visuals I did not see them. The whole epic scenes of the world changing is spectacular. You can’t fault it. The destruction of Los Angeles if a breathtaking moment that keeps you biting your nails against all your better judgement. I also hate the thought of gigantic waves as drowning at sea scares the crap out of me and my heart skipped a beat when the waves hit anywhere in this film. I just hate big waves. Special effects were a standout as it should be and this is definitely on my Blu ray list.

2012 is the movie that is best described as the greatest hits of disaster movies. Just when you think Roland won't go there –Yep, he went there. Surely, He won’t mix a volcano movie , a wave movie with Titanic-Yep, he went there. He can't destroy every damn monument of any worth in the whole entire world- Yep, he went there. He won’t let the dreadful line from the maintenance man “It’s flooded, you can’t go down there it's a suicide mission" get filmed- Yep, he went there. This is Roland Emmerich pushing the disaster movie to its inevitable peak. He pushes the boom, crash, opera of the film so hard that it borders on parody but luckily stops just before (okay, just over in some scenes) You can’t judge this film against anything else as it created for it’s purpose and it does it well. Don’t go to this film with anything apart from a desire to watch an in your face , out of this world, crazy, huge, epic disaster film. This is made for the fans and only for them. Go see it just for the closing line that will be up there with the classics. Go see it for the biggest movie explosion on scene and for the scariest natural disaster 'what if ?' created so far. Good stuff., not brainy but not meant to be.

Posted by Prester John - 11/3/2009 3:48:16 AM

Comments

This review represents everything that is wrong with the blogger culture. Poorly written and clunky and would never make it into print media. A shocking piece of writing.
By Guest

think it was pretty cool writing actually
By Guest

Terrible writing.
By Guest

The review isn't horrible, but damn man... would it hurt to spell check or proof read your writing everyone once in a while?
By Guest

Terrible writing, terrible review. I guess the bottom line would be; don't expect a whole lot but noise and special effects. Probably good for the weekend opening (date night or after a few drinks with the boys) and dvd rental a couple of months later for the rest of us.
By Guest

"a shocking piece of writing"
By Guest

"a shocking piece of writing" this is the dumbest statements ive seen in awhile, actually, you're a fucking idiot.
By Guest

Curiously, I am a critic, and was directed here by IMDB. I agree with the earlier comments. It is indeed a disgraceful example of poor writing, weak analysis and feeble insight. The blogger culture is littered with ignorance and hyperbole, and this so-called review exemplifies that descent into atrophy. Fortunately, such people do ensure that critics trained as writers and as judges of discretion will remain in employment. So, thanks "Prester John". You are keeping me in work.
By Guest

a terrable peace of writting!!!!
By Guest

absolutely. the author is clearly a total wanker.
By Guest

Have to agree with the good people above me. This was not a good review. At the very least would it kill Prester John to check for grammar before posting?
By Guest

We were discussion whether blogging could tear down traditional journalism in a discussion group last week, this is yet another reason why it won't.
By Guest

A tsunami, earthquake, mega eruption, asteroid collision, and pole-realigining piece of writing that is just waiting for a supernova of criticism. Only read it for the special effects.
By Guest

Critics suck. Criticising critics really sucks. But criticising criticising critics is a step too far.
By Guest

Aren't there spell-checkers for internet browsers available? The problem with this article, and the only REAL problem, is that it was written "on the fly" (much like this reply). The difference between the article and this reply is, I have a spell-checker in my browser.
By Guest

Not even your horridly written review can save this movie. Come to think of it this has already been done, REMEMBER THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW?
By Guest

This review was so shockingly bad, that i spit my coffee out onto the monitor. I had to get a new monitor to write this comment.
By Guest

I cant wait to see this.
By Guest

Thank you. I've enjoyed reading your review even if it isn't written as precisely as some would want. It's a review from a cinema patron like myself rather than someone who is paid to go. It's a review from someone who quite obviously goes to be entertained and not someone who thinks a 'great' movie is some black and white French drama with 3 characters, sparse dialog and river of tears.
By Guest

I actually saw the movie in India.It is the worst of disaster movies I have ever seen.No acting.I think in future , there won't be any need of actors as everything will be done by computer animation.Poor movie.Even not worthy to buy a DVD.See Armageddon/deep impact/The day after tomorrow or The core if u like suck flicks.
By Guest

"Thank you. I've enjoyed reading your review even if it isn't written as precisely as some would want. It's a review from a cinema patron like myself rather than someone who is paid to go. It's a review from someone who quite obviously goes to be entertained and not someone who thinks a 'great' movie is some black and white French drama with 3 characters, sparse dialog and river of tears. "
By Guest

“Thank you. I've enjoyed reading your review even if it isn't written as precisely as some would want. It's a review from a cinema patron like myself rather than someone who is paid to go. It's a review from someone who quite obviously goes to be entertained and not someone who thinks a 'great' movie is some black and white French drama with 3 characters, sparse dialog and river of tears." I happen to like “so bad it’s good” movies and will watch this for the entertainment value, and I absolutely hate stuffy French New Wave cinema. I’m not just saying that to disprove you, I actually can’t stand that pretentious crap. I don’t entirely disagree about his critique, just how badly it was written. So no, spelling and grammar = / = pompous film critic.
By Guest

poorly written but somehow so much more revealing compared to other articles that aim to have a higher quality of text
By Guest

I don't know what all the other idiots on this page are talking about, the review was great. Get a life dickheads.
By ToughGuy

To the individual who purports himself to be a critic ("curiously, i am a critic, and was directed here by IMDB": firstly, you're not a critic because a critic would not start off his sentence with "curiously" in this instance, especially because there is nothing curious about it. You knew this was a review, and thus, there isn't even any coincidence about it. Before you go around calling yourself a critic and embarrassing yourself, I suggest you read a few books first and learn how to write.
By Guest

To the person above me criticizing the person who drew attention to the fact that this review is complete garbage - shut the hell up. You're a complete retard frantically scrounging at insults to fling his way. His analysis of this abysmal piece of theatrical review was spot-on and your attempt at undermining his authority was pathetic. Go to hell.
By Guest

Thanks for the review, I've a pretty good idea of what to expect from this movie now. I'd say I'll enjoy it at the same time as thinking it's silly and predictable rubbish. The grammar police who slate this review ought to relax and find a way to deal with their bitterness that doesn't spread it around.
By Guest

Waow, im not going to pretend to be a critic or anything but i do read a lot of reviews from professionals through my subscription to EMPIRE magazine so I like to think I can spot a decent review when I see one. I have to say I thought this review was very good; the point of reading a review is to gather from someone who has already seen the film whether or not you would like it and I really felt the urge to write and tell everyone to lay off. "Terrible writing", "everything thats wrong with the blogger culture", "total wanker". Did I miss something? Is the author claiming to be the next Mark Kermode? And despite the dramatic irony of now getting involved myself it really is just sad and silly to think up big words to include in a rant while pretending to be a critic. Now THAT is what's wrong witht he blogger culture. Good review man, don't listen to anyone on here, starting off the proper questions..
By Guest

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the writer of an error-ridden, inept review liked this film...
By Guest

The people who think this is an acceptable review will probably find this to be an acceptable movie, and culture and sophistication will each suffer another small death on their decline into oblivion.....
By Guest

People always dish critics, and this commentary section proves those people wrong. You guys indeed are a bunch of elitist idiots, because like my grandfather, who was a critic, used to say- if grammar and spelling is all you can hang on to, then you are wrong.
By Guest

What's elitist about good grammar? It's quite pathetic on your part if you think being able to write properly is being elitist.
By Guest

thanks for the review, only increases my wanting to see it. I love survival- on the road- end of time films. Plenty of action and adventure -popcorns movies are right up my ally
By Guest

Hi All. I have been on holidays and I have come back to this. Firstly I want to say thanks to the people who supported the review. To all you critics of my review I have to say that there are points that I agree on. This was a review that I could have proofread more before I loaded it and I am sorry for that. I am not a trained writer and will never reach the standards of some. But I am a movie lover who adds stories and reviews after working a full time job. I love movies and never want to get lost in dissecting them. I freely fall on the sword and admit that it should be of a better standard. I apologise to our frequent readers if I disappointed you. I know I cannot please everyone and no matter what I write there will be people ready to shoot it down. That’s Life. Thanks for the talkback anyway.
By Prester John