Movie Preview: 2012

Well it's almost a year to the day that I mentioned 2012, and one thing is certain. The hype surrounding that date, and likely this movie, is only growing with time.

There wasn't a lot known in 2008 about this film - other than it would be the disaster film that might relaunch the trend in films (at least until 2012). It is sure to be followed by numerous other films based on exactly the same theme. The question is were the Mayans thinking of this film when they thought of how the world might end?

The latest movie trailer for 2012 looks like this



By the way, the words on the side of the number at mark 2:35 appear to be "Into A Place GUE[? not sure of this] Apocalaypse" which might be a reference to

"And he gathered them into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon" Revalations 16:16

So it seems that the film is going to try to fit in several messages besides the CGI shock and awe. That is a bad sign though. When movies try for political or other messages generally you get crap like Lions for Lambs or War, Inc. (didn't see them? No one did).

Given some of the imagery of the film, and who is in it, conspiracy nuts will likely love this film. I'm not knocking Danny Glover, John Cussack, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton or any of the other actors in the film - at least for their acting ability. But several of these actors are also known for their hyper left-wing political leanings and more than a few oddball beliefs. If this film is feeding into that part of their lives, well another big budget film that went that route is Battlefield Earth.

Add to that the facts of what the director has done, as I stated before

"The director is Roland Emmerich, who made Stargate, Independence Day, and Godzilla. Sadly he also made Godzilla, Universal Soldier, The Day After Tomorrow, and 10,000 BC. So the odds are only slightly worse than 50/50 on how well it will be made."

But this film will probably do really well no matter what. I mean NASA is already trying to debunk the internet hype over 12/21/12. They have already made the case against a wayward planet hitting us, which I never believed. But as to the only issue that I do give some credence to, a shift in the polarity of the planet - well NASA is less believable.

Of course this film seems to be more than a magnetic shift of poles. It looks like it is based on the theory that the tectonic plates are going to move. Which makes for great CGI scenes, but hardly believable. And thus the film looks to be squarely fit next to The Day After Tomorrow - a horribly acted, unbelievable sci-fi scenario, that proved to be a bore and waste of money if you paid to see it in theaters.

I said a year ago that we will have 3 years to mull the quality of this film. Having seen the full trailer and noting the hidden message(s) already available, I don't think it will take 3 years. Unless there is more to this film than what the movie trailer - which is meant to provide the best reasons to see this film - has shown, this is a film to avoid until the world ends. Which is a shame.

Well maybe the next 2012 disaster film, soon to be released no doubt, will be better.

NASA slaps Stephen Colbert

So I wonder how Stephen Colbert is enjoying the Government slap in the face he just got. It all stems from his recent push to have a new node on the new space station named after him. NASA placed the name of the node up to the decisions of the public, via a poll. Colbert won hands down by a 5-1 margin.

But like the current Administration, what is promised is not exactly what you get. The name of the station will not bear Colbert’s name, instead being called Tranquility. By the way, the 2nd most popular name was Serenity (likely due to fans of the television show and movie). So it seems NASA never had any intention of living up to the projected offer they made to the public.

I find this to be yet another example of the liberal mantra,

“You can say and do anything you want, if it matches what I believe.”

It’s one more example of a Government that really doesn’t care what the public wants. Instead they prefer to steamroll ahead with plans they already have in place. It’s an insult to Colbert, and all the people that got involved in an unpopular attempt by NASA to drive interest into the hundreds of millions they are spending of the public’s money.

I’m not against Colbert, liberals (sometimes), or NASA. I just think that when a Government Agency reaches out to the public, they should stand by their word and the public response. Since we are paying for the space station, and everything in or on it, given the opportunity to make a choice of a name it should be used.

Ultimately NASA has shot itself in the foot. Had they lived up to their word, they would have gained popularity with the next generation of taxpayers that will ultimately fund, or stop funding, their programs. Colbert has influence with this generation; a generation that is more interested with visions of space in the future than the limited reality of just circling the Earth. This will come back and bite them, down the road when NASA asks for more money and this generation will recall that what NASA provides is not what they promise.

There was a saying that I grew up with

“My word is my bond.”

You don’t hear it much these days. NASA apparently never heard it at all. The space station node should be named Colbert. Anything less is unacceptable.

Quantum Quest - its NASA in 3D. Doesn't that sound fun?

In more mundane news there is something that sounds a bit special. Can you imagine a movie that combines Star Trek, Star Wars, samurai, a moon walk, and Grey's Anatomy?

A daunting task for anyone on their best day. but that is exactly what will be available when Quantum Quest opens. The movie is a 3-D animated film, and it will feature the voices of some of the best known sci-fi and television actors ever. The cast includes:

William Shatner
James Earl Jones
Mark Hamill
Neil Armstrong
Samuel L. Jackson
Chris Pine
Hayden Christensen
Susan Oh
Jason Alexamnder

I left out the fact that a touch of Seinfeld will be in there too.

With such a cast I am sure the producers are thinking major money. I'm not as sure such a wide mix of actors will fix together. The script would have to be very exceptional. Given the nature of writing in Hollywood these days I would take 4:3 odds that it won't work as well as it sounds. But it could be interesting as 6 of the 8 actors, and Neil Armstrong, are notable and interesting.

The description of the film explains that the concept of the film comes from NASA. While there is no question of the minds at NASA, their ability to create a film is more uncertain. The film intends

"The 3D, large format CGI-animated educational film interweaves actual space imagery captured from ongoing NASA missions with an adventure, set in an imaginary universe and intended to create a family-friendly film experience that entertains while educating viewers"

Doesn't that sound like a must see? Not to worry though. This 45 minute film is intended for young kids learning about science in school. It's 45 minutes long. My guess is that the producers hope to capture the minds of kids by the names of the actors and what they have done in the past. And for DVD sales there is the same thought as well as a few names geared more to parents.

Best bet is to wait until the eventual DVD hits the bargain bin for $3 and let the kids watch it as they prepare for a science test.