Film review: 2012
By GRAEME TUCKETT - The Dominion Post
Relevant offers
Film
Roland Emmerich's career has been founded on blowing stuff up, and flogging off seats and popcorn in numbers that Cecil B Demille would respect.
From his Universal Soldier and Stargate - both of which seemed madly over the top back in the early 90s - Emmerich went on to make Godzilla, Independence Day, and The Day after Tomorrow.
By sticking to a rigid formula - five or six intercut story lines, estranged husband emerges to save the day, and some vague nonsense about "love conquering all" - Emmerich has become one of Hollywood's most reliable cash-cows.
He has only departed from formula a few times, with the risible The Patriot, and the laughably awful 10,000BC.
But 2012 finds Emmerich right back home, and doing what he does best. Taking the ancient Mayan prophecy, that the world is all over in 2012, Emmerich launches into a series of disasters and saccharine "family" moments with all the shameless brio that made him famous.
The film is dumber than a bag of hammers, of course, but by crikey it doesn't hold anything back.
Forty minutes in and Emmerich has already laid waste to the entire American west coast and is about to unleash his special effects on the rest of the planet.
Apparently Emmerich is planning a sequel to Independence Day. Only, after 2012, there's nothing left for the aliens to conquer.
2012
Director: Roland Emmerich
Starring: John Cusack, Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt
Rating: M
Time: 158 minutes
Trailer: Flicks.co.nz
* What did you think of 2012? Post your comments below.
Sponsored links
This is seriously the worst movie I'e seen for a long time. All these people saying it is great must have very little in between their ears.
Just went and WOW.
Don't go if you're into overly developed and real story lines, just go to be blown away by it all. So forget what you prefer in films, and just go and become dazzled by the epic-ness that it 2012.
This is the worst film i've seen, ever. No joking. There's nothing, nothing credible in the film. The personal stories are so cheesy and repetitive. The action is so repetitive. They scape by plane three times in exactly the same way. It just seems you are seeing a video game instead of a movie. Disgusting. Really disgusting that exists people who likes this. If you like this, then you are going to like everything. Because there's nothing worse than this.
Irwin Allen would be proud of this movie. Only a swarm of killer bees was missing.
I went into the cinema with low expectations. Knew the special effects would be great, and new the script/plot would be under par, and because of that I walked out thinking it was $10 well spent in terms of entertainment. Which is what it was. Pure Entertainment. AND much better than the load of bore that was Transformers 2.
I thought John Cusak was great, the bits he wasn't so much so would be due to the acting around him. Best scene was any with him and Woody Harrelson. Definitely worth watching at the cinema, all the good things about the movie would be lost on dvd.
I also agree, please no Independence Day sequel it's probably one of Emmerich's best movies (second only to The Patriot). Don't go spoiling it with a sequel.
special effects?? yeah they were great, the only thing great with the movie besides the nutty woody harrelson character. except that every awesome action scene was cut before you could see the results of the effect. the aircraft carrier crashes into the white house and then suddenly it cuts to some crappy sappy dialogue scene without even finishing the action.
the day after tomorrow was much better plus eye candy with jake gyllenhaal. john cusack should stay in nineties indie flicks that suit his hideous mullet hairstyle. .. although he was pretty good in war,inc.
bobsyouruncle, no, scientists are not freaking out over any aspect of 2012.
I enjoyed the movie, I thought the premise was absolute rubbish, but I didn't go there expecting a cerebral plot and Oscar-worthy acting, but awesome special effects and gigantic explosions.
This movie was so bad. I hated the cheesy american humour. I dont think it needed any funny bits at all, and the only parts I laughed at (laughter in disbelief how lame it waas) was the references, like arnold swatzenager and the queen, it was just incredibly hammy and stupid. The effects and big disaster scenes were great, but other than that, worst acting ive seen in a long time. I did not get why Woody harrelsons character had to be comic, it just did not work. John Cusack was o.k, but everyone else was CRAP. especially amanda peet. What a waste of space.
Watched it and totally what i expected. Intense CGI, typically bad hollywood story-line and just utter chaos. Pure entertainment thats will never win over the critics and worth about 3 stars. On another note, please do no sequel to independence day. A classic hollywood blockbuster but a sequel would ruin it.
Cruise back for Mission: Impossible
Super Bowl ad irks White Stripes
Lil Wayne sentencing postponed
Fox used hand double for sexy ad
Eva Longoria in porn Tweet mishap
Ten things that are so hot right now
Palin's ex stars as nude coverboy
Cheesiest movie-related music video ever?
Perez Hilton, Black Eyed Peas reach settlement
Piecing together the Lost puzzle
Horror movie causes panic attacks
Billboard used in hunt for taxi driver's killer
Harawira Maori seats bill 'a mistake'
Base jumper injured in 30m fall
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Crayfish game closed down in Auckland
Palin's ex stars as nude coverboy
Referee says rugby has to change
Operation Titstorm hackers strike Australia
'Lovesick' student sparked airport alert
Paranormal Activity too scary for Italians
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Daily trivia quiz: February 10
'Very white' Australian rugby cops criticism
Eva Longoria in porn Tweet mishap
Principal accused of sunburn bribe
SPCA steps in on injured dog standoff
Key confirms GST increase being considered
A pass for Key, but much more to do
King Kong ship meets watery grave
Sanzar and Sky decide it's time to titillate the fans
Do you want to see a fifth Indiana Jones film?
Newest First
Oldest First
I enjoyed the movie but I did not get the storyline though,however I havent seen many of John Cusacks movies or atleast any of his good ones. It is based on an event in the mayan calendar that I do not belive will happen on 21-12-2012. overall it is a good movie but I cant say its the best movie ive seen.