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March 2nd marked the DVD release of one of the most anticipated ‘epic’ fiction movies depicting the Mayan calendar prophecied end of the world in the year 2012. The 2012 DVD is available from Sony Pictures and directed by Roland Emmerich.
Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is a struggling and obsessive writer who is separated from wife Kate Curtis (Amanda Peet). His most well known (though lightly sold) is a fictional book about the demise of the world as we know it in December of the year 2012.
Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a scientist who approaches the president (Danny Glover) and his advisor (Oliver Platt) about geological movement that is reshaping the earth’s core. He believes a tremendous shift is underway that is going to create a devastating chain of events. He convinces the president that he is telling the truth and plans are quickly made for how to respond to whatever develops. Unfortunately, the series of earthquakes, tsunamis and other natural disasters that devastate the world are impossible for anyone to prepare for.
While 2012 tells an interesting story and offers a nice cast of stars, it is the definition of style over substance. The first half of the films drags a bit as the back story leading up to the ‘end of the world’ is established. The movie does pick up steam during he second half, driven mainly by some nice action sequences and visual effects. For instance, the toppling of the Vatican is picturesque on the big screen.
Cusack and Ejiofor are solid as the leads in the action and telling of the 2012 story. The challenge with a movie about such a popular futuristic prophecy is that the main focus of the story is how the world ends. Building a plot with characters that the audience can get involved with is difficult. Woody Harrelson also stars as the ‘zany’ off the wall fortune teller of sorts.
If you like epic stories with solid visuals, intensity, and a modest plot, 2012 is certainly worth the watch. Just be sure that your expectations of character development and story lines is reasonable. The film is rated PG-13 mostly for intense action sequences and some language.
Purchase 2012
(NEW! Watch it NOW)