2012
"Six months ago, I was made aware of a situation so devastating that, at first, I refused to believe it. However, through the concerted efforts of our brightest scientists, we have confirmed its validity. The world, as we know it, will soon come to an end." - President Wilson
release year: 2009
genre: disaster action/drama
viewing setting: home Bluray 7/29/21 and 6/17/17 and home DVD, 5/9/11 and theater, 11/14/09
synopsis: The Mayans were right - the world will be destroyed at the end of the year 2012. This movie shows what might happen as humanity tries to survive this.
impressions: This is probably the ultimate disaster movie...I mean they destroy just about EVERYTHING. There are several groups of people whose adventurers are chronicled here: the protagonist and his family, a rich Russian businessman, and the scientists and politicians who are making all the important decisions. Things are pretty cutthroat - the boarding passes for the huge arks being built sell for $1 billion each (this is the way the world's governments fund the construction.) Again, the focus of this movie is the destruction - of numerous famous monuments, entire cities, the flooding of Mt. Everest, and so on. Epic.
something this movie has that no other movie has: Where can I begin? How about the entire city of L.A. being dumped into the ocean?
acting: John Cusack is the father who gets this unique chance to reconnect with his family. Amanda Peet is his wife. Chiwetel Ejiofor is a nice-guy scientist. Oliver Platt is the White House Chief of Staff who's both a jerk and very realistic/ruthless. Zlatko Buric is the often-amusing Russian. Danny Glover is the President, and Thandie Newton is his daughter. Woody Harrelson is a crazy old hermit who sees what's coming.
final word: This is a movie of mass destruction.
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