12 Rounds 3: Lockdown

I remember going to see the original 12 Rounds, starring John Cena a long long time ago. Could not tell you how this movie connects with the original, except for the fact that they are both made by WWE studios, who tends to cast a new lead with all their sequels like the Marine, that also had John Cena in the league.

I have no idea who Dean Ambrose is and after seeing his lack luster performance, I care not to know. The movie gave him a crap load of one- liners that kept lowering the already low quality of the movie every time he spits one out .

The movie had a philosophy about a good cop only needing 12 rounds in his gun to get the job done, which was delivered like crap with Ambrose in the lead.

I did enjoy the guy who played the villain. He had potential of being a memorable action movie villain but this movie is too forgettable for that to happen.

Overall it's very bland.

"12 Rounds 3: Lockdown" takes audiences on an adrenaline-fueled ride through a high-stakes, action-packed plot. While it may not quite live up to the standard set by its predecessor, this film still manages to entertain and engage viewers.

The plot revolves around a dedicated detective, Shaw, who finds himself trapped inside his own police station after discovering evidence of corruption within the department. As he fights to survive and expose the truth, he must navigate a series of deadly challenges in a race against time.

Although the film lacks the charismatic presence of John Cena, who starred in the first installment, it compensates with a gritty and intense performance by Dean Ambrose. Ambrose brings a different energy to the role, showcasing his versatility as an actor. While not as captivating as the original, his portrayal of Shaw is commendable and keeps the audience invested in his plight.

The action sequences in "12 Rounds 3: Lockdown" are well-choreographed and deliver the expected thrills. From intense hand-to-hand combat to heart-pounding chase scenes, the film keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The suspense is further heightened by the confined setting of the police station, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that adds to the tension.

However, the film falls short in terms of character development and plot depth. The supporting cast lacks the depth and complexity seen in the first film, making it difficult to fully invest in their stories. Additionally, the plot, while intriguing, feels somewhat formulaic and predictable at times.

Despite these shortcomings, "12 Rounds 3: Lockdown" remains an entertaining watch for fans of the action genre. It delivers on the expected thrills and showcases a solid performance by Dean Ambrose. While it may not surpass its predecessor, it still offers enough excitement to warrant a viewing for those seeking a fast-paced, adrenaline-fueled experience.

"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.

"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.

My quick rating - 5,2/10. Another slightly above average action movie starring a WWE superstar, this time Dean Ambrose. I will say that using him for the main was a good call since he isn't the muscle bound type character such as Cena and Orton were in the previous films. For being his first acting role, he did an adequate job and delivered his one- liners pretty well (yet some were not that funny no matter who said them) The action was edited well so the viewers don't lose track with too much jerky camera work (which seems to be more the norm in action films as of late). This story is more a use of "12 rounds" as in shots left in the gun, not 12 rounds as in a cat and mouse game, but that is OK, at least it was different. Overall, a good addition to the WWE library that did not raise the bar at all, but also did not lower it in the slightest either. Funny thing, I went back to my database and I gave the first one a 5.3 and the second one a 5.1 so at least they are being consistent.