When I saw the first teaser for the epic disaster movie 2012 so many months ago, like many others, I was intrigued. I have always been a huge fan of epic disaster films and I could tell by the looks of the very first trailer that this was going to be just that. As I saw more revealing previews I got more and more fascinated and excited for what I was sure would be one of the best apocalyptic movies of the year. Now, sitting on the other side of the 158-minute film, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. By all accounts this movie really should have had it all. With a cataclysmic plot, visual effects that are veritably stunning, and director Roland Emmerich at the helm, it seems like this is one catastrophic film that had great potential; but in the end just couldn't seem to make it all work together.

The film is based upon a supposed ancient Mayan belief that on a specific date in the future, December 21, 2012 according to our calendar, the entire planet would experience devastating changes that would effectively eliminate all life on earth as we know it. They basically adhered to a belief that the world would one day come to an end and they had some way of actually foretelling what specific day all of this would happen. Although discounted by the mainstream public as crazy beliefs with no real merit in the same manner most people in our everyday society would disregard individuals carrying "Repent the end is near" signs, people slowly begin to find that the ancient Mayans may just have had things spot on.

Amid watching various scientists discovering the brewing destruction of the planet and in turn delivering the news to all the important people in the world, the focus of the film really falls upon one man, Jackson Curtis, and his mission to save his family from the impending peril. Jackson is an author, albeit a relatively unsuccessful one, who in his pursuit of his passion of writing let his family slip away. He is now separated from his wife and is only able to see his kids on weekends when he manages to find time away from his various odd jobs and writing projects to see them. As he manages to find time to whisk them away on a much anticipated but poorly planned camping trip to Yellowstone, Jackson finds himself with his kids in the middle of events that are about to change the entire world as they know it.

Aside from the over-dramatic cheesiness and the ridiculous and almost laughable action sequences that unfortunately dominate most (all) of the entire film, there is an undeniable theme that manages to surface regarding the importance of family and maintaining peace with the people that surround us. When you take away all the glitzy car crashes, near misses, and planes taking off just as the runway is crumbling from underneath them, the facts of the story remaining really are, what would you do if you knew the world was imminently coming to an end? In Jackson's case the will to survive and keep his family safe seems to transcend all other thoughts and actions. If there is any way to survive the destruction, he is bound and determined to find it. Survival seems to be the only option for him. Every character reacts differently, though. Some who realize survival is an unrealistic hope do their best to make their peace with their families and friends, mend any broken bridges they may have, and do their best to say goodbye. Then some do what they can to help the people around them to survive, one way or another.

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