2012 (2009)

A frustrated writer struggles to keep his family alive when a series of global catastrophes threatens to annihilate mankind.

Director:

Roland Emmerich

Writers:

Roland Emmerich, Harald Kloser

Stars:

John Cusack, Thandiwe Newton, Chiwetel Ejiofor

5 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Cusack	...	Jackson Curtis
Amanda Peet	...	Kate Curtis
Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Adrian Helmsley
Thandiwe Newton	...	Laura Wilson (as Thandie Newton)
Oliver Platt	...	Carl Anheuser
Tom McCarthy	...	Gordon Silberman
Woody Harrelson	...	Charlie Frost
Danny Glover	...	President Thomas Wilson
Liam James	...	Noah Curtis
Morgan Lily	...	Lilly Curtis
Zlatko Buric	...	Yuri Karpov
Beatrice Rosen	...	Tamara
Alexandre Haussmann	...	Alec
Philippe Haussmann	...	Oleg
Johann Urb	...	Sasha

Storyline

Dr. Adrian Helmsley, part of a worldwide geophysical team investigating the effect on the earth of radiation from unprecedented solar storms, learns that the earth's core is heating up. He warns U.S. President Thomas Wilson that the crust of the earth is becoming unstable and that without proper preparations for saving a fraction of the world's population, the entire race is doomed. Meanwhile, writer Jackson Curtis stumbles on the same information. While the world's leaders race to build "arks" to escape the impending cataclysm, Curtis struggles to find a way to save his family. Meanwhile, volcanic eruptions and earthquakes of unprecedented strength wreak havoc around the world.

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Plot Keywords:

apocalypse | earthquake | end of the world | elizabeth i character | juvenile bedwetting | 

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Taglines:

How will you survive? Search: 2012

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for intense disaster sequences and some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The first name of the Curator of the Louvre in this movie is Roland, which is the same first name as Roland Emmerich.

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Goofs

When already in 2012, we see almost exclusively old analog television sets everywhere: on board Genesis cruise ship, in a Yellowstone convenience store, etc. As we know now, after the 2009 digital transition, old analog sets were very quickly phased out because prices for LCD and LED sets dropped almost 100% within less than 2 years, so by 2012 it is highly unlikely than a state of the art cruise ship had an analog set even in the kitchen. All hotels, ships, restaurants, were retrofitted with flat panels in 2012. During the making of the film, even in 2008-2009, they should have easily predicted that by 2012 all sets would have LCD panels.

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Quotes

Scotty: It's been upgraded to a 10.9 by the guys at Harvard.
Adrian Helmsley: What does Caltech have to say?
Professor West: The whole city of Pasadena was wiped out just a few minutes ago.

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Crazy Credits

The opening scene of the movie shows the years and events leading up to 2012 (2009...2010...2011). The title card not only states the movie's title, but also seems to indicate, "And in the year 2012..."

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Alternate Versions

There were some deleted scenes that were featured on the DVD:

• Jackson drives Alec and Oleg to the airport while trying to get through some doomsdayers.
• President Wilson and his secretary Sally talk about plans to make arrangements to address the nation one last time.
• After the discovery that the impact drill is stuck and before the mega-tsunami hits, Anheuser blames Adrian for what his decision cost them and makes a comment about having sex with Laura. Dr. Helmsley punches him before taking Laura and some crew members down to the Hydraulics Chamber.
• Jackson finds Gordon's cell phone under the water after Gordon was crushed by the gears.
• In a follow-up to the alternate ending, Anheuser (after hearing that Dr. Helmsley's dad is still alive) apologizes to Dr. Helmsley for what he said.

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Connections

Featured in Brows Held High: Melancholia (2012)

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Soundtracks

Fades Like a Photograph
Written by Richard Patrick, Harald Kloser and Thomas Wanker
Produced by Richard Patrick
Performed by Filter

User Reviews

Good cataclysmic Action, but waayyy to much bad kitsch

I loved the first half of the movie with Roland Emmerich seemingly back to form (from his disastrous "10,000 B.C."). But as the movie drags on, even the smallest character gets his "i have to say goodbye to my loved ones"-scene - which becomes quite annoying after you've watched this for the 5th time in a row. then comes a great destruction scene and then we're back in soap-opera territory. don't get me wrong, basically that can be said about most of Emmerich's movies - they are just popcorn cinema - leave your brain at the ticket counter. still, i enjoyed the likes of "Independence Day" or even "The Day After Tomorrow". But the one thing, he can't do properly is "good"-emotional cinema - which works fine in some of his other movies when his pathos-laden, goofy dialogue writing doesn't get in the way of the big explosions - it fit's, makes them funnier to a point. unfortunately this doesn't work for 2012. if somebody could actually cut this movie down to 90minutes running time, i'd even be lining up for a second ticket.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French Tibetan Mandarin Russian Hindi Portuguese Latin Italian Spanish

Release Date:

13 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Farewell Atlantis

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$200,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$65,237,614, 15 November 2009

Gross USA:

$166,112,167

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$791,217,826

Company Credits

Production Co:

Columbia Pictures, Centropolis Entertainment, Farewell Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

158 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS Dolby Atmos (Ultra HD Blu-ray release)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1