AUGUSTA, GA – Roland Emmerich has an alarming obsession with death, destruction and the apocalypse. The director of “Independence Day,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “10,000 BC” is damning civilization again in “2012.”

Maybe old Roland could use a hug.

Fabled as the time of Earth’s demise, according to ancient Mayan calendars, Dec. 21, 2012 brings horrible earthquakes, tidal waves and meteor showers to destroy the human race in this disaster drama. Those familiar with “The Day After Tomorrow” will note many similarities between that flick and “2012.” Just trade in Dennis Quaid for John Cusack, tweak the premise slightly and voila — a new movie!

Cusack plays a researcher who tries to save his family and somehow stop the strange apocalyptic phenomena, much like Quaid did in Emmerich’s 2004 production. Look for the demise of major historical landmarks, booming explosions and massive destruction across the globe as Emmerich’s God complex hits screens once more. Amanda Peet, Thandie Newton and Danny Glover also star along with Woody Harrelson, whose unusual regularity on the big screen lately (“Zombieland” and the limited-release opener “The Messenger”) is undoubtedly another sign that the apocalypse is near.

Philip Seymour Hoffman has acted in a variety of roles including eccentric gay writer Truman Capote (“Capote”) and a priest with shady principles (“Doubt”); yet he seems best suited for a role like the one he plays as a scruffy, rebellious radio jock in “Pirate Radio.” Though fictitious as a whole, there are aspects inspired by actual events in this mid-1960s set comedy about an American DJ who takes his zany affinity for rock ‘n’ roll to the high seas after radio broadcasts of rock music were banned by the British government.

The rebellious DJ and his merry band of free-loving Brits look to stick it to the man by broadcasting from an elusive ship off of British soil. Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy and Nick Frost complement’s Hoffman’s quirky behaviorin this comedy from writer-director-producer Richard Curtis (“Love Actually”).

George Clooney is currently starring in “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” but he’s lending his voice to another animal in an adaptation of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s story, “The Fantastic Mr. Fox.” Wes Anderson (“The Royal Tennenbaums”) wrote the screenplay and directs, with voice support from his pal Owen Wilson, plus Meryl Streep, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. This fox versus farmer tale opens in wider release for the Thanksgiving box office.

Screaming teens and tweens will be lining up outside theaters in no time for a look at “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.” The vampire flick adapted from the popular novel series by Stephanie Meyer is the second offering in the series, which has received an extra promotional push through tabloids chronicling the romantic entanglement of the flick’s main stars, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. The flick opens Friday, Nov. 20, with midnight screenings scheduled.

The Southern Circuit Tour of Independent Filmmakers is back at the Imperial Theatre on Wednesday, Nov. 11, with a screening of “Milking the Rhino” at 7:30 p.m. Director-producer David E. Sampson will stick around after the screening to answer questions about his documentary, which explores the dynamic between villagers and wildlife in Africa.