# 2012 has destroyed my faith in Capitalism, humanity and a Loving God
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [March 15, 2010, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557 "2010-03-15T16:40:40Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/21 "2010-03-16T19:59:14Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#):
>
> So about the time Woody Harrelson survived a blast of hot air, only to be engulfed by a massive fireball that also burned off the back of the camper that John Cusack kept driving until it fell into a crater that Cusack managed to climb out of in “the nick of time”?
No, it was after that. That was only the second “plane vs earthquake” runway race. That’s the one where the plane went from standing still to airborne within about 50 feet.
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Like how the plane was running out of fuel so the film-makers _moved Asia_ so our heroes could arrive at the Right Spot at the Right Time.
Yes! That was a stroke of genius!
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> We all (well, mostly) agree that it is a good, fun, dumb movie so think of this thread as celebrating the dumb aspects of the film.
Exactly! I went into this expecting a big, stupid, ‘splodey, dumb, unscientific, moronic, fun, cliche’-ridden, cgi-laden disaster-porn flick. I was not disappointed.
---
### Author:  [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/22 "2010-03-16T20:00:36Z")
If you really want to lose your faith, I would suggest watching the collected works of Uwe Boll.
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### Author:  [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/23 "2010-03-16T20:25:02Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#):
>
> If you really want to lose your faith, I would suggest watching the collected works of Uwe Boll.
If we’re lucky they’ll make a game out of _2012_ and then Uwe Boll will make a movie about the game about the movie. It’ll be his greatest work yet!
---
### Author:  [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/24 "2010-03-16T21:58:35Z")
I am told that back in the days of 70% and 90% tax brackets, people went looking for money-losing investments as a form of tax shelter. Many bad movies were supposedly funded in this way.
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### Author:  [@Shawn1767](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shawn1767)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/25 "2010-03-16T22:25:55Z")
Yeah, it was a stupid movie that made little sense, but did I have fun watching it in the theater and consider it money-well-spent? Oh yes! Such over-the-top awesomeness. Probably won’t translate as well to the small screen.
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### Author:  [@Grumman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grumman)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/26 "2010-03-16T23:02:12Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#):
>
> I did watch _Transfomrers 2_ and it killed my brain and had to have it replaced. I mean literally, I am on my second brain, because of _Transfromers 2_.
Did you buy it second-hand? If so, I think I might know how you got the idea to watch _2012_.
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### Author:  [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/27 "2010-03-16T23:09:39Z")
> [@aerie](#):
>
> Welcome to the light of reality! There _is_ no justification for a loving, caring god. How the Christians can justify his complete and utter abandonment of his ‘creation’ is hard to understand.
>
> But then, I don’t believe he existed in the first place. If he does exist, then he’s not a god worth a second of my concern.
Great Debates is the next forum up. You’ll find plenty of like-minded souls there.
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### Author:  [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/28 "2010-03-16T23:27:02Z")
> [@Tangent](#):
>
> No, it was after that. That was only the second “plane vs earthquake” runway race. That’s the one where the plane went from standing still to airborne within about 50 feet.
Was it on a treadmill?
Think it of it this way - lots of nice special effects guys and other tech people got a big paycheck because of it.
---
### Author:  [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/29 "2010-03-16T23:39:58Z")
> [@Tangent](#):
>
> disaster-porn flick.
[The revised trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW2qxFkcLM0&feature=player_embedded).
Again, the right music makes everything better!
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### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/30 "2010-03-17T07:45:01Z")
> [@Jragon](#):
>
> [The revised trailer](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZW2qxFkcLM0&feature=player_embedded).
>
> Again, the right music makes everything better!
Just seeing that trailer shows me how fake it looks. I thought we were past the days of CGI that looked like that.
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### Author:  [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)
#### Post date: [March 18, 2010, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/31 "2010-03-18T13:37:09Z")
To answer the OP question regarding the validity of capitalism, 2012 is just a reinforcement of it. It was made by non other than the absolute worst, most incompetent, sell-out-est, no concept of science-logic-character-or-storytelling-est, hack director ever. The great **Roland Emmerich** , maker of some of the worst films of all time:
[ul]
[li]Independence Day[/li][li]Godzilla[/li][li]Stargate[/li][li]Day After Tomorrow[/li][/ul]
But because ID4 and DAT were big hits he can get a green light for any piece of shit he wants to! The antidote to such unbridled crapness? Anything by director James Cameron…
---
### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/32 "2011-12-03T14:38:03Z")
I’m just now getting around to watching this. I DVR’d it and I’ve been watching it a little at a time as it is so awful, yet so compelling, that I can’t erase it, but I can’t sit through much at one time.
I have to say Woody Harrelson is PERFECTLY cast.
I loved how at the airport right before the second plane ride (there’s a THIRD? Oh my :eek: ), the firemen are trying to keep our guys for running to the plane, “Everyone inside! Hey! You can’t go out there! It’s not SAFE!!” No fucking joke.
And then the tower has the gall to radio, “You’re not cleared for take-off!” just before a fireball obliterates the whole airport.
I’ll watch a little more tonight…
---
### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/33 "2011-12-03T17:16:44Z")
So I watched the Yakety Sax mashup with the sound off so I could just see the clip of the movie.
Was the movie actually a screwball sendup of disaster movies?
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### Author:  [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/34 "2011-12-03T17:18:59Z")
Look, most of you:
1. Paid money to see it.
2. Are talking about it right now.
You are all part of the problem. _You are nothing but small cogs in the wheel of organized shittiness!_
What, me? Don’t drag me into this, I haven’t seen the damned thing. Now leave me alone, I’m trying to watch Avatar.
---
### Author:  [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/35 "2011-12-03T18:30:55Z")
> [@Tom\_Tildrum](#):
>
> I am told that back in the days of 70% and 90% tax brackets, people went looking for money-losing investments as a form of tax shelter. Many bad movies were supposedly funded in this way.
This, or a variation of it, is [actually why Uwe Boll](http://www.cinemablend.com/features/Uwe-Boll-Money-For-Nothing-209.html) makes movies.
---
### Author:  [@Frazzled](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frazzled)
#### Post date: [December 3, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/36 "2011-12-03T20:01:33Z")
I knew better - I really did. I saw the trailer and said “Self, there’s no way in hell we’re going to get suckered to see that movie” to which my brain replied “Damn straight Skippy”. I’m in my 30’s and like to think I’ve learned my hard lessons about what makes quality entertainment.
I watched as my younger friends who are too naive to know better trotted out to see the it. I laughed as they shelled out hard earned bucks to watch a stupid Roland Emmerich movie. Every time they came back less than satisfied my brain gave a smug little “see? toldja” as I mentally patted myself on the back and congratulated myself on yet another wise decision.
Then, God damnit, I learned that it shows the Yellowstone Super Volcano erupt. My inner 12 year old (who gets far more attention than he should but what can I say, I like the way he thinks and he is the source of my favorite inner dialog) took notice. You see, despite being older I’m still a sucker for disaster porn. I pretend I’m not, I pretend I’m above it, and I know not to watch disaster porn for the sake of porn. But it’s Yellowstone! My inner 12 year old argued that surely the movie can’t be sooo bad that I can’t watch Yellowstone erupt! My inner 12 year old is also eternally grateful for Roland Emmerich introducing us to Megan Fox - and what can I say, when my 12 year old self has a point I have to satisfy him.
So, into my Netflix queue it went. I was giddy as the first earthquake ripped apart some town (don’t remember) and our hero (don’t remember) was able to escape those big cracks just in the nick of time! But then, they showed that same effect again! And again! And again! My God my 12 year old said, this movie sucks! But then, finally, we get to Yellowstone - surely he’ll get this right! I can finally see what this thing will look like when it explodes with modern day special effects! My 12 year old will be satisfied and we can finally end the pain of watching this stupid vapid movie (vapid only looks good on Megan Fox). But then it blew, and it was the most idiotic stupid CGI crapfest of any movie I’ve seen in the last 20 years! I swear Roland Emmerich himself jumped out after they escaped yet again and said “Dude - I pwned you!”.
So yes, I share your pain OP and I swear I’ll never watch another Roland Emmerich movie ever again until the next one comes out. Damn 12 year old.
---
### Author:  [@Snickers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snickers)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2011, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/37 "2011-12-05T16:19:59Z")
I put 2012 in the same category as that horrible disaster movie of a couple of years ago, The Core. They’re both so epic, so over the top, so \*satisfying \*in that “you know exactly what’s going to happen to whom and in what order” type of way.
Culturally redeeming, these ain’t. But damned if they aren’t fun in the best popcorn-movie tradition.
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### Author:  [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/38 "2011-12-05T17:56:04Z")
Outrunning an earthquake seems downright sensible compared to outrunning _ **coldness** _.
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### Author:  [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2011, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/39 "2011-12-05T18:07:28Z")
> [@Hail\_Ants](#):
>
> The great **Roland Emmerich** , maker of some of the worst films of all time:
> [ul]
> [li]Independence Day[/li][li]Godzilla[/li][li]Stargate[/li][li]Day After Tomorrow[/li][/ul]
> But because ID4 and DAT were big hits he can get a green light for any piece of shit he wants to! The antidote to such unbridled crapness? Anything by director James Cameron…
Meh, I liked ID4 a lot better than Titanic. ID4 at least had some memorable parts (and usually in a good way!), whereas Titanic was “see once, be not unentertained, then promptly forget”.
---
### Author:  [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)
#### Post date: [December 5, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2012-has-destroyed-my-faith-in-capitalism-humanity-and-a-loving-god/532557/40 "2011-12-05T18:29:28Z")
Sorry, I was confusing ‘[2010](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0086837/)’ with ‘[2012](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190080/)’ and couldn’t understand the vehemence of the hatred. Carry on…
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