Watch 12 Rounds
- PG-13
- 2009
- 1 hr 48 min
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5.6 (30,770)
12 Rounds is a 2009 action-thriller movie starring John Cena, Ashley Scott, and Aidan Gillen. The movie is directed by Renny Harlin and produced by Mark Gordon, while the screenplay is written by Daniel Kunka. The story of the movie revolves around a detective named Danny Fisher, who becomes embroiled in a terrifying game of cat and mouse when a dangerous criminal kidnaps his girlfriend and challenges him to complete 12 challenges in order to save her.
The movie opens with Danny Fisher (John Cena) pursuing a notorious international criminal named Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen) through the streets of New Orleans. The pursuit ends with the death of Miles' girlfriend, Erica (Taylor Cole), who dies in an explosion, and Miles being shot and captured by Danny. Fast forward a year later, and Danny is now a detective with the New Orleans Police Department, while Miles is incarcerated in a high-security prison.
The movie shifts gears as Miles escapes from prison and kidnaps Danny's girlfriend, Molly Porter (Ashley Scott), in retaliation for the death of his girlfriend. He then proceeds to challenge Danny to complete 12 rounds of dangerous and deadly tasks throughout the city of New Orleans in order to save Molly's life.
Throughout the movie, Danny races against time to complete the challenges, which range from stealing a police car, to jumping onto a moving streetcar, to surviving a fiery explosion, all while being pursued by the police and hounded by Miles' henchmen. As the challenges progress, both Danny and Miles reveal hidden motives and secrets from their past that lead to a confrontation between the two that ultimately decides the fate of Molly.
Visually, the movie is impressive, with breathtaking shots of New Orleans, particularly during the car chases that take place throughout the city. The action sequences are well choreographed, and there are plenty of them throughout the movie to keep the audience engaged.
John Cena shines in his role as Danny Fisher, bringing a physicality and intensity to the character that is reminiscent of his wrestling days. Ashley Scott also delivers a strong performance as Molly Porter, playing the frightened but resourceful girlfriend who is trapped in a dangerous game. Aidan Gillen steals the show as the cunning and ruthless Miles Jackson, whose motivations are slowly revealed as the movie progresses.
The movie is not without its flaws, however. Some of the plot points are predictable, and the dialogue can be cliched at times. Additionally, some of the action sequences border on being too over-the-top and unrealistic, which may take away from the immersiveness of the movie.
In conclusion, 12 Rounds is an enjoyable action-thriller that delivers plenty of adrenaline-pumping moments and thrilling action sequences. John Cena leads a talented cast, and the beautiful backdrop of New Orleans provides a stunning canvas for the action to unfold upon. While the movie may not break any new ground in terms of plot or character development, it will certainly provide audiences with an entertaining and exciting ride.
12 Rounds is a 2009 action movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 48 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.6 and a MetaScore of 38.