2012 (2009/I)

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Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers (WGA):

Roland Emmerich (written by) &
Harald Kloser (written by)

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

We Were Warned.

Plot:

An epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors. |

Plot Keywords:

Cataclysm | Heavy Rain | Buddhist Monk | Ex Husband Ex Wife Relationship | Shock Jock

Cast

John Cusack	...	Jackson Curtis
Amanda Peet	...	Kate Curtis
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Adrian Helmsley
Thandie Newton	...	Laura Wilson
Oliver Platt	...	Carl Anheuser
Thomas McCarthy	...	Gordon Silberman (as Tom McCarthy)
Woody Harrelson	...	Charlie Frost
Danny Glover	...	President Thomas Wilson
Liam James	...	Noah Curtis
Morgan Lily	...	Lilly Curtis
Zlatko Buric	...	Yuri Karpov
Beatrice Rosen	...	Tamara
Alexandre Haussmann	...	Alec
Philippe Haussmann	...	Oleg
Johann Urb	...	Sasha

Also Known As:

Farewell Atlantis (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language.

Runtime:

158 min

Country:

USA | Canada

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #44575) | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | South Korea:12 | Finland:K-13 | Singapore:PG | Norway:11 | Japan:G | Hong Kong:IIA | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia)

Filming Locations:

Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

This movie marks the third collaboration between John Cusack and Amanda Peet. They have starred previously in Martian Child (2007) and Identity (2003).

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Jackson Curtis: When they tell you not to panic... that's when you run!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Zombieland (2009)

Soundtrack:

Time for Miracles

2012 - The ultimate disaster film!

I've recently watched 2012 during a press screening in Ramt Gan, Israel - and it's everything you can expect from a movie like this. The special effects are breathtaking, at time so intense and gripping that I found myself jumping in my seat. The main premise is the usual mix, with a family, a scientist and the president of the United States all struggling to make it through the end of the Earth. The latter two stories are filled with clichés and very predictable. However, I did feel emotionally connected to the angle regarding John Cusack and his on screen family's struggle to survive - and since they were the main focus of the story anyway, it worked well in my books. Also, throughout the film there is an incredible sense of urgency, which contributed greatly to the build up.

The story is your basic end-of-the-world chaos thingy. This time around, the Earth's crusts are shifting - causing earthquakes and volcano eruptions on a global scale, followed by unfriendly tsunami waves. The governments of the world have some sort of a solution, in the shape of giant ships located in China (not spoiling anything here, this is said from the beginning of the film and is indicated in the trailer as well), and the movie follows the family's journey towards their destination. As expected, they manage to flee and escape most of the horrific events happening around them and stay intact. Meanwhile, we get to see most of the world's biggest iconic monuments get destroyed in vivid ways - including The White House, the Jefferson Memorial, the Christ the Redeemer statues in Brazil, the Vatican in Rome and many many more.

As indicated earlier, a main reason the film worked for me was the emotional connection I felt towards some of the characters. The cast here is top notch, including some recognizable actors like Woody Harrelson, Thandie Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Danny Glover, Oliver Platt, Amanda Peet - and of course, John Cusack. The cast seemed as if they were having a great time shooting this film, including some necessary tongue-in-cheek implications. Many philosophical and emotional elements of redemption and survival of the fittest were also added into the mix - making 2012 a better film than it had the right to be. Sometimes, one might even forget that the chances these events will all happen at once our small at best. Now, if only the clichés were a bit less over-the-top and the premise less predictable, this could have been one hell of a masterpiece. But then again, even when 2012 doesn't necessarily bring anything new to the table, it's still one hell of a roller coaster ride – and an excellent winter blockbuster to close the year with.