Invariably every Hollywood film depicting catastrophe or science fiction showcases imaginative and often ridiculous plots coupled with the American paranoia and its relentless quest to become a superhero. Barring this idiosyncrasy, all such hugely budgeted movies are cleverly filmed with brilliant star cast, amazing cinematography, and immaculate direction and mind blowing special effects, making such films, ultimately riveting and film watching an exquisite experience.
Director Roland Emmerich’s film ‘2012’ is no different and indeed worth watching for its special effects on large screen.
2012 is based on Mayan prophecy which predicted that the Earth's Axe oscillates and changes its position every 26 thousand years and as a result the positions of the neighboring stars change all the time. Obviously the film starts with scenes showing some turbulence on various planets. The next moment a copper mine in India gets affected with rapid over heating.
A simple, intelligent Indian scientist (Jimi Mistry) reveals that the earth’s inner core is boiling caused by ‘Neutrinos’. We quickly learn that neutrinos are uncharged particles created during the nuclear fusion processes in the sun. Jimi alarms his friend Dr. Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a US government scientist who in turn warns the chief of staff Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt) and the US President (Danny Glover) about impending disaster. Soon the computers take over and the scientists prognosticate the date, when the world would come to an end. This date happens to be 21 Dec 2012, the same date when the Mayan calendar (and inevitably disputed) foresees about the end of life on Earth.
Meanwhile a lake near a restricted zone evaporates and now in few minutes the earth’s crust would buckle. It will rise and shift the tectonic plates by thousands of kilometers. As a result, the audience will witness tremors creating wide cracks on land, sporadic volcano eruptions, and massive tsunamis which could even submerge the Himalayas, topple skyscrapers, and crumble bridges. Amidst flying cars and falling houses, people start to run, dodge, pray, hide and scream but our hero Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a failed novelist and weekend father remains inquisitive and bravely helps his estranged family to escape safely. John’s performance and expressions are truly marvelous and throughout the movie, he remains calm, composed and considerate.
Woody Harrelson's performance as the eccentric prophet of doom is fantastic and might scare children. Chiwetel Ejiofor makes Adrian endearing and with relative ease, he portrays a virtuous diligent scientist who loves books and values human life. Oliver Platt is brilliant and authoratively demonstrates his leadership and displays his concerns about the future of governance, human race, diplomacy and money.
Kate Curtis, Cusack's ex-wife played by gorgeous Amanda Peet does a reasonable job as the American mother. Danny Glover is outstanding and in the film becomes the last US President. The President's daughter Laura Wilson (Thandie Newton) has a limited role but is seen as sensitive first daughter and an ardent art connoisseur.
Generally four forces affect an aircraft — two assist flight (thrust and lift), and two resist flight (gravity and drag). But Thomas McCarthy, Amanda’s new boyfriend and a plastic surgeon loses the landing gear and reduces the drag. Moreover he miraculously maintains the planes equilibrium through the devastation. Strangely the cell phones continue to remain active despite crumbling buildings that house the telecom towers!
The film succinctly safeguards the interest of G8 nations while the UN and other developing nations appear conspicuously absent. The Copenhagen summit could be few weeks away but strangely both US and China, the two great fuel guzzling and polluting nations prefer to become the saviours in 2012. The film ends in China where poor Tibetans are exploited to construct massive ships that would safely protect the human race and animals from extinction.
The script lacks solidity but the dialogues are equipped with a good mix of technical terms, humour and sarcasm. The films music fails to create the necessary tempo. The direction, camera work and aerial shots are seen to be believed. The film is lengthy but spectacularly blends science, fiction and mythology.
Only time will tell whether we face a global cataclysmic disaster towards the end of 2012 but there is no doubt that the world would certainly vanish if we fail to curb terrorism and greed. Until then do watch, nature emits its fury in the film 2012 and rampantly destroy architectural wonders, state of art infrastructure and human life but thankfully Emmerich refrains from stomping human emotions, feelings and hope!
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