Terryfan Now I didn't see this movie in theaters but I did pick it up on DVD it was release pay full price for the movie. At the price I paid for it I had hope for my money's worth. Well more or less it was something different for my DVD collection. The film stars John Cena as Detective Danny Fisher as he is caught in the middle of a dangerous game as Miles Jackson played by Aidan Gillen seeks to get even with Danny by kidnapping his Girlfriend Molly Porter played by Ashley Scott.12 Rounds is not a original story by any means nor does it feature an Oscar Award winning movie but it is still a surprise watch it just one of those films you should try to watch with a open mind and forget the fact it's a WWE Studios movie that stars John Cena. I mean the film features some tense moments that get you wondering what goes on next and the action scenes in the film are just pretty insane that you just have to see it to believe. So it does more than just features a pro wrestler in a leading role but don't let that stop you from watching this movie While it does fall sure of being that kind of movie you would want in the action genre and the film doesn't feature the best performances in the world nor a original plot it does have some good to it I give 12 Rounds an 7 out of 10

Python Hyena 12 Rounds (2009): Dir: Renny Harlin / Cast: John Cena, Ashley Scott, Aiden Gillen, Brian J. White, Taylor Cole: Title plays upon ammunition as well as the violent game the hero is forced to partake in. John Cena plays a cop responsible for the arrest of a dangerous criminal whose girlfriend is killed at the scene. One year later he escapes and seeks revenge through the kidnapping of Cena's girlfriend and the 12 rounds he must survive to ensure her safety. Begins well and contains inventive action scenes but is highly formula and an excuse for violence. Cena fairs well especially since this is an improvement over The Marine, but he still isn't out of the gutter in terms of screenplay material. Ashley Scott as his girlfriend is just a damsel who gets dragged all over town and placed in constant pearl. Aidan Gillen delivers the best performance as the villain out for revenge. He plays this out like a cat playing with a mouse, until he gets his ass kicked. Other characters are about as intriguing as rust. Directed by Renny Harlin whose films usually contain excessive budgets. His prequel The Exorcist: The Beginning as surprisingly good while others efforts, such as Deep Blue Sea are about as suspenseful as passing gas in a bath tub. This film is a step up from that one but it is still nothing to write home about. Routine action film with screenwriters who should have gone an extra round. Score: 5 / 10

YaroLord I wrote this in real time as I watched the movie. Every point is a reason to avoid this movie at all costs. It's the worst thing that I've had the disgrace to watch since This Means War. It's an absolutely horrid cliché fest from beginning to end.MC = main characterWitty dialog between husband and hot wife Outrageously efficient police techVillain is nonchalant about being monitoredVillain easily fakes death, fools policeVillain gets together with hot piece of meatWitty dialog between MC and secondary characterMc plays heroVillain has terrible aim and MC is immune to bulletsInfinite ammoAgainst all odds, MC gets the bad guyMc cares more about wife than he cares about friends and boozeMc argues with wife over petty thing and she says cliché line about disappointmentPREDICTION: Something bad will happen to her - this happenedVillain takes it personal against MC, blows up his house and car, vows to kill wifeMC easily steals sports car, but it's justifiedvillain kidnaps wife instead of killing her, wife becomes damsel in distressPREDICTION: MC rescues wife, they live happily ever after - this happenedWhite cop swings gun around in black neighborhood, doesn't get shotVillain uses riddles as hints, MC easily solves themVillain decides to watch the world burn and torture MC instead of just getting away Best buds 4 life moment between MC and secondary characterHigher ups pull MC back to realityMc is also a fireman!! No oxygen needed though, only coatBOMB DEFUSING TIME!!Mc plays hero... AgainMc drives fireman truck, no permission needed because he's the MC... He destroys everything in his way but it's OK cause BOMBapparently, the MC is more efficient than the FBIvillain goes full SAW, now it's all about solving riddles and getting cluesPREDICTION: "YOU'VE KILLED AN INNOCENT MAN!" - this didn't happen"Keep talking to him so we can get his location"... Doesn't work"No cheating~" says the villain, as he threats to kill MC's wifeMC saves villain from head-shot instead of using villain's dead hand to avoid bomb from explodingMC gets to drive federal vehicle like its no big dealeverything explodes, everything was destroyed, but nobody died so MC saves the day I guess?MC gets cocky with villain and things get harder, color me surprisedvillain kills MC's best bud, but it's OK, he's not his wifes**t goes meta, MC wonders why villain didn't just kill him and his wife when he had the chancePREDICTION: MC will corner villain, villain will break down and give a pathetic speech about love, vengeance and other dumb s**t - this didn't happenVillain replaces high ranked security employee like it was no big deal, gets access to millions of dollars to stealMc's wife gets cocky. Spits on villain's face, despite being at his mercy - Mc's wife knows how to pilot an helicopter, it's easier than a car anywayVillain gets hit by MC's wife and suddenly decides he wants to kill her, just as MC is in place to rescue herMc beats the living s**t out of villain, but he's got the ace of spades, imminent bomb explosion unless they jump from a moving helicopterVillain loss in his own game, MC rescues wife as they safely land on a pool, as money rains over them, they kiss and I'm tired of writing everything wrong with this s***fest of a movie... Wait, the torture is over, credits are rolling! THANK GODI want my neuroses back. By the way, I'm giving it a 1 because of the realistic shock-wave when the house explodes.

Thomas I praise this movie! Creative concept and unpredictable until the very end. I was duly entertained. Yes it's a rather shallow film with underdeveloped characters and the most linear storytelling I have seen in a while and normally films can suffer when this is the case but Renny Harlin gets away with it. Not only on par with the standards for the genre i would say, but he does it in a very convincing way too.It works because the film flows with a continuously high pace and has a clear focus on the strong points: the action and the story. No time to slow down and deliver speeches, check the backgrounds for moral decisions, delve to deeply into emotions etc. There's no hidden ambition from the director to make us redefine ourselves or the world we live in. When people watch cartoons they have no problems taking it for what it is and i think this is also the right frame of mind for this movie.The center of this piece are of course the action scenes which are impeccable, made the old school way without tiresome CGI:s. The acting is not great but it definitely doesn't take anything away from the film either. Obviously there wasn't much of a heavy script to work with anyway, but the scarce dialog serves its purpose not to disrupt the pace and the flow.The problems John Cenas character is forced to solve to save his girl reminded me somewhat of the skills of McGyver and that of course is not a bad thing! I also particularly liked the villain played by Aidan Gillen. With a 22 million dollar budget i think Renny Harlin made the best possible movie he could have done for that amount of money. I could mention many films with a considerably larger budget being worse in several aspects. Therefor i give 7.5/10. In my world this is the maximum rating for this kind of popcorn action.In an entertainment industry burden with CGI and self-appointed reformers of the world, we should all pay our respect to Harlins obvious craftsmanship and old school techniques in putting action on photographic emulsion and his obvious reluctance to be anything else than entertainment. Pop the popcorn and let the action begin!