The thing about destruction is that most people, and by extension, most movies ignore that it leads a way for creation. That, exactly, is the strongest point of 2012, a film directed & co written by Ronald Emmerich.
The movie is about a certain alignment of all the planets that is happening for the first time since the dawn of the humans. Whether UB313 is included & Pluto excluded I am not sure; watch them in the title sequence and wonder why they didn't make the movie 3D!
This causes major changes in and on our planet which put into action the supposed “doom”. The word “supposed” takes a backseat (a rather far one at that) when scientists discover that the phenomenon will take place much faster than they predicted – all in a day, apparently! No prizes for guessing that day is 21 December, 2012. (which, incidentally, coincides with my friend's birthday, so we might have a party in advance, I don't know).
Thus, the “fire and brimstone – revelations!” ending-of-the-world part begins. We see doom with the Curtis clan, a regular Hollywood family – oh, come on, you know the drill – white, 2 kids, ex husband, ex wife who both still love each other but have separated for reasons which you and I should not get into &, finally, her boyfriend.
All of whom try their best to survive this doomsday – & yes, the best a little girl can do to survive IS wear a hat!
For a detailed (read more plain, more boring) synopsis - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190080/synopsis
2012 does do what it is supposed to – show extreme thrills for lazy adrenalin junkies (myself included). The special effects, the “OH SHIT!” moments & the “they're not going to make it” moments are all there. Larger than life visuals are all well in place but their impact is a little reduced because you know that the over-the-top destruction has been created, which is why 3D for this movie would have been apt (read, MINDBLOWING!).
One thing that makes the movie scary is the thought that “this might just happen”. It keeps toying with your brain and makes the movie seem like a plausible reality. That is where it succeeds to give its audience the *in a radio advertising voice*: “thrills, chills and excitement!”.
The actors are just convincing. John Cusack as the failed author cum ex husband is rather plain. An actor of his caliber deserves meatier roles (Please watch “Being John Malkovich” or even “America's Sweethearts”).
Danny Glover acts the part of President of the United States of America by being overtly noble. He gets a little irritating when, at the time of total anhilation, he wants to have a casual chat about his deceased wife.
Chiwetel Ejiofor (Please tell me how to pronounce that) gives a good performance as the humanist scientist. He does get over-emotional at times, but so will we when it comes to doomsday.
The real show stealer, however, was Woody Harrelson as Charlie Frost, a madcap (costume took that term rather seriously) radio jockey who keeps track and knows accurately of our event and updates everyone from inside the Yellowstone national park
(which, I noted was the home of yogi bear; I'm sorry to tell you that traces of yogi bear – in hibernation at the time – are yet to be found, what after the forest turning into a volcano).
Coming to the 'The representative of Indians in Hollywood' (that's what he said; courtesy: HT Cafe) – Jimi Mistri is cute to look at as scientist Dr. Satnam Tsurutani (*bearing massive headache*: too many jokes! Too many jokes!) but cannot speak Hindi to save the excess oil in his hair!
The women in the movie are negligible, Amanda Peet (Mrs. Kate Curtis, the ex wife), Thandie Newton (The First Daughter) & Beatrice Rosen (Tamara - the Russian millionaire's cheating, dog-loving mistress) do hardly anything but wear water, dust, general anhilation-proof make up & look pretty in the face of complete destruction.
Almost as if to say: “i will not let you affect my presentation, doomsday, I simply WILL NOT”.
And now, my favourite part of the movie –
It's subtle symbolism – which might just be crashing into your face but you wouldn't get it if you aren't thinking. This symbolism – the small facts (which you are already supposed to know) and their incorporation in the film is what gives you hope. I, obviously, cant give you examples because then I will be revealing what you should work out and feel good about yourself. To someone who goes into the theater with active grey cells, it can provide answers to metaphysic (metaphysic, metaphysical, I don't know) questions, even.
Its on the lines of Tyler durden's philosophy (If you do not know who that is, please read or watch Fight Club)
So when your going into the theater don't switch off your brains – as we are often told to do. (actually, while we are on the topic - don't EVER switch them off.)
If you check the facts, you ll know (as I now do) that the Mayan calendar (which is the premise of the 21 December, 2012 being doomsday euphoria) actually extends to octillion years (maybe they just didn't feel the need to publish it at the time, I don't know).
But at the end of it all, the movie doesn't just turn out to be about doomsday – to me, it just says :
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
