Blu-ray Review: 2012 (single disc edition)

Release Date: March 2nd, 2010
Running Time: 158 minutes

The Film

Roland Emmerich is the undisputed king of the disaster movie genre. Independence Day made him a household name, and The Day After Tomorrow capitalized on the growing climate fears at just the right time. Yet after the god-awful exercise that was 10,000 BC, it’s good to see Emmerich back in form with 2012. Though the movie was skewered for its story and acting (more than it deserved), if you like disaster movies then it is simply a must-watch title. With one of the most aggressive, reference-quality Blu-ray discs out there, 2012 is a spectacle of filmmaking that brings the disaster genre to unprecedented levels of grandeur.

The film opens in 2009 when Adrian Helmsley (Chiwetel Ejiofor) learns that radiation from a horrendous solar flare is heating up the Earth’s crust which could lead to radical shifts in the plates around…2012! He brings the issues to Chief of Staff Carl Anheuser (Oliver Platt) and President Wilson (Danny Glover) who proceed to inform world leaders at the 2010 G8 summit. Together the leaders decide to build gigantic arks to save a select group of people when the time comes…

We then move to 2012 and are introduced to Jackson Curtis (John Cusack), a failed author and limo driver for a wealthy Russian. Jackson takes his kids to Yellowstone Park while his ex-wife, Kate (Amanda Peet), is schmoozing it up with her plastic surgeon/pilot boyfriend named Gordon Silberman (Tom McCarthy). In the park Jackson and the kids meet Charlie Frost (Woody Harrelson), a conspiracy theorist who rattles on about the end of the world happening this year, coinciding with the Mayan calendar. Soon enough the disasters begin!

Jackson and his family race against nature itself and flee from the increasingly destructive events. He soon comes upon his Russian client alongside his sons, gorgeous wife, and personal pilot. Jackson learns of the arks and makes it his mission to see his family to safety. Meanwhile the situation becomes undeniable for the President who must admit to the world what is really happening before there is nothing left.

More so than his other films, Roland Emmerich attempted to infuse a lot of character into 2012. It is a long time (by Emmerich’s standards) before anything gets destroyed, and that time is instead used to build up a large cast of characters. This has been the film’s biggest source of contention. I didn’t think the characters and story were nearly as bad as critics said they were. The themes of family, power, and survival aren’t too heavy-handed but enough to give the film something beyond the spectacle, and the purpose of establishing so many characters is so that when they start to drop like flies those moments will have some emotional weight. You can care about these characters, if you let yourself. Quality actors were hired and I believe they do their absolute best with the at-times questionable dialogue. Yes, many lines may be unintentionally humorous, but what is the draw of this film? Award-winning acting and drama? No. We all know what 2012 is really about—disaster.

What is there to say about the special effects? Emmerich has completely outdone himself. Every type of natural disaster you can imagine is on steroids in this film. This is worldwide destruction on a level never before put to screen. I mean, a freaking aircraft carrier collides with a landmark! The CGI is also flawless to the point of being harrowingly realistic, so when everything hits the fan the film becomes a race against death; a road trip for survival.

2012 is not a cathartic, dramatic experience, but it was never meant to be. Rather it is a stellar popcorn movie infused with just enough humanity to prevent your eyes from glossing over as Emmerich plays puppet master in destroying the world as we know it.

The Disc

The video is presented in a 2.40:1, 1080p high definition transfer. The color palette varies and is at times quite vibrant, but when the destruction starts it takes an appropriately bleak turn. Black levels are consistently dark with excellent depth. Fine detail is what you’d expect from a blockbuster: perfection. Every minute detail in the intricate destruction sequences is pristine: the debris, the dust, the sheer carnage. Close up textures in the set/costume design are just as impressive, and the high level of detail extends to the backgrounds as well. You’d think that such a meticulous level of detail would expose the CGI, but the effects integration is flawless. With no real artifact or noise errors and a clean print, 2012 certainly looks the part.

The audio is offered in English/French DTS HD 5.1 master lossless audio tracks and an English Audio Description Track in Dolby Surround with English/French/Spanish subtitles. This mix is a spectacle that drives home what it means to destroy a world. This is true reference-grade stuff that will piss your neighbors off. The action sequences are monstrous. With splashing water, grinding metal and exploding glass coming from all sides, you truly feel like you are in the middle of the end of the world. Panning and direction effects are specifically placed around the speakers to immerse you at all times, and the hefty LFE will shake your soul. Even the quieter moments are rife with nuanced atmosphere. Despite all of the craziness, dialogue is crystal clear and balanced with the score. This is sound design of the highest caliber, and the mix does it justice.

The Extras

There is a 2-disc edition with far more content, but what is offered here is still quite informative.

The “Picture-In-Picture: Roland’s Vision” feature is a Bonus View PIP track that brings up a slew of different footage while you watch the film. You’ll get cast and crew interviews discussing their work, plot/character breakdowns, effects exploration, and production footage. I love these “video” commentaries and think they are an excellent alternative for people who don’t enjoy the traditional audio-only tracks.

Speaking of, a standard Commentary track is offered with Director Roland Emmerich and Co-Writer Harald Kloser. I suggest watching either the PIP track or listening to this as some information is retreaded. Still, there is a plethora of production information in this commentary, everything from the research about the concept of 2012 in history, to developing the script, and plenty of special effects discussion. The only problem is that this track is exceptionally dry, so anyone other than the most ardent Emmerich fans will likely tune out at some point.

An “Alternate Ending” (4 minutes) is a weak addition that demystifies the fate of some characters, ultimately hurting the ending.

Lastly movieIQ is offered which allows you, via BD-Live, to obtain real-time information about the film such as soundtrack listings, cast/crew names, and much more.

Final Thoughts

2012 is the very definition of popcorn goodness delivered by the king of the genre. As long as you know what to expect it is an astonishing ride that dwarfs all other disaster films. Gifted with a reference-quality Blu-ray, if nothing else this is a title that will show off the best aspects of your home theater.