Roland Emmerich has done it again. He has filled our belllies and minds while watching one of his acclaimed theatrical blockbusters. While exiting the theater, I heard a father comment to his wife, that one of "the kids wanted to know exactly how many people each ship could hold?" Where can you go to discover that people have questions about the film after watching it?
This film is fun and worth the money. Yours truly spent only $14 to get into the theater and to buy a small Coke and popcorn - in Jersey City - and discovered afterwards that the true cost was closer to $22.00 - the regular price. That's because the film 2012 gives you more than what you should spend for a movie logically, because it's theme is wonderful and the special effects top of the line - but if you were in a city such as Manhattan you should expect to pay closer to $24.00.
2012 is based upon an amalgation of pseudo-religious beliefs that say the world will be "changed" or go through a metamorphasus so great in the aforesaid year that quite a few billion people will perish before all is done. Predictions are base upon Mayan astrology, which more and more ascribe to, except human sacrifice, noting that there will be an increase in "solar activity" during this time and we should well be wary of it. In addition, present science sees an increase in solar "flares" which no doubt have an effect upon the earth. We cannot fathom just what will come to pass, except that if we check out the Holy Bible, there is no recorded "astological-disaster" awaiting us except what is explicitly listed for the nations to repent - uh, that would be a comet as recorded in the book of Revelation. Secularly speaking, you may continue in your present course, unless you want to consider that "naturally" the United States of America is in for a pretty bad rough spot should the Yellowstone Caldera bust open - which would result in the death of about a hundred million folk. Since the majority of Americans eyes are on the stars and not the scriptures, this explosion will take many by surprise.
Yours truly really enjoyed this show, because of one special and particular highlight, whether noted by R.Emmerich or not: those who serve only themselves will die and those who sacrifice themselves for the sake of others will survive. Time after time we see that the selfish only wind up getting nowhere, and it's not so present in most of modern literature or film-making, but again and again we see it in the best movies, which is why this one, 2012 really stands out. I could not resist a tear or two when the hero once again, after agreeing to go the extra mile from which he may not recover, came out on top. That's probably what R.Emmerich had in mind when making this movie and that the "bad guy" - the Russian plutocrat, in particular - falls to his destruction, yet even here his unselfish giving in saving his boys brings an admirable end to his life. Two others also "don't make it" but only Sir Emmerich really knows why.
It is the hope of this writer that these particulars would not be lost on the audience, that to "give one's life for others" is not some foreign mantra, but is a bedrock of our society. If we refuse to build upon this foundation and live life with only ourselves in mind, so be it - but let's not deny that self-sacrifice, denying ourselves while using what strength we have to serve others - what this movie highlights - is part and parcel of our heritage, even if we occasionally get caught up with "what's in it for me" attitudes. I think you'll enjoy this flick, if the iintellectually-minded of you can get over the fact that Yellowstone is about 1,200 miles away from Santa Monica.
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