 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
2012
- Review Date: October 29, 2009
- PG-13
- Genre: Science Fiction
- 2009
Common Sense Media says
Massive global destruction -- not for worriers.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that director Roland Emmerich's 2012 is an intense, violent disaster movie, with billions of anonymous characters getting killed during massive scenes of destruction (earthquakes, tsunamis, and more). Although the tone is mainly exciting, the relentless devastation could terrify or depress many viewers (both kids and grown-ups), especially those who've been through natural disasters themselves. In other words, this is no movie for kids anxious about the state of the world. Fans of the genre will find some of the effects truly impressive, but there's not much in the way of character or plot depth. Expect a little bit of kissing, drinking, and swearing (including "s--t"). All that and it's almost three hours long. ...
What's the story?
When the sun suddenly begins bombarding Earth with a higher neutrino count, heating up the planet's core, it all-too-quickly leads to massive natural disasters -- from earthquakes to tsunamis -- and even shifting of the north and south poles. A secret project is underway in Tibet to build "arks" to rescue a certain number of people, but most of the seats have been reserved for the world's richest and most important people. While scientist Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) collects data and fights against greed and corruption, small-time Los Angeles author Jackson Curtis (John Cusack) tries to rescue his ex-wife (Amanda Peet) and their two kids, get them to Tibet, and secure them seats on one of the arks. But can he do this impossible task in time?
Is it any good?
Disaster movies are usually very popular and have long managed to thrill plenty of people with their huge scale and awesome special effects. Since 2012 (which is tied to a much-debated Mayan prophecy that supposedly names that year as the one in which the world will end) is one of the biggest and most spectacular to date, it will no doubt follow suit -- and, in terms of visual effects and clear, exciting filmmaking, it is well done. And the impressive, appealing cast does its level best to read through the third-rate dialogue without too much eye-rolling.
But anyone looking for character depth, powerful emotional content, intelligence, poetic images, or personal expression of any kind is advised to look elsewhere. At best, it's a nearly three-hour film packed with several tons of clichés whose best features are explosions and general destruction. At worst, it's a gruesome, depressing subject as viewed from the seat of a passing roller coaster.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the movie's destruction and violence. Much of it is of a sci-fi/fantasy nature, but if you stop to think about it, the enormity and frequency of it can be overwhelming. Is this kind of violence more or less upsetting than gory horror movies?
One of the movie's major themes is the importance of family.
Does that come through amid the chaos and destruction? Did the movie make you feel closer to your own family?Why do you think the wealthiest and most important people
were chosen for seats on the arks? Should other people have gotten a chance? What would have been a better way to go about the
process?Do you think a disaster like this could occur? If so, is it better to
try and prepare or better not to worry about something we can't control?
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AGE
Great movie, but not for younger kids
I personally love disaster movies like this one, as long as they're well made; and believe me, this one is very well made. This movie is similar to The Day After Tomorrow, but on a much more massive scale (if you can imagine that). This could easily scare younger kids, so don't let your 7-year old watch it, but it's great for fans of events of epic proportions. LA is torn apart and basically turned upside-down, China and India are flooded by giant tsunamis (as well as DC in a scene involving the USS John Kennedy), and Yellowstone erupts (epically). Finally the movie is wrapped up with slight Christian overtones and everyone lives happily ever after. That is, the less than one billion people still alive. And this guys leg get torn off. Oh no. Besides the mass death and violence, there are strong family messages and good role models. So yeah.
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AGE
Don't see this movie!
i am already NOT a fan. my lttle brothers are scared, and oh? The mayans did not say the world would end, they said THEIR civilization would end. last time i checked, we are NOT all mayans!!!!!!!!!!! It is NOT WORTH my little brothers being scared!!!!!!!!!!!or anyone else.
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AGE
a bit over the top (unrealistic) in many places but great thriller
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AGE
Great movie! Lots of action with a little love mixed in there. (:
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AGE
It's okay I didn't like it much.
This movie to me is basically showcasing explosions, stuff breaking, and well how the earth's destruction. I would recommend it to 11+ if they're not gullible and mature. It's kinda selfish because they only try to benefit themselves if you think about it. Like commonsense media said up there ^ it's very cliche. I don't believe in the Mayan calender thing. I got bored most of the time thinking this is so unrealistic. I always felt like the world is going to end because us, the human race did some thing to destroy earth. But of course, let's bring in explosions, stuff falling down on millions (billions?) of people who die, and a government that makes machines secretly so that way the more important people can live. It was strange to see the kids kinda unaffected by the pilot dead or the adventure they were having. Yea they were scared but to my opinion not too scared. If I was a little girl (the main character's daughter) I would be freaking right now, traumatized, shaking. All that stuff. If you really believe that Mayan junk or 2012, and are scared of it, forget it.(unless your immortal but I really doubt that) Someday you're going to die so live your life to the fullest. So on 12/22/12 I'm going to laugh at those people who thought the world was going to end. To wrap it all up, if you like fireworks, action then watch this. (even though unrealistic) It's not the greatest thriller, but it will past the time for some people.
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AGE
The movie overall is great. I wouldn't recommend people younger than 11watching it though because of bad language. It also is a tiny bit long and a bit scary at times. I think this review is right and seeing as it's a 12a (in the UK. it means you can watch it if you are 12 on your own, but any younger, watch with and adult) and hope that many others agree!!!
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AGE
I had to explain to my 10 year old how every few years society comes up with another inevitable date, that history has somehow predicted, when the world would end. The trailers have her spooked, she worries that it is real. I don't need this for her....
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AGE
Amazing, yet sad and violent. Not for young, immature or weak-stomached viewers.
This was an amazing movie, the plot line, the special effects. I actually cried. It's also very creepy to think that it's 2012 so it gives you that "real" feeling.
Violence - Not much blood or anything.. (one character gets his leg messed up in a huge gear). A lot of the main characters that you get to know die. Two young characters watch as their father falls to his death and another character is ground up in some machinery - yuck, not really anny blood or gore though. There's a boxing match..nothing really except punching. A really bad suicide is mentioned on the news.
Sex - One character is a surgeon who does plastic surgery on breasts. He encounters one of his previous patients, and they discuss her surgery several times. Two characters mention making a baby together. Two characters kiss once, and there's an "almost kiss" between two other characters.
Language - Rare use of strong language, although there's at least one "f--k," a few "s--t," and other words like "d-mn,"
"-ss," "h-ll," "godd-mn," and "oh my God." One character gives another a rude finger gesture.
Drinking, smoking, drugs - There is some drinking to relieve the stress that it is the end of the world.
Overall, it's a very sad movie, and there are a lot of deaths. It has a lot of heavy content so not for young or immature or weak-stomached viewers. Amazing film though!
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AGE
I loved this movie far more than I thought I would. I was expecting a dumb disaster flick; but what I got was the best disaster film since Armageddon. It was funny, deep, scary, and had absolutely top-notch special effects and disaster sequences! I loved it, and it certainly made up for 10,000 B.C. (the same director). PARENTS: This is an unbelievably, EXTREMELY intense film with multiple sad main character deaths and countless deaths of billions of anonymous citizens. Thanks for reading - Movie Man
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AGE
I'll just say, even though we all know that the mayan prophecy is just a bundle of crap, this does look like an incredibly intense and epic movie. :)
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| Studio: | Columbia Tristar |
| Director: | Roland Emmerich |
| Cast: | Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, John Cusack |
| Genre: | Science Fiction |
| Run time: | 158 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | November 13, 2009 |
| DVD release date: | March 2, 2010 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense disaster sequences and some language. |
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