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

SnoopyStyle Danny Fisher (John Cena) is a New Orleans beat cop who arrested master criminal Miles Jackson (Aidan Gillen). In the process, he kills the love of Miles' life, and Miles vows revenge. One year later, Miles escapes from prison, and kidnaps Danny's girl Molly (Ashley Scott). To get her back, Danny must follow Miles' instructions in a game of 12 rounds.It's a very derivative movie reminiscent of 'Die Hard: With a Vengeance'. John Cena seems like a perfectly reasonable cop character. He has reasonable charisma but he has a limited acting range. He can't add the much needed comic relief like Bruce Willis.Also there is just too much ridiculousness. The tests are ridiculous. The FBI agent played by Steve Harris is ridiculous. The problem is that the rounds get very repetitive with action splashed in every once in awhile.Is it a good movie? No, but I've seen much worst. The action kept me interested for about half of the movie. It's just too repetitive and one dimensional. There's a bit of fun action. If that's all you're looking for, this movie certainly has it.

Bene Cumb If you want to fill almost 2 hours with constant tensions and pace, then you have to think of more than 1-2 events - or you get a Colombo-type of crime movie... However, many of these dodges have been used a lot before, so clichés and repetitions are inevitable. In the movie in question, you realize references to many similar movies, including the ones directed by Renny Harlin himself, but several twists and turns (not always plausible though) make the movie in general catchy to follow. Besides, not everything is anticipated, "good guys" die sometimes too and criminals are not brainless types always behind cops in every way... The ending, however, is trivial and the selection of actors was probably caused by low budget; Aidan Gillen as Miles Jackson is the only decent one, all others are rather uninviting, even the leading actors (John Cena looks like a buff).Thus, 12 Rounds is not among the best action movies, but definitely not among the worst; if you like chases, explosions and shootings and letting your mind rest, then you get a decent entertainment.

vchimpanzee If you're going to watch this movie, it will be to see vehicles crash into other vehicles and cause lots of damage. This movie does that very well. It will also be for the nonstop excitement in a number of scenes, including the thrilling runaway streetcar. And the suspense of wondering if Det. Fisher can complete each challenge in time, breaking all the rules along the way. He has so many challenges and each one just leads to another one, equally impossible.Sure, we've seen this sort of thing before, but if I enjoy the formula, so what?But this movie isn't without problems. Aidan Gillen didn't quite reach the point of being deliciously evil, though the potential was there and he achieved what I hoped for in a few scenes.And some of the writing was pretty bad. Cops are supposed to be smarter than this. FBI agents are supposed to be smarter too. One of the movie's final scenes had some of the most pathetic writing imaginable. But that's just the dialogue. The action in that scene was great.I was disappointed to see Steve Harris from the critically acclaimed "Awake" in this. He didn't add much. And by the way, that's not him asleep in that streetcar. I couldn't understand what he was doing there, given the urgency of the situation.With all the killing that takes place, the violence isn't graphic. You know people die, but you don't see the blood.I particularly liked scenes with Danny and Molly together when not trying to stay alive. One highlight is Molly trying to repair the plumbing and I'm not talking about her mechanical skills. These scenes had some funny lines, and as terrible as certain events were, the movie's last line was really funny.It was ... interesting.