Three movies; A Progression in Themes

A mathematical correlation between WD Gann's 1927 "The Tunnel Thru the Air" was offered in previous essays of this series and observations having been made regarding the natures of primary and secondary characters of each of the fictional works; "Knowing," "2012" and "San Andreas."  This essay is meaningless without first considering the mathematic evidence of these fictional works' interconnectedness in several of the previous essays.

This essay compares themes.  Where not otherwise noted, the comparisons are made in the order of TTTTA, "Knowing," "2012," and "San Andreas."

Destruction.  All four of the fictional works result in destruction.  In TTTTA, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Chicago to name three of several cites are destroyed.  All the buildings of the enemies of the US in TTTTA, seemingly as symbols of the man's achievements in the absence of God, are destroyed in Robert Gordon's seven days.  All of mankind, but for the 'chosen,' is destroyed in "Knowing."  Except for those aboard the Arks 4, 6 and 7, all of mankind is destroyed in "2012" inclusive of violent scenes involving LA, SF and Las Vegas and Yellowstone.  In "San Andreas" only Hoover Dam, LA and SF are shown as destroyed.

Elements.  TTTTA- air (the "Great War in the Air"), "Knowing"-fire (solar flare), "2012"-water (a great flood), and "San Andreas"-earth (great earthquakes).

Heros.  Robert Gordon is a devout Christian throughout and attributes his work to God.  Prof John Koestler, clearly the singular hero, transitions from a view of the randomness of the world to a view that there is a plan that we cannot see.  Jackson Curtis shares the hero spot with Adrian Helmsley in "2012", the scientist, neither of whom seem to express religious views.  Ray Gaines, played by the larger than life "Rock," conquers, by their efforts alone, all obstacles as do all other characters in "San Andreas."  In chronologic order there is a clear evolution of faith in God to faith in man.

The innocents.  Robert Gordon is his own innocent sub hero, displaying faith at a young and naive age.  Caleb Koestler confronts and leads his father with "You don't even believe in heaven" and "its a math puzzle (the map), and "they sent a message ahead of them to prepare the way."  Noah, son of the hero of "2012," disobeys and assists his father in saving Ark 4 and all onboard.  Ollie of "San Andreas" confronts his older brother who wants to follow the crowds of people walking towards their death at the soon to be destroyed Golden Gate Bridge and, reasons with him to follow Blake, the heroine.  He argues, to paraphrase, "You have seen what she has done and what she knows and we need to stick with her."

The US Flag.  TTTTA, nothing hidden here.  The ..."stars and stripes would never trail the dust."  Still, Mr. Gann gives us the warning that "God forbid that America should ever turn away from the Bible" (page 130).  "Knowing," we see in the post subway disaster the smoke fire engine 130 as the camera pans upward to an image of the US flag flying proudly above the chaos.  "2012," Washington DC snowed upon by volcanic ash as the President, played by Danny Glover, faces doom.  And San Andreas, the tattered flag, inverted and disordered, hangs from the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge....amid, as opposed to above, the destruction.  

Spiritual orientations.  Similar to the other comparisons to be made later, there are marked differences between the four fictional works and their are "evolution."  TTTTA is straightforward; from the first years of Robert Gordon's life he is a spiritually dedicated person.  "Knowing's" hero, Prof John Koestler of Boston, despite his righteousness, loses his faith with the inexplicable loss of his wife (theodicy), but regains it in the seven days of the movie.  He "knows."  Jackson Curtis of Los Angeles, the instinctive and unlikely hero of "2012," is an unwritten page, never expressing a spiritual orientation other than an occasional "G-D."  The President who begins a prayer for the nation about to be destroyed is cut off by television station communication failure.  Ray Gaines in "San Andreas," played by the larger than life Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, is clearly the hero, but the credit for the various characters' salvation is themselves.  They congratulate one another and themselves alone for their job well done.

Ironies.  TTTTA, no irony; we know what's going to happen and it does.  "Knowing," the irony of why the righteous and worthy must suffer according to a plan we know exists but we cannot know.  "2012," the "self-chosen" wealthy and the few otherwise are allowed to live by the extraordinary efforts of either of the two heros (Adrian Helmsley's speech and Jackson Curtis stowaway effort); largely the unworthy are saved.

The ultimate plain sight irony must go to "San Andreas."  The final scene has the "happy ending" characters standing on a bluff overlooking the San Francisco Bay where the populace not killed by two great earthquakes were washed out by a tsunami larger than the Golden Gate bridge.  The destruction of the entire population of the City is almost complete.  And yet the characters stand there thanking each other for having saved one another.  The movie seems to be a tribute to the man's achievement in the face of great adversity.

*** ***

I could go on and on in comparisons and contrasts but I'll sum it up in two observations.

First, the opening scene of "San Andreas" has Ray Gaines, faced with his helicopter's eminent failure, sets a them with his just of "G-D it."  Only the silly indiscretion, he is portrayed as a very sympathetic figure we are to love and admire for his personal achievement in the face of insurmountable odds; he's the perfectly non secular hero stereotype.  And in the last scene overlooking the destroyed San Francisco Bay, which I liken to Hamon-Gog where nothing is to be found but corpses, his final words are "Now, we rebuild."  A fourth utterance of Rabbi Cahn's "The Harbinger's" "signs."  Yeah, you showed 'em Rock.

[Previously Tom Daschle recited of Isaiah 9:10 to a combined session of Congress on 9/12/01, Senator John Edwards recited an abbreviated declaration on September 11, 2004 and on June 14, 2012 the President of the United States signed a steel beam that would become one of the final to be installed on One World Trade Center (at 1776 feet commemorating the Declaration of Independence) with the defiant, proud informal message "We remember, we rebuild, we come back stronger."]

Second, the perfect hidden irony.  As the Ark 4 of "2012," on which the co-heros are boarded, opens its doors after 27 days at sea, we hear announced that it will be joining its sister ships, Arks 6 and 7 as they approach what is the first land to emerge from the receiving flood waters; New Hope.  What words can you form from the Pythagorean letter table that you might associate with the numbers 7, 6 and 4?

[Hint, 4 can be a D, m or v, 6 can be f, O or x and 7 can be G, p or y.]

That's the final irony.  Do you think the authors/producers of "2012" planned, contrived such a message or did the word just, coincidentally, happen?  

Jim Ross