The world as we know it is about to end —at least according to the disaster flick 2012. It’s the latest film about worldwide doom for director Roland Emmerich, following 2004’s The Day After Tomorrow and 2006’s Independence Day.

The film begins in the year 2009 with geologist Adrian Helmsley (Ejiofor) discovering massive amounts of neutrinos from the sun’s abnormal solar flares are heating up the earth’s core. With a disaster seemingly imminent, Adrian brings the reports to the White House, and after informing the rest of the heads of states in 2010, the world’s governments begin to construct giant arks. They strategically extract elements of human culture that would guarantee the continuity of the human race.

Fast forward to 2012, when Jackson Curtis (Cusack) is camping with his children and discovers the impending doom approaching the earth. He hightails it back to Los Angeles to grab his ex-wife Kate (Peet) and her boyfriend to escape. They barely make it out of L.A. as it crumbles into the Pacific Ocean. Jackson and his family try to find a way to survive.

IT’S THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT. John Cusack's acting doesn’t live up to the impressive visual effects in Roland Emmerich’s 2012.

Emmerich’s camerawork and cinematography are amazing, yet the film brings nothing unique to the disaster genre.  The script and acting are mediocre at best, and the attempt at adding romance is disappointing.

However, the destruction scenes are breathtaking — if not slightly chilling.  Scenes when the White House is knocked over by a tsunami, Yellowstone National Park is blown up and St. Peter’s Basilica falls with an earthquake are just the beginning. Considering the film cost close to $260 million to make, it is no wonder the shots and special effects are so grand and majestic.

This action-packed, typical disaster movie is a good way to get the adrenaline flowing, despite the longer than usual run time, clocking in at 2 hours and 38 minutes.

If you like seeing the destruction of the world — or the destruction of anything for that matter — make sure you catch this film before the world ends.