Family is what counts the most

Film review: 2012

MANILA, Philippines - I have always been sucker for movies of the romantic-comedy/romantic-drama genre, and I never ever thought that in my whole life, I would actually enjoy watching a sci-fi disaster movie. In fact, if it weren’t for my son Jon who dragged me and my husband to watch the last full showing of the movie 2012 at the SM Megamall, I would have reached the year 2012 and even thereafter without even knowing what this movie was all about (no kidding!). But much to my surprise, I found the long movie (all of 160 minutes to be exact) highly entertaining, not to mention riveting. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time as I watched fast-paced, action-packed sequences of collapsing skyscrapers and twisting freeways, volcanic eruptions, tidal waves, and shattering earthquakes coupled with eardrum-shattering explosions. I loved it so much I thought I would write Disneyland management to request them to install a new thriller ride to be called 2012 based on the movie. Even my husband who would immediately fall into sleep if he finds a show even just a teeny-weeny bit boring, had his eyes wide open the whole length of the movie. Without a doubt, I would say that it is one of the best movies this 2009 especially for its highly spectacular special effects which allegedly cost the producers hundreds of million dollars. Indeed, it is worth your money’s worth and time.

The movie revolves around the impending doomsday caused by the overheating of the earth’s crust secretly monitored by and known to only a handful powerful and misguided people (epitomized by the despicable and ambitious Washington Chief of Staff convincingly performed by Oliver Platt, son of a former US Ambassador to the Philippines) who have devised a scheme to make only the supposed best of the species and the richest of humanity survive the imminent cataclysm. There is also the heroic but politically naïve Washington scientist (played wonderfully by Chiewetel Eljiofor) who is among the first to learn of the coming end of the world, and his righteous ideas as regards the moral dilemmas that arise (Should we not tell the people truth? Should we not try to save as many people as we can?). It also tells the story of how a divorced novelist (acted according to type by John Cusack) tries to save his family from annihilation.

Although one would watch movie of this genre for the fast action scenes and visual effects, there is a storyline about a broken family that picks at the core of our hearts. One could feel the hurt that Cusack felt as he saw his two children getting closer to his ex-wife’s boyfriend, and the pain that both ex-husband and ex-wife experience as both come to terms with the possibility that they might not see each other again, realizing at that point that they were still in love with each other. As the ex-wife Kate, Amanda Peet was lovely and absolutely credible in the scene where she desperately pleads with the powers-that-be that her two children be given the chance to live. As a mother myself, I find this scene most touching, thinking that caught in the same situation, I would also do anything and everything to save my children. Even the egocentric Russian billionaire, who in the end put his children’s welfare ahead of his, showed what any father would do.

Woody Harrelson, as the weird radio jock, who revealed to John that there was a covert government operation on a global scale, provided the comical moments that made the movie even more entertaining. One could see from the reaction of the audience members that Woody played an important part, hence two thumbs up for the casting director for including him.

Although the movie is a bit long, there is not a single boring moment. I highly recommend that you watch this movie with your family and friends. It does not only give you the excitement and tension of a fast-paced action movie with careening cars and airplanes that are so realistic you would feel you were a passenger; it also gives you moral lessons on fighting for what you believe is right, and standing up to people who are corrupt and heartless. Most importantly, it will make you realize that when the time comes, it is always your family that counts the most.

(E-mail me at [email protected] or text 0927-5000833. Help build houses for the poor through the Gawad Kalinga by calling 718-1738 to 41 or texting 0917-5239777.)