Cinema Soldier

What a weekend. Apparently no one wants to face the apocalypse head-to-head because the only competition for 2012 is Pirate Radio and it's in about a third of the theaters. What the hell happened to John Cusack's career, anyway? If I remember right, it was respectable at one time, but I can't remember a good film he's been in since Identity and Runaway Jury in 2003. Maybe he thinks the world is ending in two years. 

2012

Description: An epic adventure about a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and tells of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

My Thoughts: Roland Emmerich may have directed Independence Day 14 years ago, but it's been downhill ever since. In 1998 he directed Godzilla and in 2000 he directed The Patriot--these aren't great films but they aren't terrible. Then came The Day After Tomorrow, a movie eerily similar to 2012's concept. And last year he put out one of the worst movies I can recall: 10,000 BC. The sad part is, before ID4, he directed Stargate, which was pretty great. Judging from this wave pattern, and John Cusack's career, I predict 2012 will be pretty horrible in the story department. Though, is anyone seeing it for the story?

Here's a more visual breakdown of Roland Emmerich's career.

•  (2009/I) - ????
• 10,000 BC (2008) - Terrible
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004) - Bad
• The Patriot (2000) - Okay
•  (1998) - Okay
• Independence Day (1996) - Awesome
• Stargate (1994) - Great
• Universal Soldier (1992) - Van Damme

Pirate Radio

Description: In the 1960s a group of eight rogue DJs on a boat in the middle of the Northern Atlantic, played rock records and broke the law all for the love of music. The songs they played united and defined an entire generation and drove the British government crazy. By playing rock 'n roll they were standing up against the British government who did everything in their power to shut them down.

My Thoughts: I've heard good and bad things about this film, once titled The Boat That Rocked. It looks great, but a friend of mine saw it (illegally) and didn't care for it. Director Richard Curtis did make the excellent Love Actually and had a hand in creating the Mr. Bean character. Tack on a great cast including Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bill Nighy and I'm excited. Initial reviews are positive.