2012 - The End of the World?

I just returned from watching 2012 at the only all digital theater in my area.  I must say I was extremely impressed. I had read many reviews on the film (some good and some bad) and decided to give it a go myself.  I generally like apocalyptic thrillers so I went in expecting the same End of Days meets Armageddon disaster  type of flick.  I was pleasantly surprised.  The movie was 2 hours and 38 minutes long.  The first half hour or so was attention grabbing but the final 2 hours was an edge of the seat thrill ride.  The CG work was actually good for the most part and has come along way since The Day After Tomorrow (which left much to be desired).

There is some language in the film but far less than one would hear if these events really took place I assure you.  There is no sex or nudity at all.  It is in the heart department that I would caution you.  If you are an overly emotional person it may do a number on you.  I am pretty emotional (for a guy) and there were several parts that brought tears to my eyes (thankfully it is a Monday and the theater was pretty empty).  It did not help matters that the main character (John Cusack) had a boy and girl (as I do), which he experienced every tragic disaster with.  They do show the Christ the Redeemer Statue in Brazil toppling and a rift between God and Adam from Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel painting.  This may perhaps play into the writers view of Christianity but when these are coupled with the destruction of the Washington Monument and the White House one may conclude that they are merely showing us landmarks that are universally recognizable. After all the 23rd Psalm is said to be a comfort to anyone regardless of faith (which I found interesting).  They also constructed "arks" (borrowing the biblical term) for the continuation of life after the disasters.

I thought that the tie in to the Mayan calendar would be stronger.  Very little was made of this connection.  They seemed to make it as though all of the planets will be aligning.  This does not happen in 2012.  There will be a galactic alignment that won't happen again for 26,000 years but that is dealing with our sun in relation to the center equator of our galaxy.  December 21, of 2012 is the winter solstice (like every year) and the date at which the galactic alignment would start over according to the Mayan people.  They did not mention anything cataclysmic and probably believed that their descendants could add to the calendar as the years drew closer to the completion of the galactic cycles.  Our sun crossing over the equatorial line of the Milky Way actually began between 1998 and 1999 and will be complete in 2018 but hey they were pretty darn close.

The world will not end in 2012, but that doesn't mean you will not enjoy the movie, in fact it will be quite a relief to you as you watch.  Please let me know your thoughts on 2012 if and when you see it.  It is well worth the admission provided that you don't take a family of five and spring for popcorn and drinks.