2012 Mini Review

As regular visitors to Britethorn all know, I'm a huge face of Fantasy and Science Fiction, on film, television as well as in books, so it should be no surprise to anyone that I found my way to a movie theater for the opening weekend of SONY Picture's film, 2012. I was a bit skeptical about seeing the film -- Hollywood's been turning out some pretty dreadful science fiction films of late (the remake of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" comes quickly to mind -- I have yet to meet a living soul who will admit to having seen it.) But after reading pretty positive pieces in both the Chicago Tribune and SunTimes, my appetite was whetted enough to head out (especially since my wife, Peggy, loves watching things blow up, get crushed, etc.)

The film was in no way a disappointment. I don't quite recall the last time I saw a film where the hero went from the frying pan and back into the fire so many consecutive times, and so quickly at that! While he's not one of my favorite actors, John Cusack delivered a passable performance as an estranged father and ex-husband who does everything possible to keep his wife and children from dying in what can only be described as the end of the word. Continents shift, Volcanoes erupt, people do noble things and bad things while the earth does everything in its power to wipe out every last living thing on the planet's surface.

Although 2012 is nearly three hours long, I have to admit that I never checked my watch (or my e-mail) once during the film, which left my wife more than a bit shocked.

And Yes, the science in the film was rather dumbed down, but when you're watching the ocean rise to the top of Mt. Everest, who cares. Fun! Fun! Fun!