Roland Emmerich has quite the destructive pedigree under his belt. He beat up the planet with aliens in Independence Day. He took a few shots at New York City in Godzilla (1998). He then fired his warning shots across the bow of the planet with The Day After Tomorrow. I guess he felt a little bad, as Emmerich took us back in time for a rebuilding of sorts in 10,000 BC. Now he gives us his definitive attack on planet Earth with 2012. Believe me, no one is safe, least of all the audience.
Emmerich is one of those directors who can do a lot of things well. Unfortunately, there are an equal number of things that he does not do so well. He is a very similar filmmaker to Michael Bay. Both of these men know how to craft an over-the-top spectacle that will wow the eyes and dull the brain. Therein lies the problem with many of his films. While the effects are always first rate, while the visual splendor is more than enough to draw you in, his ability to craft characters and create compelling stories falls flat.
Can I be considered a fan? Sure, I guess so. Like a lot of people, I can be a sucker for a cool scene or a wild ride. However, I also like a little substance to go along with it. In the case of 2012, as destruction-laden as it is, it lacks that emotional core required to bring me along for the ride. Well, alright, it was able to keep my attention for the entire, if slightly bloated, ride but it could not make me care for the people.
2012 is based on a mash-up of Mayan science and Western cultural interpretations. The current Mayan calendar cycle is set to end on the equivalent of December 12, 2012. Many people believe that predicts an apocalypse of sorts, the end of the world as we know it. In fact, it is merely the end of a calendar cycle. Yes, there is other information that could lead to a variety of interpretations, but what it ultimately comes down to is a some real world information being twisted into one possibility and fictionally dosed into a film whose primary ambition is to entertain. Way to take the intelligence of others and dumb down for the sake of a movie.
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Article comments
1 - Ruvy
I haven't seen this film. Based on what you wrote here, I'm unlikely to waste the money on a theater ticket.
There are only so many times you can lift the veil of the apocalypse and keep it interesting. There is a documentary of sorts on floating around on You Tube, a History Channel program that covers this topic. And it too, is all over the place (managing to miss, naturally, the dramatic warnings in the Book of Ezekiel and Zechariah). I suspect that Emmerich got his 'all over the place idea' from this documentary - and from the success he seemed to get in "The Day After Tomorrow".
Emmerich would have done better to stick a simple stripped down story - that's what made "Stargate" the success it was. The more he wanders from the simple stripped down story - the less compelling his movies are.
2 - Jordan Richardson
Emmerich would have done better to stick a simple stripped down story
Yeah, and Michael Bay would do better with romantic comedies...
3 - Ruvy
Emmerich has an open invite to speak at the Root & Branch English Lecture Series in Jerusalem (he likes us in Israel) if he ever swings by the city. If he ever comes, I'll be sure not to pass on your message to him, Jordan.
4 - Silas Kain
Leaving all the Mayan-hype out of it, this movie is great! The special effects are astounding, storyline weak but plausible. Smart move to use a "B" cast and invest the cash into the effects. I've seen the movie three times and haven't been disappointed. It's a constant adrenalin rush and would have been unbelievable had it been in 3D. For the year, Star Trek remains my favorite sci-fi movie of the year but 2012 is a close runner up.
If 2012 does turn out to be the year humanity is faced with extinction, at least we have the script on how the powers that be will perpetuate the species. To survive you gotta have cash and clout. Gee, isn't that the way life is now?
5 - Christine
Hey Chris, I just saw this movie tonight and I had mixed reviews of it myself. The special effects were great, however, the story-lines were corny at times and kind of just off, yet had a few tear jerkers in there that made it okay. Some of the things that John Cusack did were just too unbelievable and reminded me of the Energizer Bunny..on and on.
Glad I saw it!