However, He Liangliang, a commentator with Hong Kong-based Phoenix Television, said that the China factor in 2012 is just a tool to win a greater share of the film market in China.
"Hollywood can no longer distort, or even satirize, the Chinese as it did before (if it wants a bigger slice of the pie)," He said.
But many Chinese bloggers were more impressed by the film's effectiveness in presenting the end of the world than in its China-related content.
"It is not just a visual representation of natural disaster but a warning against breaking the harmony between humans and nature," Lu Guoping, a critic, wrote in Nanfang Weekend.
One Chinese moviegoer said the film's depiction of the end of the world was so terrifying he regretted bringing his child and suggested it be banned.
In contrast, American critics and bloggers have responded to the movie's dramatic lines and death-defying action scenes with humor and sarcasm.
The movie had only a 37 percent positive rating on popular film review site Rotten Tomatoes, which aggregates reviews from top film critics. Many critics acknowledged the thrill and spectacle of the film, but most remarked that the storyline and characters left much to be desired.
Screenwriter Evan Clar said he believes American audiences not only don't expect a lot from the movie, but also don't read much meaning into any messages it may convey either about China or about the end of the world.
It exists simply to impress and bring in profits, he said.
"To Americans, this is popcorn fluff, a chance to escape for two hours. It's a time filler until the next big blockbuster gets here," Clar added.
By Savannah Aepli (China Daily)
Editor: Wen Yi
Print
Save