For months now, this forthcoming film has been getting mentions (and some grief) in the buddhablogosphere: One City called it “sure to be stupid,” and its trailer has been being passed around for its use of a Tibetan monk as the harbinger of doomsday.
Its new poster brings the monk back; he’s becoming an unlikely logo for a blockbuster film.
See the poster (and the trailer) after the jump.
Here’s the poster:
And here, again, is that trailer.
(Thanks for the heads-up, Danny.)
So: what do you think?
14 Comments
Um…what's the big deal? Seems like a geographic reference more than anything, so we know the mountains in question being flooded are the Himalayas, the highest in the world, thus lending appropriate gravity to the situation. Plus, I thought the whole bell ringing thing was kinda cool. Calm in the face of death and all that. What is the uproar? Am I missing something? Can someone post links?
monica — sorry if i was unclear — it's not been so much an uproar, more a collective eye-rolling. i've heard a few groans: that the film looked weak and why not leave buddhism out of it…. i could swear i'd seen a discussion of this on the One City site, but maybe that was when it (the site) was in its previous incarnation?
I took it as a geographic reference as well, and it didn't occur to me to find anything offensive about the image. Although, I had only seen the trailer and didn't see the poster. For some reason the poster feels more more commercializing than a brief flash of a monk in a film.
The movie is bound to be stupid, but I am not sure it will have anything to do with Buddhism other than reference to the fact that a lot of people who live in the Himalayas are Buddhist.
I don't think it is a big deal or that Rod is making it a big deal. It's kind of a joke. For those of you who haven't visited theworsthorse.com, shame on you! It's full of pop culture's take on buddhism and 2012 is just part of it. So look at the poster, shake your head, say something like "geez", and smile.
As a Buddhist, do I mind that a movie is using an image of a Tibetan Buddhist monk ringing a bell heralding the end of the world? Not at all. I do not find this video or the poster in any way insulting. What I do mind is that large sectors of humanity seem slow to realise the gravity of climate change & that we are at the edge of tipping into climate crisis. Actually, I think the more Buddhists become involved in the whole climate change issue the better. If the scientists are correct (& you only need to watch the time-lapse pictures of the Greenland glaciers melting to know something big is happening) this world of ours is going to undergo horrendous upheaval & there will be enormous suffering of sentient beings as a result. If we follow a philosophy which has us look within & truly see how our body, speech & mind impacts on others, then we need to take a long hard look at what we personally contribute to climate change & stop doing it, no matter how inconvenient. If this particular movie stirs people out of their apathy & scepticism, great. If they see a Buddhist monk ringing a bell with peace on his face even at the end of life as we know it, what message does that give about stability of the mind. Better than him running away to no-where screaming. May all beings have happiness & the cause of happiness.
As a Buddhist, I am worried about the mental health of Roland Emmerich. He keeps making bad apocalypse movies. I think he has a complex. Someone teach him Metta meditation so he can assure himself it'll all be okay!
Hi Dave… funny, that's just the kind of comment I'd remembered seeing on elsewhere on the www. So maybe i'm not losing it. Thanks — and thanks everyone for your comments!
Well then, 'as a Buddhist' and a breather of air and ultimately as something I couldn't even begin to define (though I am sure I'd be forgiven by any putative Sky God for wondering at all 'Creation'; such a being might be amused at my efforts to make sense out of this Samsaric bardo)… I'd have to say that I love you all, and earnestly wish that ultimately everyone will bang into that Unnameable that's been right there in front of our – well, everybody, if you dig a little, it's plain that all us folks already nose (we're just in a semi-coma). Sit quietly – it's good for you, and never ever parcel out your love, 'cos that's going down the wrong track. You don't give love, you radiate it, and well, yes, some bring it out in us, but that just adds to what everyone gets.
Hollywood can be really thrilling, the things it creates, and outside there is a whole diverse planet all making film… distorting mirrors to make created realities seem 'real'. Films also act as historical record, as we can read between those lines and see what history makers did not want us to see and had distorted or left out of The Big Movie.
But, being tired and sleepy right now, I'd have to cut short and say that the first sentence of Monica's comment sums it all up more eloquently than I could ever hope to do.
A friend and I saw the preview when we were out to see "Inglourious Basterds" (which every Buddhist should see) and kind of laughed at the inclusion of the Buddhist reference. Seems harmless enough and just another example of Buddhism hitting the mainstream.
you must believe in god
I for one am a little disapointed…..2012….we were warned….I thought perhaps the Earth of 2010 had decided to build on Europa…Now that's a movie I wanna see….It's just begging to be made, although 2022 seems more appropriate.
It's raining here….is that Climate change? no wait it's always raining I live in Wales
hi… i too am a buddhist. i live in florida so i dont know anyone else thats buddhist. im buddhist by choice could u help me with some tipps to stay concentrated on meditation i always think of other things. ohh and the poster doesnt offend me at all… it looks pretty cool.
Tim: Might we recommend you check out our special page of teachings on meditation? You should find at least a couple pieces there that speak to you:
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=161
Thanks for your comment!