Over the decades, many have prophesised that the world will end when the ancient Mayan calendar ceases on 21 December 2012. But before that occurs, the human race is bound to face natural disasters such as massive volcano eruptions, typhoons and other natural calamities. An academic researcher opens a portal into a parallel universe and makes contact with his double in order to prevent an apocalypse predicted by the ancient Mayans. Is this how the apocalypse is like? If so, director, Roland Emmerich surely knows how to paint a picture of desperate helplessness.
Bettering his “Independence Day” on sci-fi effects and putting a twist on the Mayan doomsday prediction (the world is to end on 21 December 2012 via earthquakes and tsunamis), this epic disaster movie is everything it is cracked up to be and more. In the movie 2012, Man does everything he can to save himself and loved ones. We follow scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and writer Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) as they brace themselves for total annihilation. The emotional hooks in this movie lies in the plot development where chosen ones can board ships that ferry them to safety and how the rich can afford them. Government, corruption and value of a human life, these are the themes that make the movie 2012 a compelling watch. Best performance goes to Chiwetel Ejiofor for heroic objections to his superior Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt) who makes decisions on who to save and who not to save.
John Cusack also excels as the determined father who risks his life for his family. However, in disaster movies we all want to know if the CGI is up to mark. In the movie 2012, we are not disappointed, collapsing buildings, monstrous tsunamis and powerful earthquakes never looked so good, except maybe the work done on the falling Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg could have been better. Watching the movie 2012 will evoke reflection on the audience’s part – are we ready to die and what would we do if we really are facing the end days? The Mayans may prophecies many things but the undoubted truth remains that Man is less ponderous about matters of faith and fate unless threatened with death. A movie like 2012 will go some way towards reminding the moviegoers’ world that what we have can be taken away. Although 160 minutes is rather long and the climax is not the most interesting, the movie 2012 is still a disaster epic MUST-WATCH that would not be outdone for some time yet.