LR's THE BLU ROOM: Review of 12 ROUNDS Blu-Ray By Ron Henriques on July 10, 2009 12 ROUNDS (Blu-Ray ) 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment 2009/Rated PG-13 & Not Rated/108 & 110 mins Now Available – List Price $39.99 I almost missed '12 Rounds' in theaters because it was screened for very few critics at the time of its release. In fact I remember walking out of a screening of a the recent Beyonce Knowles vehicle 'Obsessed' just to catch '12 Rounds' because it was playing in the same multiplex and was about to be pulled from theaters. I made the right choice. My only interest in this film was director Renny Harlin, who despite taking a career nosedive with 'Driven', 'The Covenant' and the recent straight-to-video Sam Jackson flick 'The Cleaner', still remains a favorite of mine. Harlin keeps the intensity and the story moving, making use of the city of New Orleans with simple action set pieces and stays clear of using heavy amounts of CGI. He still proves he can handle action better than the crop of young filmmakers today and makes a credible hero out of wrestler turned actor John Cena. Cena made his debut with the forgettable 'The Marine', but this time out, he's fairly believable as a cop trying to save his girlfriend from a mad criminal out for revenge. What's weird about '12 Rounds' is that it feels a little too familiar and I'm not just taking about the plot where the hero must jump through hoops for a psycho in order to save his lady's life. Watching this film it suddenly hit me where I had seen all of this before. A friend of mine who works for the studio coincidently saw me walk out of the 'Obsessed' screening, so I sent a text to ask ,“Is this a remake of Speed?” My friend agreed that there was just too many similarities and replied that it was probably due to Mark Gordon being the producer of both films. As fun as '12 Rounds' can be, there are too many similarities to 'Speed' that can not be ignored. The call that starts the game. The call that starts the game. Racing against New Orleans time. Racing against L.A. time Much like Keanu Reeves and partner Jeff Daniels foil the plans of mad bomber, Dennis Hopper, Cena and his partner Brian White foil the getaway plans of master criminal Aiden Gillen, accidentally causing his accomplice girlfriend to get killed. A year later Gillen returns to play a game with the newly promoted Cena, by initially blowing up his neighbor's house. Hopper reappears in Reeves' life by blowing up his bus driver friend, setting their story into motion. Cena runs around the city like a madman trying to stop Gillen, much like Reeves and is wearing the exact same outfit. While Cena takes to the streets, White tries to think one step ahead of Gillen from his office desk, much like Jeff Daniels and they both share the exact same fate. There's even a scene where Cena ends up on an old transit bus that looks like the one from 'Speed' with the number 5050 instead of 2525. On top of that, love interest Ashley Scott winds up wired with an explosive device in the same fashion as Sandra Bullock. Looking cool on Bus number 5050 Looking cool on Bus number 2525 Helping someone escape a falling elevator Helping someone escape a falling elevator Do all of these similarities ruin the film? No, it actually makes it more fun to watch. It was certainly fun for me, since I was constantly texting my studio friend who was still watching 'Obsessed' while I was watching this. Call me crazy, but I've also developed a fascination with Cena's hands. I mean the guy has a huge set of mitts and if he were given the chance to lay them on Gillen, the movie would have been about ten minutes long. The film also features minor subplots like the obsession of FBI guy Steve Harris, who has been chasing Gillen for years, Cena's strained relationship with girlfriend Scott and the inevitable third act twist where its revealed why the villain is really making the hero perform so many bizarre tasks. So cliched and predictable, but a guilty pleasure and a quick fix if you're in the mood for fun. Consoling your girlfriend Consoling your (prospective) girlfriend Video: This 1080p 2.35 to 1 AVC transfer is a knockout. This film may not have had a lavish, big Hollywood budget, but its shot incredibly well by some talented professionals which is why this HD transfer looks fantastic. This film may primarily feature day sequences, but the nighttime lighting and photography particularly impressed me and is recreated perfectly on home video. Audio: Awesome, is the one word I can think of to describe this DTS Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack. This is how action movies should sound, with clear dialogue, strong channel separation, and incredible low frequency sound effects. This mix is so detailed and crystal clear that I often found myself stopping the movie only to realize that the sounds coming from outside of my window were in fact the movie's soundtrack over my speakers. Extras: You get two versions of '12 Rounds' on blu-ray, the 108 minute theatrical cut and the “extreme cut” which is two minutes longer. There's barely a difference between the two, but only on the “extreme cut” can you hear two audio commentaries, one by director Renny Harlin and another with writer Daniel Kunka and John Cena. Harlin is always a joy to listen to despite his thick accent because he lays it all out for you and reveals the pluses and minuses of filmmaking as well as the flaws in his own work. Additional supplements include Streetcar Crossing: Film With Caution (HD, 16:27 mins) which examines the preparation and execution of one of the better action sequences in the film. A Crash Course: John Cena Stunts (HD, 9:51 mins) takes a look at Cena's dedication to performing his own stunts despite a fear of heights. The Never-Before-Cena Gag Reel (HD, 4:50 mins) is pretty self explanatory but Keeping Score: The Music of '12 Rounds' (HD, 3:16 mins) is a welcome addition that takes a look at Trevor Rabin's construction of the film's score. Round and Round With Renny and John (HD, 4:05 mins) is just really the star and director discussing each other while Bonus Rounds (HD, 20:22 mins) is just a collection short extras on the production that doesn't really add anything either. Also included are two alternate endings (HD, 1:58 mins) with optional commentaries from Renny Harlin, John Cena, and Daniel Kunka, and the "viral videos:" Hands (HD, 2:45 mins) and Helicopter (HD, 0:55 mins) as well as a digital copy of the film. Source: LatinoReview Tags: 12 Rounds, News