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News / Columns / Critics Consensus
Critics Consensus: 2012 Isn't Quite Earth-Shaking
Plus, Pirate Radio gently rocks, and Fantastic Mr. Fox is Certified Fresh.
by Tim Ryan | November 12, 2009
Discuss Article
This week at the movies, we've got a global catastrophe (2012, starring John Cusack and Chiwetel Ejiofor) and some rock 'n' roll rebellion (Pirate Radio, starring Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Nighy). What do the critics have to say?
37%
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Rotten

2012

Nobody goes to a Roland Emmerich picture expecting art or realism; they go for sheer spectacle. On that level, critics say, 2012 largely delivers. However, they also note that if you enjoy character development, witty dialogue, remotely plausible science, and brevity, you're out of luck. John Cusack stars as a sci-fi writer desperately trying to save his family from global calamity, while Chiwetel Ejiofor is the top government scientist who learns the earth is on a fast track to total destruction -- just like the Mayans predicted. The pundits give Emmerich some credit: the man's been destroying the world's landmarks onscreen since Independence Day, and on that point, he's still visually inventive on a grand scale. But they also say the movie's way too long, and its characters too shallow, and its scenarios so ludicrous that it ultimately becomes overbearing. (Check out Emmerich's Five Favorite Films, as well as this week's Total Recall, in which we count down John Cusack's best-reviewed movies.)


59%
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Rotten

Pirate Radio

It's an understatement to say that the mid-to-late-1960s was a revolutionary period for British rock music, and Pirate Radio is a fond, celebratory comedy about those heady times. Critics say it may not rock quite hard enough, but it's got enough infectious good humor -- and hummable tunes - to drown out objections. Loosely based upon the wacky story of the pirate station Radio Caroline, the movie tells the story of an American DJ (Philip Seymour Hoffman) who, on a boat in the North Atlantic, plays rock records all day and all of the night, much to the consternation of the staid BBC. The pundits say Pirate Radio often plays more like a collection of scenes rather than a full narrative, and the film lacks the gonzo sensibility -- or the danger -- of the era. Still, they also note the film works as a better-than-average nostalgia trip, with some big laughs and a fantastic soundtrack -- that is, if you happen to like bands like the Who, Cream, and the Kinks. (Check out the RT staff's favorite rock 'n' roll movies here.)


Also opening this week in limited release:

  • Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson's stop-motion adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's story, is Certified Fresh at 91 percent.
  • The Messenger, starring Woody Harrelson and Ben Foster in a drama about a soldier returning to normal life after a stint in Iraq, is at 87 percent.
  • Four Seasons Lodge, a doc about a summer resort for Holocaust survivors, is at 78 percent.
  • The Good Soldier, a doc about five veterans who reflect on their efforts and the nature of combat, is at 71 percent.
  • William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe, a profile of the controversial radical civil rights attorney, is at 71 percent.
  • The End of Poverty?, a doc about the causes of global inequity, is at 56 percent.
  • Uncertainty, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the tale of a young couple whose lives inhabit two alternate realities, is at 50 percent.
  • Women in Trouble, starring Carla Gugino and Emmanuelle Chriqui in a multi-stranded comedy about a day in the life of 10 seemingly dissimilar ladies, is at 30 percent.
  • Dare, starring Emmy Rossum in a coming-of age tale about an unlikely high school love triangle, is at 29 percent.
  • Ten9Eight: Shoot for the Moon, a documentary about a business competition among inner city teens, is at 29 percent.
  • Oh My God, featuring the musings of religious leaders and celebrities like Hugh Jackman and Ringo Starr on the nature of the almighty, is at zero percent.

Related Items
Movie: Fantastic Mr. Fox
Pirate Radio
Uncertainty
The Messenger
Women in Trouble
William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe
The End of Poverty?
Oh My God
Four Seasons Lodge
Dare
The Good Soldier
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Comments (1-20 of 44 posts) | Reply
Costigan
Costigan writes:
on Nov 12 2009 04:12 PM

Wow 2012 rotten, surprising.

(Reply to this)
Paints Hz Shirt Red
Paints Hz Shirt Red writes:
on Nov 12 2009 04:23 PM

The thing that makes me wonder about 2012 is why Emmerich didnt shoot any scenes in imax. After all it would be cool seeing that film on the bigger screen. And Costigan, im in as much shock of it being rotten as your are buddy.

(Reply to this)
Bigbrother
Bigbrother writes:
on Nov 12 2009 04:36 PM

going to see Pirate Radio. I like British comedies and love Love Actually and Nottinghill.

(Reply to this)
Escapefromalcatraz
Escapefromalcatraz writes:
on Nov 12 2009 04:50 PM

Bummer about Pirate Radio and Uncertainty. Those two were on my radar. I may just say fark-it and hit Pirate Radio anyway. Too much classic rock to miss. Plus they have boats. How can you miss with boats? :)

(Reply to this)
ledawg1138
ledawg1138 writes:
on Nov 12 2009 04:54 PM

Here's hoping "2012" won't...forget it, it will make it's millions.

(Reply to this)
Seth T.
Seth T. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 05:13 PM

im gonna see 2012, i like apacalyptic movies

(Reply to this)
August M.
August M. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 05:54 PM

Fantastic Mr. Fox for me.

(Reply to this)
Mr. Bo Ziffer
Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Nov 12 2009 06:37 PM

My mother is just plain obsessed with this 2012 end of the world conspiracy. I constantly get my DVR clogged with Nostradamus specials and such 'n' such. She's trying to convince me to see this movie with her, but I told her I would pass.

I really hope that in three years we find out that the world ISN'T going to implode, just so we can have more reason to laugh at this movie.


(Reply to this)
ledawg1138
ledawg1138 writes:
on Nov 12 2009 07:01 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560832)
That's kind of...sad. And don't take that as a insult or anything, but this whole 2012-is-the-end-of-the-world belief is baseless BS.

(Reply to this)
anna s.
anna s. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 07:04 PM

********************This is a beautiful woman from New York. Internet is a quite good place to meet friends and even find whatever your need. i am just in the beginning of my career and want to find a rich man, maybe to be my sugar daddy. so i uploaded my hot and even **** photos on %u2605%u2605%u2605S u ga r loves- c o m%u2605%u2605%u2605. under the name Kristen15, maybe you want to check out my photos firstly!!

(Reply to this)
Mr. Bo Ziffer
Mr. Bo Ziffer writes:
on Nov 12 2009 07:23 PM

In reply to this comment (#2560838)
No, no . . . it IS very sad. Me being a semi-rich sum-a-b****, I can afford to watch "Penn & Teller" on ShoTime. They have proof that the world will NOT be ending in 2012, and if there is anybody in this world we can trust, it's a potty-mouthed magician and his mute assisstant!

And please Anna S., if you're not going to have the decency to just go away, at least change your avatar. Nobody is going to visit your skanky website if Public Enemy #1 is staring them in the face!


(Reply to this)
Carter F.
Carter F. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 08:03 PM

No surprise 2012 took a G.I. Joe and plunged 50%. Wasn't expecting anymore, though.

(Reply to this)
ARTaylor
ARTaylor writes:
on Nov 12 2009 08:31 PM

I'll be seeing 2012. Emmerich makes fun movies. Sure it's over the top and silly but that's what I've come to expect from him, like mindless shooting and explosions in a Michael Bay flick.

I might see The Fantastic Mr. Fox depending on what people say. Seems interesting but I'll wait for some feedback first.


(Reply to this)
Matthew D.
Matthew D. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 08:51 PM

People defending this film: if it's all about "mindless action", then why is it well over two hours? A typical Hollywood action movie with all beauty and no substance should be an hour and a half, tops. Seeing **** blow up for nearly three hours in an Emmerich film becomes tedious, not visually enthralling. Why does a man spend such a ridiculous amount of dough on a film that won't be remembered for doing anything particularly noteworthy in the future? Like Transformers 2, the film was visually decent, but the editing and tediousness of the whole thing sunk it for me. You can't complain about Hollywood churning out bad movies and then pay seven bucks to encourage more crapfests like this in the future.

Action films can be very entertaining and still feature good, old-fashioned action. Just look at the enduring success of the first Die Hard.


(Reply to this)
Matthew D.
Matthew D. writes:
on Nov 12 2009 08:54 PM

I'd even use Terminator 2 as an example of visual wizardry complementing the drama of a film, not dominating the entire thing. 2012 is nearly as long as the first Lord of the Rings, and yet it says nothing to remember. I'm sorry, but three hours of explosions and unintentionally comedic characters just doesn't work.

(Reply to this)
CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe
CoUcH ToMaToE DoUgIe writes:
on Nov 12 2009 10:36 PM

Preparing for Mr. Fox and I'll wait before calling him fantastic. It must have been a Herculian task for Clooney to consider playing a character who has his peers constantly contemplating him over and over... what an actor ;-)



(Reply to this)
Gotherx
Gotherx writes:
on Nov 13 2009 12:42 AM

what so surprising with that?? it's expected isn't it....

(Reply to this)
The Stunner
The Stunner writes:
on Nov 13 2009 03:27 AM

were we really expecting a good movie filled with CGI? nowadays? there aren't that many...

(Reply to this)
Hans M.
Hans M. writes:
on Nov 13 2009 05:37 AM

Another mindless blockbuster for the weekend BO haul, I see. Well, I had always planned on skipping it. Independence Day was lame and embarrassing to have seen in the theaters. I've never believed in this director since. This film really feels like an excuse to blow everything up, but mostly I think it preys on humanity%u2019s arrogance that they might be around to see the end of the world. I feel people have this deep-seeded self-interest in the apocalypse that fuels a conceited notion we might be around to see it. I write a bit about it on my blog here: http://indieethos.wordpress.com/, and I welcome you all to check it out and comment. I do enjoy this community a lot, and would be honored to have some of you visit.

The only movie I an interested in seeing is Wes Anderson%u2019s Fantastic Mr. Fox. He has never let me down as a director. I had hoped more for Pirate Radio, but it seemed rote and cheesy, considering the director%u2019s filmography. Still, I%u2019m a big fan of that period and Brit rock, so I might check it out anyhow.


(Reply to this)
James T.
James T. writes:
on Nov 13 2009 06:16 AM

I'm not surprised that 2012 is getting bad reviews. I mean did anyone actually think it was going to be good considering Roland Emmerich was directing it? Plus I'm sure theres a lot of made up facts in the movie that Hollywood has thrown in there to stir people up. Also from the looks of it, 2012 needs to be shorter. Great CGI does not make a good movie, but apparently Hollywood does not get that.

(Reply to this)
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