The movie begins 50 years ago with an elementary classroom. The kids are all drawing pictures to put into a time capsule. However, one young girl (Lara Robinson) is furiously writing out a series of numbers. Her teacher is disappointed in her and removes her paper despite the young girl's desperation to continue. Fast forward fifty years to John Koestler (Cage) as an MIT professor. His son (Chandler Canterbury) is the recipient of the young girl's series of numbers. John doesn't pay too much attention to it until one night one of the numbers catches his eye "091101" which matches the date for the September 11 tragedy. Over time he uncovers that the numbers represent the dates and locations of major earthly disasters along with the body counts of each. What is even more disturbing is that some of the dates are still in the future. Dismissed as craziness, he finds that he is on his own to try to stop the impending disasters.

Awesome setup, huh? I was hooked from the first few frames. The movie has a very suspenseful feel to it, bordering on a horror flick (there is even a bit of blood and gore with each disaster). The special effects are pretty good too, especially when a commercial airplane comes crashing into a highway. I was also pleasantly surprised by the film's change in direction partway through the movie. It leaves one with plenty to talk about with others who have seen it, bringing up such deep themes as faith and fate. Carrying us through the film is Cage, a very skillful actor whom I always enjoy seeing. Here his interaction with his family including his son, sister, and father, make his character very human and authentic.

On the down side, a tearful goodbye (or lack thereof) at the end was completely devoid of any realism whatsoever. The ending sort of jerked me out of my absorption into the film and back into my seat in the theater. I'm willing to suspend reality when it comes to special effects and outlandish plots, but when the actors in the film do not behave like any normal human being in the same situation would behave, it becomes distracting. Such was the case here.

All in all, I always enjoy being surprised. Especially so when it is coupled with an interesting idea or deep thematic content prompting enjoyable discussion and debate. I apologize for being so vague, but I am purposefully wanting to not spoil anything for those who have not yet seen the film.

Knowing is half the battle.