12 Rounds 3: Lockdown

I will start by saying that I enjoyed this film as I do most action films, I am not too fussy.

However I gave 12 rounds Lockdown only 5 out of 10, I think mostly due to it being a bit of a let down compared to the previous 2 in the series.

I really enjoyed 12 Rounds With John Cena and the same with Randy Orton in the 2nd one. But the 3rd film lacked everything those two had.

The script in this film was pretty awful at times, I don't think it had anything to do with the actors, they just did the best they could.

The story line seemed like a good one going into it, but soon started loosing its rhythm quickly as the movie progressed, with some holes here and there.

The action and intelligence of many parts of what actually went on was actually pretty good, it's just a shame there wasn't enough of it, I guess I was expecting more because of the previous 2.

All in all it's a decent watch for a rainy day, don't expect too much and you wont be disappointed, I still hope for a 4th one though regardless.

"He's dirty and I got the evidence." After returning to the force after a gunshot wound, officer Shaw (Ambrose) thinks he's in for a easy day back. When he discovers his former partner is involved in illegal activity he wants to do something about it. After the building is locked down It is up to him to stop them and keep the evidence safe. There really isn't too much to say about this one. The first two movies in this series were actually not too bad. A cop forced to go through a series of tests in order to save the ones he loves. The only thing this had in common with the others is the title and a wrestler is the main star. This is pretty much a generic action movie that did everything it could to be Assault on Precinct 16 but fell way short. Overall, a pretty cliché action movie that really is worth watching only if you are a huge fan of Dean Ambrose. This one strayed too far from what made the others interesting to watch. I give this a C.

"12 Rounds 3: Lockdown" deserved a much better script. As a mindless action flick, it's not a bad way to spend ninety minutes. Production values are adequate and there are some decent action sequences. The unarmed combat scenes are much better than the gunfights. The somewhat gratuitous car scenes seem more like product placements than part of the script.

The script makes no sense at all. Why would a police department even have a lockdown mode that prevents fire doors from opening from the inside? Why would the villains think they could hunt down and murder an officer when every corner of the building is monitored by security cameras? The villains operate as if there is no forensic evidence of anything, even the caliber of weapons.

The script tries to give Shaw (Ambrose) a backstory and inner conflict with an incident that resulted in a partner's death and required an extended leave for psychiatric care. Several characters refer to the incident; however, there is never any resolution. We expect to find out that either it wasn't really his fault due to circumstances he didn't understand, as in "Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol" or to learn that some character fault or error in judgment did result in the death and that he can overcome a similar dilemma only if he has learned from the experience. But it is never developed and his experience doesn't seem to infuse his actions. Shaw also has history with the villain, but neither seems to use any unique understanding of the other to any advantage.

"12 Rounds" and "12 Rounds 2: Reloaded" have been compared to "Die Hard with a Vengeance," while "12 Rounds 3: Lockdown" has been compared to the original "Die Hard." However, where the first two 12 Rounds films had clever scripts that compared favorably with the second Die Hard, the third pales compared to the original "Die Hard."

Long segments without dialogue require actors of the caliber of Bruce Willis ("Die Hard"), Robert Redford ("All is Lost") and Tom Hanks ("Castaway"). Dean Ambrose can be effective when given the material. An early scene at a stoplight is effective without dialogue. Unfortunately, he's not given much to work with.

Shaw frequently ejects his magazine to count the number of bullets remaining, but never adds in one for the bullet in the chamber. The villains are able to get into the armory and equip themselves with assault rifles and bulletproof vests, but Shaw can't manage to pick up one of the weapons dropped during a fight.

There is no character development and no moral. Shaw has inner demons, but seems to ignore them. He is wounded, but ignores the wounds. He has an opportunity to team up with another cop, but doesn't.

The script is a largely predictable mishmash of familiar tropes. The level of gunplay is over the top. There is no way the villains could hope to argue that their use of force was justified by the circumstances or that the top brass would allow them to continue shooting up the department with wild abandon. And yet, the tone is very serious and down to earth, unlike such films as "Shoot 'Em Up" or "Smokin' Aces," which have a comic book sense of reality.

While the film never really engages the viewer, neither does it bore. While the plot seems ridiculous and implausible, if one can disengage ones mental faculties, it offers some entertaining action sequences.

The first anomaly comes from the title, it doesn't mean a gauntlet of chores the villain has set up for protagonist anymore. Instead it displays the rounds our hero has, but considering he can loot other weapon and decides not to for integrity of the title feels rather limiting. Fortunately, Jonathan Good (Dean Ambrose) channels his inner John McClaine surprisingly well and Roger Cross as the antagonist has the aura of TV show bad guy.

This is what you'd expect from action flick, the usual dirty cop and the rouge hero trapped in an unfortunate situation. It borrows heavily from Die Hard and perhaps because it's an already proved formula, Lockdown is not entirely bad. Dead Ambrose is not the usual protagonist, he looks genuinely troubled which serendipitously may help his rogue cop character.

There's a few of illogical events are put there for the sake of pushing the plot, and adds that to the occasional odd alternate way of dispatching enemies, it can be awkward. A couple of bad CG makes the movie slightly unintentionally funny at times.

However, it's still a passable action shoot'em up. The change from complex mind games to simple gunslinger and melee action is good decision since the franchise doesn't have the refined production to pull off such cerebral setting.

Lockdown is definitely flawed, yet it brings enough action antics to be a popcorn flick or lazy afternoon watch.

Detective John Shaw (Jonathan Good as Dean Ambrose's film debut) goes back to active duty at his precinct after the death of his partner, Ray Jones. Some of his employees are now looking at him as he comes back to the office. Upon returning to work after recovering from an injury, a police officer discovers and attempts to turn over incriminating evidence of illegal activities against his fellow police officers. He quickly finds himself trapped inside his own precinct, hunted and in search of the truth, as the crooked cops stop at nothing to recover the evidence.

Thriller with supercharged action and moving pacing by Stephen Reynolds. Gripping, violent action movie with the wrestler Jonatham Good desperately trying to find the means avoid his police colleagues to be murdered . Exciting screenplay that dispenses absurd excitement as well as amusement . Passable thriller full of intrigue and tense, this is a fast-paced, stylized action-suspense film, but full of clichés. The tension of this picture keeps snowballing as the clock ticks. The tale appears to unfold in real time as the many nail-biting and intense scenes will verify. Most unusual is the device of having the victim play desperado and hunted by the killers, and while attempting to save another young female police officer, as time runs out.

This mindless, briefly interesting and limitedly ingenious film is packed with thrills, suspense, tension and lots of interminable action. Enjoyable battle of wits between two main characters, Jonatan Good and Roger Cross , based on risked circumstances work out pretty well . Witty plot that dispenses excitement as well as entertainment . Casting is acceptable, Jonathan Good (the WWE ex-star who left in 2019) is so-so as a tormented and intrepid cop , WWE Superstar Dean Ambrose originally thought that he was an extra but when he was told it was a lead character, he was very excited about it and his contender is Roger Cross who steals the show and takes honors as psychopath cop who attempts to turn the tables on the victim before he can chase him. Plus, an adequate secondary cast, such as: Daniel Cudmore, Lochlyn Munro, Ty Olsson, Sarah Smyth, Rebecca Marshal, among them. Adequate musical score accompanying the action and inventively photographed , using Steadicam or hand-held camera .The motion picture was mediocrely but professionaly directed by Stephen Reynolds ((Interrogation, Vendetta, Tomb Raider Ascension (2007). Rating : 5/10, acceptable and passable thriller movie . The picture will appeal to frenetic action buffs .

This ¨12 Rounds 3: Lockdown¨ (2015) belongs to a trilogy, along with: ¨12 Rounds¨ (2009) by Renny Harlin with John Cena, Aidan Gillen, Ashley Scott in which Cena discovers his love interest has been abducted by a ex-con tied to his past, and he'll have to successfully complete 12 challenges in order to secure her safe release. ¨12 Rounds 2: Reloaded¨ (2013) by Roel Reiné with Randy Orton, Brian Markinson, Sebastian Spence Tom Stevens; in which a man's kidnapped paramedic Nick's wife, forcing him on phone to play a "game of death" with 12 rounds, directing Nick to different locations .