Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		4.0

12 Rounds Blu-ray Movie Review

Blu-ray is up to the challenge of '12 Rounds.'

Reviewed by Martin Liebman July 1, 2009

I wanted to see the face of a man who knows he can't win.

If there is one constant in the world of motion pictures, it's the Action film. No matter how repetitive, how derivative, how goofy, how loud, how violent, and in those rare cases, how novel, an Action movie may be, there's no doubt that big explosions, hulking stars, large-caliber weapons, nifty special effects, and heaps of adrenaline sell tickets. With its staying power comes deluge after deluge of attempts to corner the market for a week, a month, and if the studio is lucky, a season, and for all of the truly great Action pictures -- the Die Hard's and The Rock's of the world -- there are dozens, probably hundreds, maybe more, of "in one week and forgotten for all eternity" movies like Driven to Kill and 7 Seconds. Still, the "been there, done that" nature of the Action movie has never been a hindrance to its success, and it likely never will be. The latest to take an abbreviated spin through theaters before chewing up the home video market, Director Renny Harlin's (Die Hard 2: Die Harder) 12 Rounds might be the epitome of the state of the Action film in the latter half of the decade, a hyperkinetic, loud, nonstop destructive romp that covers all the clichés in the Action movie handbook but does so far better than so many that have come before it. Nothing special but highly entertaining as a "dumb action movie," 12 Rounds accomplishes all that is asked of it, and then some.

Super-Cena!

New Orleans police officer Danny Fisher (John Cena, The Marine) finds himself directly involved in the pursuit of an international terrorist named Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) when the FBI's planned bust goes awry. Fisher ultimately apprehends Jackson, but not before the accidental death of Jackson's girlfriend. One year later, Jackson escapes from prison and kidnaps now-detective Fisher's girlfriend, Molly (Ashley Scott, Walking Tall). Jackson destroys Fisher's car and home via remote, luring the detective into a game he dubs "12 Rounds," a series of a dozen events that will test Fisher's mind, body, and soul in a race not only against time but against the many obstacles that stand in his way in the Big Easy. Only through Fisher's successful completion of all twelve rounds will he see his girlfriend again, but Jackson may have more than revenge on his mind as he stays one step ahead of Fisher and watches as the detective leaves a swath of death, destruction, and mayhem behind him in pursuit of his target and in search of his girl.

While 12 Rounds won't be mistaken for some piece of highbrow art, it's surprisingly excellent for what it is. It's goofy, unbelievable, questionably directed, and shoddily acted, but all that's beside the point. 12 Rounds is fun. 12 Rounds is exciting. 12 Rounds is loud. What more could anyone want in a movie that stars a wrestler, is directed by a man that peaked almost 20 years ago, and features a plot that rips off Die Hard With a Vengeance? No matter the small details; 12 Rounds get the job done, hitting the bulls-eye with the shots that count, those that aim for escapist, death-defying entertainment at its most fundamental. Renny Harlin's film delivers nonstop action on a large scale, the level of destruction and mayhem crammed into the 110 minute runtime impressive to say the least. Rather than hedging its bets on one hail of gunfire after another, 12 Rounds instead takes the action to the streets of New Orleans where the city itself becomes a weapon of potentially mass destruction, where speeding busses, runaway trolleys, exploding buildings, smashed cars, and all sorts of other objects allow the city to become a cornucopia of delectable destruction on a grand scale. So what if it all doesn't make sense, if it gleefully adheres to every rule in the book, and if even John McClane (had to get the last Die Hard film linked in here somewhere) might not be able to get through this one? 12 Rounds simply works in the context through which a film like this demands to be viewed.

12 Rounds features one of the oldest plots in the book, the story of a bad guy seeking revenge against a good guy that somehow, in his mind, wronged him in the past. Like Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan or any film that shares a similar plot, such films are only as good as the villain seeking vengeance, and Aidan Gillen is up to the task in 12 Rounds. Gillen turns in a deliciously evil performance, doing well to keep up appearances as he faces off with Fisher and concealing his ulterior motives superbly. His is a fun, easygoing, effort; the twinkle in his eye during and after each round as he torments Fisher and sees his diabolical game unfold exactly as he planned is conveyed quite well. Gillen is no Ricardo Montalbán and Jackson is no Khan, but again, for 12 Rounds, this is pretty good stuff. John Cena is once again up to the challenge physically; his character is paper-thin and the actor goes through the motions and comes off as halfway credible as a police officer with the know-how to solve the puzzles and the wherewithal to survive them. Also rather impressive is Trevor Rabin's (Flyboys) score that, like the movie, never relents and makes for quality, but not memorable, Action movie music. Unfortunately, the biggest hindrance to 12 Rounds is Renny Harlin's direction. Another in a growing list of films that employ jerky handheld camera movements that seem to want to put the audience in the middle of the action but instead, more often than not, distract them from it, 12 Rounds never stands still long enough to really absorb all that's going on. Perhaps the point was to capture the frenetic pace of the movie, and the technique may have benefited some scenes, but it becomes too much too soon and takes away from, rather than adds to, the overall experience.

12 Rounds Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

12 Rounds' 1080p, 2.35:1-framed transfer is a knockout on Blu-ray. Though not quite up to the same level as the very best to grace the format, 20th Century Fox's latest transfer yields consistently well-above-average results. Fine detail is superb throughout; whether overhead shots of New Orleans that showcase buildings near and far to fine visual effect, closer street-level views that reveal the intricacies of the streets and structures, the interior of a cramped and busy FBI surveillance van packed with monitors buttons, and assorted doodads, or any other number of objects seen throughout the film, this transfer brings them to life in this high quality film-like transfer, at least when the camera slows down enough for viewers to take it all in. 12 Rounds often takes on a slight gritty tone, but the picture is not populated by excessive amounts of grain. While the film does exhibit some grain, its structure here is a bit more subdued than that seen in other pictures of this sort. Still, the transfer features a nice overall appearance that recreates the theater experience well enough. Colors also impress throughout; whether the red of a speeding fire engine or the blue of Fisher's shirt, colors tend to pop off the screen with regularity, each taking on a vibrant yet natural hue that benefits the overall look of the film superbly. Flesh tones never stray, but blacks can often take on an artificially bright appearance. Otherwise, 12 Rounds delivers a strong 1080p transfer that offers well-above-average imagery in most every area.

12 Rounds Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

12 Rounds explodes onto Blu-ray with an expectedly awesome DTS-HD MA 5.1 lossless soundtrack. No surprise as a new release Action title from 20th Century Fox, this track entertains at worst and devastates the listening area at best with a practically nonstop barrage of violence come to glorious sonic life. The track may be loud but it never sacrifices clarity in the process. Several gunshots early in the film -- the film's biggest shootout -- delivers crisp shots with a positive, palpable thud that reverberate throughout the listening area. Even ancillary sounds, for instance some background radio chatter in several scenes, play as lifelike and crystal-clear, insofar as radio communications may be heard "clearly." The soundtrack delivers a wonderful sense of space as the speakers seem to disappear as the action sound effects, dialogue, and music flow naturally and realistically throughout the soundstage. Even in light of all its other positives, 12 Rounds truly shines in its reproduction of action sound effects. A fire engine screams through the city in one sequence, crashing into untold numbers of automobiles and other obstacles, every crash delivering an explosive, full, and precise series of crunches, thuds, and other sound effects that bring the sequence to life and match up with the intensity and nonstop nature of the picture wonderfully. Explosions pack quite the wallop, too; delivering plenty of low-end information that more often than not sees fit to shake, rattle, and roll the listening area. The track also does well to recreate subtler environmental atmosphere, too. A bar scene in chapter nine, one of the film's few breather scenes, recreates the environment nicely as music, patron chatter, and other goodies may be heard scattered about the soundstage. Also featuring problem-free dialogue reproduction, 12 Rounds delivers an exciting listen on Blu-ray.

12 Rounds Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

12 Rounds arrives on Blu-ray with two versions of the film, the 108-minute theatrical cut and the 110-minute "extreme cut." Also included are several extras features, the package headlined by a pair of commentary tracks, both available only on the "extreme cut." The first track with Director Renny Harlin is interesting enough. The director speaks on the shooting style that allowed the actors to move, look, and react freely without worrying about stringent markers and the usual rigidity of a Hollywood shoot; filming in New Orleans and speaking on how the city became a character in the film and also recalling the experience of visiting the city post-Katrina; his attraction to the project; character traits and the work of the actors; and all of the other information one would expect of a director's track. A few small gaps here and there don't interfere with the flow. Track two features Writer Daniel Kunka and Actor John Cena, again available only on the "extreme cut" edition of the film. Not quite as informative as the director track, this one takes on a lighter, more free-flowing feel while still tackling some interesting issues and delivering some pertinent information intermixed with jokes and light humor.

Streetcar Crossing: Film With Caution (1080i, 16:27) takes a detailed, day-by-day look at the difficulties of shooting one of the film's most spectacular action sequences in the middle of New Orleans. A Crash Course: John Cena Stunts (1080i, 9:51) looks at the dangerous stunts in the film and the participation of star John Cena in the film's biggest, most challenging action scenes, including a glimpse into John Cena's fear of heights. Next up is Never-Before-Cena Gag Reel (1080i, 4:50) a collection of several lighthearted moments from the set. Keeping Score: The Music of '12 Rounds' (1080i, 3:16) more closely examines Trevor Rabin's score and the process of assembling and recording it. Round and Round With Renny and John (1080i, 4:05) features the director and star discussing the film with one another. Bonus Rounds (1080i, 20:22) is a collection of one dozen short extras that look at a broad array of topics, from the origins of the script to Renny Harlin's "Voice of God" microphone and speaker combo. Concluding the supplements are two alternate endings (1080p, 1:58) with optional commentaries from Renny Harlin, John Cena, and Daniel Kunka, and two "viral videos:" Hands (1080p, 2:45) and Helicopter (0:55). Disc two of this set contains a digital copy of 12 Rounds. Sampled on a second generation iPod Touch, the picture and sound quality are both of sufficiently good quality. The image offers fairly good detail and color and is plagued by visible but not usually overly intrusive blocking, while the audio is fairly crisp, spacious, and clear when listened through the iPod's earbuds.

12 Rounds Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

12 Rounds offers the not-so-critical viewer one heck of a ride, and unless someone expects of the movie some life-changing, deeply philosophical, spiritually-in-tune sort of experience, there's no reason to be all that disappointed by what this one has to offer. It's got all the makings of a bad movie on the surface, and even follows the same loose structure as Cena's previous outing, The Marine, but 12 Rounds never backs off and delivers a full-throttle, heart-pounding pure Action movie experience that excels in all the right places which allows its lesser attributes to, for the most part, fall to the wayside in favor of its strengths. 20th Century Fox, as expected, has delivered a high quality Blu-ray presentation of 12 Rounds. Featuring a sharp, crisp, and film-like transfer, a high-octane lossless soundtrack, and a fine array of bonus materials, 12 Rounds on Blu-ray is an Action movie lover's delight. Recommended.