2012 Movie Blitz

In the past week, hundreds have died in floods and tsunamis in three separate incidents in the Philippines, Samoa, and Indonesia. And tonight, across America, many will see Sony film’s push to get people interested to watch its flood-related 2012 movie directed by Roland Emmerich.

This movie pictures most of the world being devastated by a flood that many believe that the ancient Mayans predicted would occur in 2012. Specifically, the end of a particular calendar cycle (referred to as a katun, the last one which is believed to end on December 21, 2012) the end of the world was predicted in a 16th century document called the Chilam Balam. Notice what it states:

But when the law of the katun has run its course, the God will bring about a great deluge again which will be the end of the world. When this is over, then our Lord Jesus Christ will descend over the valley of Jehoshaphat beside the town of Jerusalem where he redeemed us with his holy blood (José Hoíl J, Roys R. The Book of Chilam Balam of Chumayel. Roys Publisher, 1933. Reprint Forgotten Books, 1967, p. 62).

Of course, since the passage mentions Jesus Christ and alludes to the Bible, there is a problem here in that the Bible itself states, “never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth” (Genesis 9:11). Thus, people should not rely on the Mayan prediction in the Chilam Balam to teach that a worldwide flood will really happen.

2012 itself is getting a lot of media attention. Some feel that solar flares, chaos, and/or possibly world peace will mark the end that year. Last week, the History Channel devoted an episode of its Nostradamus Effect series to 2012 and possible events that might occur. There have also been recent YouTube videos on 2012, radio shows (such as Bobby Kendall’s program on WTXY), websites (such as 2012 and the Rise of the Secret Sect), books at Amazon.com, and articles on the internet.

Sony itself began its media blitz some time ago with an internet site encouraging people to sign up for a raffle in order to be possibly “left behind” (by which they apparently meant saved from the flood their movie portrays).

By the end of May 2009, Sony began to have large (approximately 12 foot by 8 foot) displays in movie theaters. This display is much larger and was out much earlier than typical movie promotions.

Furthermore, Sony announced last month that the 2009 runner-up from American Idol, Adam Lambert, would have a new song in the movie called Time for Miracles.

Sony has a lot of money behind this film. And now, to further promote “2012,” Sony has organized what may be the largest-ever preview of a movie. Two minutes of “2012,” (set for release on Nov. 13) will be shown on television on Thursday., Oct. 1, sometime between 10:50 p.m. and 11 p.m. Eastern Time. The footage will air on three of the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS and NBC), 89 cable channels, local stations in 70 markets and Spanish-language networks. Afterward, people can see an extended sequence on fancast.com or Comcast On Demand.

It seems that perhaps it is doing this media blitz to not have the financial disaster that the 1995 movie Waterworld experienced.

Sony seems to be taking a lot of steps to insure the success of its 2012 movie.

An article of related interest may include:

End of Mayan Calendar 2012–Might 2012 Mean Something? Are there Mayan calendar predictions for change in 2012? Changes were centuries ago predicted by the Hopi Native Americans. Do Mayan/Hindu/Hopi/Buddhist/New Age/Nostradamus prophecies have any value here? Why might Satan have inspired this date? Does the Dresden codex show destruction of the earth by flood? Can the great tribulation start before 2012? How might Barack Obama be involved in 2012?