Published: Wednesday, 18th November, 2009 4:55pm

Film File - 2012

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Blame it on the Mayans. Centuries ago, the Mayan civilisation left us their calendar, with a clear date for The End. Since then, astrologists have discovered it, numerologists have found patterns that predict it, geologists say the earth is overdue for it, and even government scientists cannot deny the cataclysm of epic proportions that awaits the earth in 2012.

A prophecy that began with the Mayans has now been well-chronicled, discussed, taken apart and examined. It's only two years away, and it even looks worse than Nama….if that's possible.

Directed by Roland Emmerich, the man famous for other heavy-handed end-of-world epics like 'The Day After Tomorrow' and 'Independence Day', found a perfect hook in the calendar set to reach the end of its 13th cycle on 21st December 2012 - the day beyond which there is nothing.

The story is presented from two points of view: those who know about the cataclysmic events that await the earth and those who remain in the dark. Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) is an obsessive writer whose devotion to his novel broke up his marriage, but who remains a loyal father prepared to do anything to save his family. His ex-wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), maintains friendly contact but has long tired of competing with his work.

As the earth's plates start to shift - destroying Los Angeles in the process - Jackson and his family are forced to begin a desperate journey by land and air to survive to see the new world. As happened in a previous disaster movie, 'Deep Impact', some years back, there is a plan amongst governments to save what they can. President Wilson (Danny Glover) understands the crisis the world is about to face, but wants to prevent mass hysteria by keeping the information secret.

Chiwetel Ejiofor plays the president's chief science advisor, and Oliver Platt his volatile chief of staff. Thandie Newton plays the president's daughter, Laura, shocked to find out what her father's government has hidden from the world. Woody Harrelson rounds out the main players as radio host Charlie Frost, who broadcasts his dire predictions to anyone who will listen.

At an estimated €260m to make, '2012' is the biggest whiz-bang game set ever presented to director Emmerich, and boy does he have some fun with it. This is disaster on a gigantic scale - and it works, terrifying well. As for the script and some of the acting….well, suffice to say it's far from terrifying.

The trouble begins when an enormous solar flare prompts a massive displacement of the Earth's crust, unleashing a Pandora's Box of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, typhoons and tidal waves all across the planet - a veritable death's head stew of fire, wind and water from which nobody can escape. Well, actually one in every 17,000 will survive in specially-built arks constructed secretly by major governments - more 'Deep Impact' mirroring here - with humans sharing space alongside animals, two-by-two, naturally.

In the midst of all this runs John Cusack - which he does a lot of - as highways crumble under him, skyscrapers tumble to block his path, and stellar fireballs crash mere feet behind him. And not once is his hair messed up.

With some of the best special effects seen for many a year, we get a re-run of 'Independence Day' with the White House again obliterated, the Eiffel Tower gone wallop, the Vatican smashed to pieces and the famous Christ the Redeemer statue over Rio de Janeiro done and dusted.

'2012' is a true blockbuster - full throttle on the effects but seriously light on the acting. But you'll hardly notice that as you duck from pieces of the West Wing hurtling your way.