Post by dvdjunkie on Nov 16, 2009 9:34:47 GMT -6
You have probably read all the criticisms about this movie. "It's too long". "It's the worst movie of 2009, the director should never be allowed to make another movie". "You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll kiss $20 bucks goodbye!!" and on and on and on.
I am here to tell you that this is not the worst movie of the year. I have my list of those and will share it sometime after the year is finished. I found this movie to be one of the better popcorn movies of the year, you know the one where you leave your brain at the door, and just go in and be entertained without having to discern some type of understory, or plotline.
Director Roland Emmerich has cut his teeth on disaster movies such as "The Day After Tomorrow", "Godzilla", "Independence Day", and some pretty decent adventure films like "The Patriot" and "Stargate". Emmerich doesn't ask us to get in touch with the characters of this film, as much as just sit back and watch the world around us crumble. Albeit, there are a lot of plot holes, and they forget to tell why the Mayans claim that 12-21-12 is such a special date what it all means.
The cast of the movie is first rate, and although you find yourself laughing at seemingly serious plot points, that's okay because this film isn't to be taken too seriously. At just over 2 and 1/2 hours in length, you are more than willing to leave the theater when this film is over.
John Cusack plays Jackson Curtis, an author who is struggling with success, and is recently divorced from Amanda Peet, who has remarried Jackson's best friend, whom his daughter and son think is a real "nerd".
Danny Glover portrays President Thomas Wilson, and Thandie Newton is his first lady. Both parts were needless in this movie and could have been cut out with not a single skip in the storyline.
Woody Harrelson, although only in the movie's first half-hour, steals the show with his portrayal of Charlies Frost, a doomsayer who lives on a mountain top in Yellowstone Park, and has access to the map that could save mankind.
Okay, you have the characters, and that is about all you need. Oh, there are two more, Oliver Platt, who plays the direct liaison to the President, and Chiwetel Ejiofor who plays scientist Adrian Helmsley. These two characters could have been given more to do, but the director spent most of the money on the Special Effects, which are mind-boggling at best.
If you are looking for Academy-Award winning performances by any one actor, forget it. This movie is about the end of the world as we know it, and the acting is very subpar, given what they have to work with.
Without giving away who survives, and why, or where, I will tell you that the last fifteen minutes of this film is what makes it rock. The opening 10 minutes set everything up, and last fifteen minutes wrap it up, and the stuff in the middle is where you eat your popcorn, sip your soda, and cuss the person in front of you who is texting his best friend about how bad this film is.
Like I said, I was entertained, though didn't believe a minute of it could ever happen. I will probably add this to my DVD collection just for the entertainment value alone. On the Junkie Meter I will give it a very strong 2.5 stars, and encourage you to see it at a matinee price, when it is cheaper to see a movie.
;D ;D
I am here to tell you that this is not the worst movie of the year. I have my list of those and will share it sometime after the year is finished. I found this movie to be one of the better popcorn movies of the year, you know the one where you leave your brain at the door, and just go in and be entertained without having to discern some type of understory, or plotline.
Director Roland Emmerich has cut his teeth on disaster movies such as "The Day After Tomorrow", "Godzilla", "Independence Day", and some pretty decent adventure films like "The Patriot" and "Stargate". Emmerich doesn't ask us to get in touch with the characters of this film, as much as just sit back and watch the world around us crumble. Albeit, there are a lot of plot holes, and they forget to tell why the Mayans claim that 12-21-12 is such a special date what it all means.
The cast of the movie is first rate, and although you find yourself laughing at seemingly serious plot points, that's okay because this film isn't to be taken too seriously. At just over 2 and 1/2 hours in length, you are more than willing to leave the theater when this film is over.
John Cusack plays Jackson Curtis, an author who is struggling with success, and is recently divorced from Amanda Peet, who has remarried Jackson's best friend, whom his daughter and son think is a real "nerd".
Danny Glover portrays President Thomas Wilson, and Thandie Newton is his first lady. Both parts were needless in this movie and could have been cut out with not a single skip in the storyline.
Woody Harrelson, although only in the movie's first half-hour, steals the show with his portrayal of Charlies Frost, a doomsayer who lives on a mountain top in Yellowstone Park, and has access to the map that could save mankind.
Okay, you have the characters, and that is about all you need. Oh, there are two more, Oliver Platt, who plays the direct liaison to the President, and Chiwetel Ejiofor who plays scientist Adrian Helmsley. These two characters could have been given more to do, but the director spent most of the money on the Special Effects, which are mind-boggling at best.
If you are looking for Academy-Award winning performances by any one actor, forget it. This movie is about the end of the world as we know it, and the acting is very subpar, given what they have to work with.
Without giving away who survives, and why, or where, I will tell you that the last fifteen minutes of this film is what makes it rock. The opening 10 minutes set everything up, and last fifteen minutes wrap it up, and the stuff in the middle is where you eat your popcorn, sip your soda, and cuss the person in front of you who is texting his best friend about how bad this film is.
Like I said, I was entertained, though didn't believe a minute of it could ever happen. I will probably add this to my DVD collection just for the entertainment value alone. On the Junkie Meter I will give it a very strong 2.5 stars, and encourage you to see it at a matinee price, when it is cheaper to see a movie.
;D ;D