I went along to see 2012 last Saturday- I came out of the cinema a bit confused as to whether I enjoyed it or not. One the one hand, Roland Emmerich did an excellent job with the special effects, which were really impressive. However, I wasn't sure whether being totally depressed because most of the world's population has just been wiped out in various ways i.e. volcanic eruptions, tsunamis etc could really be called entertainment. Then there was the fact that the plot was a bit ridiculous -somehow particles from solar flares effectively microwaving the earth's core until the crust shifts doesn't seem very believable. Despite all of this though, I was on the edge of my seat once the action unfolded and i'd eaten my large nachos and cheese!

I know what you're thinking because I had exactly the same thoughts going through my head, something along the lines of "not another disaster movie". 2012 was undeniably enjoyable, even through the anarchy and chaos the main character, a divorced novelist played by John Cusack, adds a strange element of normality- as does people still talking on their mobile phones even after a tsunami has covered Mount Everest. Again, totally implausible because I doubt O2 and Orange would still provide a half decent service after the world has fallen apart.

Like the captain in Titanic, the American and Italian presidents choose to stay with their people to meet their demise head on instead of running to the "arks" for a safe exit. Unfortunately the same cannot be said for our Prime Minister and the Queen. The whole plot thread with the secret arks hidden in China were an interesting one, a great way of exploring the social injustices in the world today. For example, the people chosen to board the arks were supposed to have been selected according their genes and what they contribute to the human race, but it was inevitable that 90% of them just so happened to be rolling in money. It wasn't all doom and gloom though, almost all of the "ordinary" characters that the story follows throughout manage to sneak on board the ark with one of the Chinese workers, whilst a rich Russian business tycoon falls to his death.

Overall, entertaining and slightly depressing! I found myself wondering what would happen to me if the world ended like it does in 2012 and came to the conclusion that I'd probably be dead and wouldn't have even got further than my front door, never mind China. Good acting and plenty of CGI thrill rides as Los Angeles collapses and the Yellowstone caldera erupts, but I felt it took a little too long for the action to unfold.