Sidewalks On The Corner

Leave it to director / writer Roland Emmerich and crew to turn a catastrophic event into movie magic. Well -- get ready for the end of the world in "2012," because it's going to be a spectacular show.

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2012
COLUMBIA PICTURES

Directed by: Roland Emmerich
Written by: Roland Emmerich and Harald Kloser
Cast: John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton with Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson

This film is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for intense disaster sequences and some language.

Studio Synopsis:
Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments. 2012 is an epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

John Cusack (left), and Woody Harrelson in Columbia Pictures' 2012.
Photo By: Joe Lederer

J.P.'s Take:
I must admit I'm a fan of Roland Emmerich's work. From “Independence Day” to “The Day After Tomorrow,” Emmerich has a special knack for combining the impossible with the ridiculous. So I wasn't at all surprised by the result of “2012.” With that said, I knew this movie would become a total spectacle of itself. What I found interesting about this film is that it makes no apologies about its wild nature.

It starts off very hush hush, as government officials and scientists all run around trying to keep a lid on talks of the apocalypse. However, it doesn't spend a lot of time with the scientific jargon. According to myth, the Mayan calendar can predict when doomsday is set to begin. The exact date is supposedly on December 21, 2012. Sure there is the typical amount astronomical lingo being spouted off by the characters, but at least there is enough to make the situation sound more frightening than normal. Where the real fun begins is when the ground starts rumbling and the sky starts falling. Those theories become all too real.

Remember the virtual ride Star Tours at the Disney parks? The passengers would board a flight simulator, where they were strapped into their seat. Then as the ride started up, the entire flight pod shook and rolled. That's what it was like watching this film. I felt like I was back at Disney again. After sitting through “2012” for about 30 minutes or so, you'll find it hard to take it very seriously. I found myself saying "YEAH RIGHT, like that could happen" numerous times through out the movie. One long sequence (which is definitely a highlight when it came to superior special effects) was when author and father Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) racing through the streets of L.A. with his family in tow in a limo. Somehow through all this destruction with freeways collapsing and building falling down in front and behind his speeding car, he makes it to the airport. As they are preparing to leave, the runway turns to mush, yet they are still able to take off. You have to figure it's all done for the fun of it.

Director Roland Emmerich on the set of Columbia Pictures' 2012.
Photo By: Joe Lederer.

Somehow emotion made its way in among the chaos. After watching the destruction of the planet and its effect of the population, I really felt the panic and fear. Roland manages to break up these cataclysmic events with cheesy, even somewhat poignant moments.

Although the dialogue felt fake, the actors did their best to bring the characters to life. You can expect a nearly all-star cast with Cusack, Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Oliver Platt, Woody Harrelson, and Danny Glover. A stand out performance came from Harrelson, as hippy and underground radio announcer Charlie Frost; he was trippy and hilarious.

Who knew it would be this fun to witness something so destructive. I know that's a weird thing to say. Over all, I actually enjoyed watching the world come to an end. It’s worth it; just for the realistic effects and the edge of your seat action.