“2012” is doomsday and every man is looking for survival. Based on the Mayans calendar this movie focuses on the end of time which is supposedly Dec. 21, 2012. When scientists discover that the Earth’s core is overheating which will eventually cause mass destruction of the world they begin a full research to see what can be done. As time progresses and it is shown that the problem is only increasing they decide it is time to make a means to save the human race. A secret government site is set up at Yosemite Park where Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) meets two interesting men. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is the man aware of the upcoming catastrophe through his scientific discoveries, the other being a crazed camper who seems to know everything about what is to come. Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson) has Jackson believing him for a brief moment until he once again seems to be off this rocker.
As Jackson does not believe his fate is sealed yet he returns home with his children and begins to see the tiny cracks everywhere in the Earth’s surface and begins to wonder. As he goes on about his day and picks up one of the wealthiest man’s children he realizes he is taking them to the airport to escape. Charlie was not crazy after all. As a press conference is going on in Los Angeles to make people aware that there is nothing to fear there is a cataclysmic event. The ground is falling in to an endless hole of doom. Jackson tries to do everything he can to save his family, but as everything caves in around him will he be able to succeed?
“2012” was intriguing to the eye. There were some superb special effects; some of the best were during the escape scenes when Los Angeles is under siege. Most performances were average. Two standouts would be John Cusack and Woody Harrelson who both brought out a comical side that the film desperately needed. The almost three hour film should have been cut back to be far more enjoyable. Overdoing it on the intense countdowns does not make the film any better; it just makes it more frustrating. It was your average D Day film with all the bells and whistles and while many will enjoy it, it could have been better.
