12 Rounds
‘12 Rounds’ is an action film directed by Renny Harlin, who previously successfully directed the action flicker ‘Die Hard 2.’ The film is produced by another noted personality and the producer of the movie Speed. With the background of a popular director and a producer, 12 Rounds is made with expectations to stir the audience with a cat and mouse chase.
The movie stars professional ex-WWF star Danny Fisher who portrayed by John Cena as the Cop chasing Miles Jackson, the Irish terrorist played by Aiden Gillen.
Set in the backdrop of New Orleans, the crux of the film 12 Rounds is avenging lost love. However, in this high-octane, action-packaged film there was little room for love chemistry to show its actions and reactions. It was more of sloppy punches, car crashes and unwanted chases in the lanes and by lanes of New Orleans reflecting architectural wonder of the place and accentuating the gritty feeling of the movie as well.
Danny Fisher has been promoted to a cop from detective after he captures Miles Jackson, and in the process Jackson’s girlfriend is killed. In just a year’s time, Miles escapes from the jail and the story unfolds with cliché threads. To avenge his lover’s death and his capture, Miles Jackson begins his race against Danny Fisher. In the process, Danny Baxter’s house is blown off and his girlfriend played by Ashley Scott is taken as hostage. It is then that 12 Rounds of chase begins with jumping through hoofs and scurrying past by standers. Like most stories it’s once again good men chasing bad guys to nab the evil eventually.
In the film, the hero is always in motion with flashy action scenes until the last minute of the movie. However, Cena is no Bruce Willis as in Die Hard 2 and neither Stallone as in Cliffhanger. This one resembled more like an action hero of the many video games. Again, by no chance Aiden Gillen is no Jeremy Irons of Die hard with a Vengeance. It’s only the Cop Cena running after Criminal Miles. Aiden Gillen has failed to impress the audience and was least convincing in his role.
12 Rounds gives us an impression of just a frantic-action movie with no suspense and thrill. There is nothing very interesting happening around on the screen to make you glued. It’s only the 12 rounds of tests that Cena had to pass to save his girlfriend from the insidious criminal as to something watch worthy. But, yes the race is against time, and the fans of wrestler will flock the theatres to maybe watch real life hero in action on screen.
The movie has been made with tidbits and snippets lifted from other movies such as Blown Away, Speed, and Die Hard 2. ‘12 Rounds’ is basically a patch work of most popular action movies of the 90s. A hodgepodge of bygone films, 12 Rounds therefore, failed to strike the right veins for rush of adrenalin. This film might be worth watching with your buddies, but then there is other worth watching movies too. So, check out before you book your tickets for 12 Rounds.
Film: 12 Rounds
Cast: John Cena, Miles Jackson, Asley Scott
Director: Renny Harlin
Writer: Daniel Kunka
Run Time: 1 hour and 48 minutes
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Posted on Monday, April 13th, 2009 at 10:13 pm