what567890
The movie follows along the path of movies such as Amores Perros and Babel. If you like movies where you have multiple stories taking place, then you'll like this movie. The movie is in Spanish, filmed on location in Puerto Rico, and gives you a brief taste of what Puerto Rico is like in some parts of the country. One of the guys from Menudo makes a star appearance in the movie, and does a good job in his acting. I can't recall much from the movie as far as details are concerned, but I do recall I enjoyed it as much as my wife did. I do recall that much of the movie takes place during the night. It's been several years, and we have been wanting to watch it again. Check out the movie, if you can. That's if you can find it playing at one of those independent theaters or if you can find it on video.
AKJ444
This is crap on a stick, my friends. It is the worst thing I have ever seen. I watched it because I was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and I've only been living in the US for 5 years, and I like to support everything that is done there. The quantity and quality of talent on that little island is astounding. Yet this is its official entry to the Academy Awards. Now, it is entirely possible that some people might be attracted to this because of its MTV-style, dizzying, all-handheld, quick-cutting "technique." Most people would probably be attracted to its "shock value": foul-language every other word, violence, sex, sex, and some more sex. This is something you really don't see much of in Puerto Rican films, which made it, in the eyes of many, "revolutionary." If what you want is shock value, you go see Pulp Fiction, where every other word is f*** and the violence is truly violent, yet it is so seamlessly put together, so well scripted, and so well acted, that you leave craving for more. The majority of people, however, have to admit that "12 Horas" is embarrassing art.I don't even know where to begin criticizing this movie, but I'll try: wretched acting (except for Mr. Betancourt, the taxi driver, who makes the best out of what he's given), poor directing (all-handheld, claiming to be "edgy," some good shots that usually get interrupted with really, really crappy editing), and of course, the worst writing in the history of film. Let's talk about story, shall we? (Don't worry, no spoilers here.) EVERY ELEMENT of this movie is ripped off from some other movie. I'm a big fan of when a movie pays homage to a classic, but this is no homage. Explain to me how in one scene in a bar one girl is wearing an outfit and her friends decide to do a "makeover" (`Clueless' ripoff), and within minutes she not only has a brand new outfit, but also new prescription glasses with a trendier frame. And whatever happened to introducing all of your characters within the first half-hour of the film? They have one person appearing an hour and twenty minutes into the film, ten minutes from the end. (Sure, in Costner's `Robin Hood' they bring in Sean Connery as King Richard in a cameo at the end, but he's been referred to the whole movie; we know he exists.) Thankfully, that character is not crucial to the film. Which, of course, begs the question: why IS he there at all? The answer, naturally, is that the filmmakers were out to "expose" the different sides of ourselves, the good and the bad. So what? If it doesn't pertain to the story, YOU CUT IT!
That is, IF you can say that this had a story. It's more like a series of unrelated events. That's not a story. Soderbergh's "Traffic" is comprised of three different stories. They interrelate. They are well written. You CARE about these characters. In "12 hrs." there is no sense of cohesion except that all of the action happens within the same 12-hour span. And that by itself does not constitute a story.The point of this movie is to make you go `ooh, I can't believe they said that! And in Spanish!' (which is really their whole gimmick; nobody's ever done anything raw like this in Puerto Rico before). I thought we were way past that level as audience members.Let me see if I can sum up. "Showgirls" is better. "Showgirls" is Oscar-caliber acting, directing and especially WRITING next to this. You all know what I'm talking about.
ytseprog
Its really a shame that shallow tripe like this is representing our country's film community. There are a lot of talented people working here in PR, but sadly, what mostly gets filmed and shown is the WORSE things. 12 Horas is truly a big shame for us cinema lovers down here in PR..
borgardt-2
A wonderfully energetic film with little story and ill-advised ending. I hope these people make lots more movies, and that they find a good writer who can tie up the loose ends without resorting to shallow tragedy. I was especially fond of Flavia Manes Rossi, but everyone was lively and interesting. A very talented cast.
