Round 1
Actors Steve Harris and Gonzalo Menendez, Agents Aiken and Santiago respectively, along with a group of FBI agents, are tracking known terrorist Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) in New Orleans. The FBI has blackmailed another criminal into setting up an arms meeting that the FBI intend to disrupt in order to catch both criminals red handed. Naturally, their cover is blown at the meet and Miles escapes, killing the other criminal in the process. Local police officers Danny Fisher and Hank Carver are on a patrol when they spot Miles, who has since met up with his girlfriend. They intend to escape with a briefcase full of diamonds that was to be used in the weapons deal, but Danny and Hank spot them and pursue.
Danny continues pursuit after Hank takes a bullet in the ass and after a long chase on foot, has Miles and Erica trapped and at gun point. Erica decides to run for it, but is mowed down by an oncoming car, much to the dismay of Miles. As backup arrives moments later, Miles vows revenge.
A year later, Miles breaks out of prison and is again in New Orleans. He blows up Danny’s home and captures his wife Molly, played by Ashley Scott. Agents Aiken and Santiago show up to work with Danny to help stop Miles, who wants to play a game he calls twelve rounds. In this game, Danny must simply complete objectives setup by Miles. If he is able to get through all twelve rounds, he is apparently going to get Molly back.
The rest of the film really plays out like a Die Hard movie, and most like Die Hard With A Vengenace. Danny spends the entire day running from one side of the town to another in several different action packed vehicle sequences, disarming bombs, saving civilians, and all that good stuff. Miles keeps Danny running with calls to his cell phone to inform him of the next objective or where to find the clue for the next round and so forth. Meanwhile, Hank is working with intelligence to try to track down Miles’ location.
12 Rounds isn’t bad for an action film, and it’s a better film than Cena’s Marine, but it’s still too full of gimmick scenes and events that really keep it from being something great. While enjoyable for at least a once over, I don’t know that this film has the replay value as a lot of other classics in the genre, like any of the Die Hard movies or similar ‘one-man-triumph’ movies that were made so popular by the likes of Norris, Stallone, Schwarzenegger, and Van Damme. Still, all out action movies like this that aren’t over the top with things like zombies or aliens don’t come about quite often enough in my opinion, and any action fan should still check this one out.
Round 12
The Blu-ray version of 12 Rounds is an impressive release. It’s a two disc set that contains the theatrical and unrated versions of the movie along with a digital copy. The original film was PG-13, but the Unrated version is also pretty tame. I’ve only watched the Unrated version, which really is all one needs. That said, I really don’t consider the fact that both versions are included as something all that special or important.
Before getting into the extra features, of which there are quite a few of, I’d like to discuss the presentation quality of 12 Rounds on Blu-ray. The image quality is on par for what you would expect for such a recently produced film in HD. There are some scenes that have a faint coating of grain over them, but these are very few and brief. As this is a fairly ‘realistic’ action movie, there are no wild sci-fi special effects, which is completely fine, so expect plenty of urban scenery and explosive action scenes. The Dolby 5.1 audio is a treat and features plenty of gun fire, explosions, and sirens to keep the action flowing.
Getting back to the features now, here’s what’s included:
-Two Alternate Endings with Optional Commentary (HD)
-Streetcar Crossing: Film With Caution (HD) – This is a nearly twenty minute feature that examines what went into filming the scene with the run away streetcar. Lots of cooperation from New Orleans police helped, as cast and crew explain. Plenty of interesting production footage shown.
-A Crash Course: John Cena Stunts (HD) – A ten minute look at many of the stunts involved; cast and crew, including special effects crew, are interviewed.
-12 Bonus Round Featurettes (HD) – Twenty minutes of additional making of footage.
-Never Before Cena Gag Reel (HD) – A five minute gag reel that is a bit unlike most gag reels in that cast and crew talk about various gags that are shown.
-Keeping the Score: The Music of 12 Rounds (HD) – A three minute look at some behind the scenes footage of the folks producing the soundtrack.
-Round And Round with Renny And John (HD) – Director and Actor talk shop and ask each other questions.
-Viral Videos: Hands And Helicopter
-Audio Commentary (Unrated Version Only) with Director Renny Harlin
-Audio Commentary (Unrated Version Only) with Writer Daniel Kunka and Actor John Cena
All told, that’s quite a good set of extra features and I’m glad Cena is very prominent throughout them. Plenty of film stars shun the extra features, but Cena is a big part of all of these, and as a consumer that’s appreciated.
Let’s get to the summary…