Disaster 101
By Genevieve Loh, TODAY | Posted: 11 November 2009 0816 hrs

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RATING:

SINGAPORE : It is the end of the world as we know it and guess what? We've seen it all before.

The disaster movie cliches, incredulous plot and climatic ending are all here, executed by veteran doomsday director Roland Emmerich ("The Day After Tomorrow", "Independence Day", "Godzilla") no less. During the first hour, we're introduced to a wide variety of characters representing different races, nationalities and creed, including the smart cookie (Chiwetel Ejiofor) who, rather fortuitously, discovers through his scientist friend from exotic India that an old Mayan prophecy is indeed correct and the end of the world is nigh.

The second hour gives us disaster around the world - catastrophic earthquakes, tsunamis, lava eruptions and other climate change disasters - as roads split in two, bridges and overpasses collapse and high-rise office buildings tumble like packs of cards.

It's as good a time as any to get to know our doomed-but-plucky characters better. Like divorced and failed science fiction author John Cusack who still loves his ex-wife Amanda Peet. Or the stoic American President Danny Glover, who is willing to sacrifice everything to stand by his country.

By the third hour, we're overwhelmed and a tad desensitised by the big, brash and thoroughly over-the-top CGI disaster-porn.

It's typical Emmerich - a pure kinetic adrenaline rush with big stunts, big cast and shamelessly expensive (but truly impressive) CGI action "2012" is one trick pony - but it's one heck of a trick.

Get on board, strap in, and enjoy the sheer volume of guilty pleasures, glaring plot-holes and ridiculous government contingency plans. And don't forget to leave your brain at the door.

- TODAY/il