I haven't seen 2012, but I probably will — I'm almost ashamed to admit — I've got a crush on one of the actors who are in it. I'm not saying who, because I am a realist and know it will never happen, but hey, my life, my right. I can dream all I want. Does sound interesting though, but the bit about the dog had me laughing.

On the other hand, almost every non-disaster related scene was dreadfully boring - or ultimately meaningless since the characters just end up getting swept away by Emmerich's LOLwave anyway - and nearly everything prior to the first mega-quake, and between the door jamming and the epilogue could've been cut out, and it would not have been missed. All in all, not the worst way to waste 2 !/2 hrs, but in hindsight I probably should've waited for it to come out on DVD on the cheap.

I know I'm off-subject, but can you give us any news on when the next TNG reviews appear? What's their ETA? (I hope it's not 2012!

Best Regards,
Dimitris

The movie seemed schizophrenic though. I groaned when a character would utter a hamhanded sort of pun, with the punchline delivered by an act of nature. ("Something always comes between us." CRA-A-AAAA-AAACK) On the other hand, a cliche I wanted to see, didn't play out, as the old guy who called to reconcile with his son.

As for Speed Racer, I went into it expecting magic and retro memories, color and full sensory stimulus. Each character (except for Trixie) fit their cartoon namesakes to a "tee." I was amused by the fight scenes. I liked the hint of the Mammoth Car. I loved the variations of the theme song. I tolerated another "evil big corporation" message. I walked away without seeing Homing Pigeon and a few other features. I may have to surrender my Comic Book 'Fan Card,' but last summer, I'd rather have seen Speed Racer a second time, than Iron Man, Hulk, or absolutely that Joker movie.

V for Vendetta was also a nice adaptation of an Alan Moore novel. McTeigue may have directed it, but it was still very much a Wachowski movie.

It sounds like the Speed Racer movie where it exceeded my expectations because I went into the thing with realistic expectations of the movie being mediocre - crap.

Too much build up. Too much BS, and when the world starts falling apart it gets really cliche. At least ID4 got to the point, and quick. This movie drug on and on with silly Americana nonsense for over an hour before it started killing people.

And how apt that the start of the human race begins again in Africa (ala BSG) Does everyone beleive humanity started in Africa?

Much like Day after Tomorrow and Independence Day, what makes 2012 work are the personal stories. Even though the arbitrary deaths are easy to predict (killing the russian dad and the stepdad were a given), the characters are portrayed convincingly enough to make it work. I enjoyed Thomas McCarthy as the stepdad. He played well off John Cusack and Amanda Peet. Thandie Newton didn't have a lot to do, but felt like Glover's daughter, and like Ejiofor's potential love interest. Woody Harrelson was also a highlight. I'm glad Emmerich still knows to include actors who deliver a less-than-serious tone to this kind of story.

What dragged the film down was mostly the second act (necessary to get Cusack to China), and parts of the third act as well. The whole plot to ignite the ship's engines felt a bit forced.

I really enjoyed it, despite a feeling of being there/done that. Emmerich always manages to grab my attention with his approach to this genre.