Case Study - 2012

Chris Ashwell
2012 - 2009

Wikipedia – ‘There are a variety of popular beliefs about the year 2012. These beliefs range from the spiritually transformative to the apocalyptic, and centre upon various interpretations of the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar. Contemporary scientists have disputed the apocalyptic versions.’
Many religions believe that the year 2012 is that last year for the human race. They believe that the world will end and our race will cease to exist.
There has been a film based around this date called ‘2010’
Plot:
2009: American geologist called Adrian Helmsley goes to India to meet with a forma colleague, he learns from this colleague that neutrinos from a massive solar flare are acting as microwave radiation, causing the temperature of the Earth's core to increase rapidly. Adrian fly’s to the US to the speak with the White House Chief of Staff (Carl Anheuser) who at first ignores him until he shows the data that alarms the Chief. He is then given a meeting with the US President (Thomas Wilson) and informs him that that this will cause a massive event natural disasters. They begin a secret project intended to ensure the survival of humanity but they only pick the most important people from around the world. Around 400,000 people are chosen they are given special passes to board ships.
2012: Jackson Curtis has a part time job as a limousine driver with 2 kids but has divorced his wife who is with another man, he’s also a writer. Jackson his two kids on a camping trip to Yellowstone National Park, here they meet what seems like a crazy man called Charlie who has his own radio show all about the apocalypse. He says that he has some plans or map all about the secret project of building these huge ships. As they return home the natural disasters begin to take place, a crack develops along the San Andreas Fault in California and earthquakes start all over the west coast. Jackson fears that it’s going to get a lot worse after the talk he had with Charlie so he decides to rent a plane just in case something happens. Los Andreas begins to fall and so Jackson collects the family and runs to the plain, they manage to get away just as Los Andreas falls into what is now the sea.
They decide to fly back to Charlie in the Yellowstone National Park to retrieve the map but Yellowstone begins to erupt. They only have a matter of seconds to get the map and drive back to the plane. They run to the plane but Jackson forgets the map so he has to run back to the van and get the map but the ground falls beneath the van and it looks like Jacksons falls as well but he manages to climb back up and they narrowly escape the meteors whilst flying the plane.
The map tells them that the ships are being made in China so the land in Las Vegas in search for fuel but they find the super rich man who Jackson drives for. He is with his family and a plane driver so they decide to hijack a plane and fly to china.
They arrive in the China with a crash that kills Sasha as he fly’s of the edge of the mountain. They are spotted by the Chinese and they take the Russians who posses tickets but leave Jackson and his family behind.
They get picked up by some Chinese civilians on their way to the arks but they have to brake their way in. Once they get in a drill falls into the cogs and jams the door from closing this then comes to the attention of the crew and they spot the intruders. The water begins to fill the ship and Jackson has to swim back and remove the drill as the water level increases. He manages to unlock the cogs and close the door and the ship is dragged out of the dock uncontrollably nearly smashing into Everest.
Directed by Roland Emmerich, developed and distributed by Columbia Pictures 2012 began development in Vancouver August 2008 and finished in January 2009.2012 launched with an estimated $65 million on its first weekend and then a $225 million at the worldwide box office on the opening weekend. The film has managed to gross $161,458,000 in the United States and Canada and $574,100,000 in international markets, for a worldwide total of $735,558,000. It was the 5th highest grossing film of 2009 worldwide.
Audience:
With this film I don’t feel it appeals to anyone of a younger age as I know kids tend to get scared at the thought of the world ending, well I did at least. I don’t think that older people really have an appeal for this movie as I asked my grandparents and they said it’s not really there type of film. The range that I feel this feel appeals to is 15-40.
4*/10*
They had all the money, actors and special effects they needed so how did they manage to screw this one up? Obviously they thought exciting moments were more important than developing deeper characters and that's why this story that had great potential stayed so shallow. The dialog was always cheesy and none of the 'hero's' in this film really showed any real emotions nor did they give any of those speeches that give the audience goose bumps. Another thing that really bothered me was that so much was almost going wrong the whole time. Every second of the film had a 'close call' which made the film seem totally unrealistic. Examples are planes taking off just before the runway collapses or driving just fast enough to not get hit by an explosion. This can be very cool if it doesn't happen 100% of the time and I have never seen a movie abusing this way of creating excitement to this extent. So to sum up: If you feel like turning your brain off and watching special effects and big explosions with a very shallow storyline then this movie is for you. But if you feel like watching a movie with a bit of depth then go and see something else.
Quotes from IMBD.com







I can relate to this author, they have put in too many thrilling moments and after the first couple its starts to get slightly boring however I fell that the quality of the effects has a counter balance to this. The explosions and close calls really keep you tuned to see what happens if the ‘hero’ escapes in time for instance.
7*/10
If you've seen Independence Day, Titanic, or any recent vintage of the well-worn disaster film genre, you will not be disappointed at all with any of 2012. Its 2.5 hour+ running time moves at a great clip, and there's enough science and pseudoscience running around to give the film a certain of-the-moment wonder and clarity. The many destruction sequences throughout the film are absolutely breathtaking to behold, and one wonders if Roland Emmerich starts every film imagining how he will destroy the White House. Like all of his other films (except for The Patriot) it has big names but no huge names and really is a blast to watch. It has just the right balance of action and melodrama, often, as with all good films of this genre, in the same scene. The audience I watched it with was laughing and cheering throughout, and I'm sure it will be the definitive event movie of the holiday season, critics be damned.






This author obviously enjoyed the film “The audience I watched it with was laughing and cheering throughout” when I saw the film there wasn’t any crowd cheers but there was a little laughter and this is what was good about the film. Even though it’s about the world ending it has a little light heartedness to make it less depressing than other films of the similar types.
Technological Advancement:
The effects here are similar to those of Avatar, the technology used was so good it really did give those ‘hold your breath’ moments at certain escapes scenes. The effects are what I reckon sold this movie for sure. It’s not every day that people want to go to the cinema to see the world ending, it’s a rather depressing matter for some. The story line was same old like the rest of the films the world is ending but the human race struggles to find a way to survive. The effects like the car driving through the middle of a falling building trying to navigate between pillars were absolutely stunning. The trailer shows this for definite, its spine chilling music and eye pleasing effects would make anyone feel bedazzled.
Many people from IMDB.com said that the storyline wasn’t the greatest and I think the production company may have known this too, there are many films out there like this. So they really had to flaunt their movie and they did this with the special effects. If you haven’t seen the trailer I recommend watching it. The effects looked so real it made the hairs on the back on neck stand on end.