Heed the warning of 2012

Never before has a date in history been so significant to so many cultures, so many religions, scientists, and governments than 2012. Columbia Pictures' new epic 2012 tells of a global cataclysm that brings an end to the world and of the heroic struggle of the survivors.

Centuries ago, the Mayans left us their calendar, with a clear end date and all that it implies. Since then, astrologers have discovered it, numerologists have found patterns that depict it, geologists say the earth is overdue for it, and even government scientists cannot deny the cataclysm that awaits the earth in 2012. A prophecy that began with the Mayans has now been well-chronicled, discussed, taken apart and examined. By 2012, we'll know—we were warned.

Directed by Robert Emmerich (Independence Day, The Day After Tomorrow), 2012 stars John Cusack, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt, Thandie Newton, Danny Glover and Woody Harrelson.

The original idea for 2012 was inspired by an ancient story. "The movie needed something beyond disaster, something which really makes it worth doing," he says. "And in this case, it was the modern telling of Noah's Ark because I thought it would be very interesting.

"I said to myself, ‘if somebody knows the world is going to end, it would probably be some scientist...' And then government officials would know, and some very high-level politicians. And you know what, they would probably keep it a secret..."

That, says Emmerich, poses the ultimate moral dilemma. "It becomes this worldwide conspiracy between governments and it gets bigger and bigger and I was interested in the combination of people who know and who don't know.

Emmerich concludes, "The movie has a quiet, interesting, intellectual discussion going on while you are seeing normal people trying to save their lives."