Rating: 
Summary: The Rock is an "hanging for dear life" action thriller
Review: The Rock is a wonderful film, representing the greatest action movie I have seen in a while. The stars, Connery and Cage, act perfectly throughout the movie while shutting down the ransom and knocking out Harris! A MUST-SEE!!!! END
Rating: 
Summary: The Rock - an all out rumbling riot!!
Review: The Rock is the perfect movie for action fans... It's got it all; fist-fighting, dangerous chemicals, missiles, fighterplanes and explosions!! The story: A vietnam veteran bearing a serious grudge against USA's treatment of those left behind after the casualties of Nam steals a bundle of chemical warheads and missiles. Along with his accomplices he also takes hostage a group of tourists visiting "The Rock", Alcatraz Island... They threaten to vipe out the entire San Fransisco Bay area with chemical warheads if their demands are not met. The fed's pick out a task-force consisting of Navy SEALS, an FBI chemicals-expert (Nicholas Cage) and an veteran convict (Sean Connery) who was the only one ever to escape and outlive the rock. They persuade Connery to guide them in through The Rock's secret flaw... END
Rating:
Summary: Fun film, but why on Criterion?
Review: The Michael Bay - Jerry Bruckheimer formula, like that for the James Bond films, is pretty well set: lots of stuff blowing up, lots of bodies flying through the air, a cast dominated by strong male leads, women are very secondary, a very dramatic music score, lots of foul language and a very right of center political outlook (the military are always the heroes and anyone who questions the heroes' judgment are pansies or some other leftwing radical type). However, the James Bond films always had a sly sense of humor about themselves. Bond might save the American Space program, Fort Knox, Miami and the planet Earth, but there was always an underlying message: This is just for fun folks. The Bay-Bruckheimer films, however, have the delusion that they're actually fighting the battles depicted on screen. There's a lot of overwrought music, emotional scenes between the characters and slow motion closups of the hero(es) walking or running towards their battle with evil. The Rock, in this way, is no different. A team of marines, led by General Frank Hummell (Ed Harris) and disgusted with the way the U.S. Government has neglected the families of those soldiers killed in illegal missions abroad, has taken 81 hostages on Alcatraz, threatening to lauch nerve gas rockets into San Francisco unless reparations are paid to those soldiers' survivors. Heavy, heavy stuff.
However, injected into this serious mix is none other than the best James Bond himself -- Sean Connery. Even in the more serious early Bonds, Connery always managed to convey to the audience that they were supposed to have fun during these films. Bruckheimer and Bay do their best to elevate what is essentially Saturday morning action serial material into Wagnerian opera. But there is Connery, putting all the action into perspective by not taking anyting too seriously and grounding the material by recognizing what it really is: sheer entertainment.Bay, Bruckheimer and company keep trying to push the fact that Ed Harris' desperate General Hummell is a man of honor, a real hero, etc., etc. Anyone who questions his judgment, like the hapless, simpering Presidential Chief of Staff at the first briefing scene, is shot down as a liberal wimp who would never make the sacrifices that Harris' character made for America and should shut up before one of the real men in the room shoot him (I wonder what George McGovern, Daniel Inouye and other liberals who fought for and were decorated for fighting for their country think of this kind of portrayal). Never mind that the General threatens to kill thousands of San Franciscans with nerve gas. Bay-Bruckheimer have stacked the deck by having the great Ed Harris play General Hummell, giving the character an inherent integrity that can't help but make him sympathetic. Fox News isn't this slanted. In walks Connery who, in his big confrontation scene with Harris, gets right to the heart of the matter in a few lines. He correctly says that he doesn't see how "you cherish the memory of the dead by killing another million" and sums up Hummell's actions as "an act of lunacy." In one fell swoop, Connery slaps the collective message of the film across the face and shows that terrorism is terrorism, no matter if it's done by decorated U.S. soldiers with a legitimate gripe against the government. It's fairly certain that Connery, an executive producer of the film, purposely torpedoed Bay-Bruckheimer's testosterone toned view of the world. In The Rock, Connery proves, once again, that an actor with a strong enough presence and a large amount of talent doesn't need to scream and shout to give a great performance. Nicholas Cage, Connery's co-star, bellows and shouts like he's on fire most of the film ("How, in Zeus' BUTTHOLE did you get out of your cell?!?!?!?!?!?" -- god, give it a rest, Nick!). Cage certainly isn't alone -- the rest of the cast buys into Bay-Bruckheimer's "this film is the most important thing you'll ever watch" mentality. However, Sean Connery, with his charm, wit and grace, throws a bucket of cold water over the entire proceedings and reminds everyone that the film is what it is and nothing more: a technically superb action film that exists merely to entertain ... period. A final note: Criterion has always produced the finest quality DVD's loaded with many, many interesting extras. Most of the films Criterion has released are classics: Notorious, Roshamon, Ikiru, Yojimbo, Charade, Rebecca, etc. I enjoyed The Rock, but why did Criterion deem it good enough to rank with the other films they've released on DVD? Criterion has been selective in its releases and The Rock lowers the bar.
Rating:
Summary: excellent film with great extra features
Review: This review is for the Criterion Collection DVD edition of the film. In this director approved Criterion Collection release, we are treated to some excellent materials. The film follows the story of Francis Hummel (Ed Harris), a retired marine who takes hostages on Alcatraz island. His demand is that the families of soldiers killed in covert operations be given compensation. He treatens to launch VX nerve gas into the city of San Francisco if his demands are not met. A navy SEAL team is sent in to neutralize the threat. Helping out is Stanley Goodspeed (Nicholas Cage), a chemical weapons expert, and John Patrick Mason (Sean Connery), the only man to have escaped from Alcatraz. The film has great acting and there are some good laughs in the film also. There are many action packed scenes including a car chase through the streets of San Francisco and the cars are often airborne when they go on the hills. The Criterion DVD has many special features and is on a deouble disc set. Disc 1 contains the movie with optional audio commentary by Director Michael Bay, Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, Technical advisor Harry Humphries, and actors Nicholas Cage and Ed Harris. Disc 2 contains a theatrical trailer and TV spots, a video interview with producer Jerry Bruckheimer, a blooper reel, a special about the film's premiere on Alcatraz, scenes from a TV special "Secrets of Alcatraz" that contains interviews with actual former inmates and a history of the island from Native American times to modern times. There is a special "Dos and Don'ts of Hollywood Gunplay" with the film's technical advisor Harry Humpries and Marshall Teague. This specail contains depictions of errors made in action films regarding the use of guns it emphasises saftey and common mistakes including gun drawing techniques that don't "work" such as the "gangster grab" or the "wyatt earp pull". There are also 2 features on the films special effects. One is on the dive sequence and the other is on other effects, like the cable car crash. There are also storyboards, production stills and drawings. This is a must biy for fans of the movie as well a fans of the Criterion Collection.
Rating: 
Summary: A ROCKY BUT SOLID 2 DISK SET
Review: Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage team up for this solid action flick from '96. Co-Star Ed Harris gives new meaning to playing the "heavy". Connery plays John Mason, a man wrongfully imprisioned for 30 years, who is now asked by the U.S. Govt. to stop a group of millitary terrorists from using a deadly chemical weapon on the city of San Francisco unless their demands are met. Enter chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Cage). The two are asked to join with a Navy Seal team to break into the famed prison Alcatraz where hostages are being held against their will and the chemicals are being stored. Director Michael Bay gets the most out of his actors, especially Cage, who in my opinion, can be at times over-rated as an actor. Fans of the car chase will be pleased with the way Bay orchestrates the action of this particular scene. As for the DVD and its extras: Truth is, while this 2 disc set is a vast improvement over the movie only version , the only thing that stood out! for me was the sound and picture quality. I would love to have heard from Connery on the commentary track (he also is listed as an Executive Producer on the movie). All in all as my review title says Rock Solid but I think the 2 disc set for ARMAGEDDON is better in content and presentation.
Rating:
Summary: If you love San Francisco...
Review: This isn't really my kind of film, but I love San Francisco and lived there while the film was made. This film shows some great parts of the City. The penthouse at the Fairmount, the Palace of Fine Arts, great street scenes in North Beach. Almost as good as Heart Beat...
Rating:
Summary: Didn't hold my attention for long enough
Review: I was having severe problems concentrating on this movie, and I have no idea why. I kept drifting in and out, not really losing the story, but just not concentrating. The plot really didn't interest me that much, and seemed a little tedious in my opinion. There are quite a few bits I did not understand either. Why did soldiers who died in a declared war have their deaths covered up? Why was a man is kept in prison for 30 years with no charges and no convictions and no one notices? A dozen men can steal a dozen weapons of mass destruction (including missiles) in 10 minutes with dart guns? SEALS can't figure out how to open a locked door? When I got told NOT to look when the DVD was starting up I was instantly worried, and suspected foul play of the Indiana Jones type - but was pleasantly surprised when this came up. I did have to ask what on earth Criterion Collection meant though - ditz!
I loved Armageddon, and found some similar scenes and music in this to Armageddon. Also, in the hotel suite, the song "Leaving On A Jet Plane" can be heard in the background while Sean Connery#s character gets a haircut. This is the same song that the astronauts in Armageddon sing before getting in the shuttles. Some of the scenes were brilliantly executed, what amazed me was the fire sequence, where Sean Connery had to go inbetween the shots of flames - WOW!
Just to contradict an earlier review, Nicholas Cage's character in this isn't actually an Elvis fan which he is in real life - he's a Beatles fan.
Sean Connery was quite good in this, although I preferred him with the longer hair, compared to the short hair - he looks better with longer hair.
Some of the smaller roles were brilliantly played, particularly David Morse, and Michael Biehn too - although the latter doesn't get that big a role and is killed off fairly quickly.
After only seeing this movie a day or so again, I'm quite shocked that I can't actually remember that much about it. I remember scenes, but not that much, which is disappointing, as I tend to only forget small chunks of movies, not big gaping holes!
The extras on this DVD look superb, although I've been told Ed Harris's language has to be heard to be believed when he makes a mistake! The extras include: commentary by director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer and actors Nicholas Cage and Ed Harris; video interview with Jerry Bruckheimer; analysis of the dive sequence's special effects by Hoyt Yeatman of Dream Quest Images; "Movie Magic" episode on the film's special effects; Do's and Don'ts of Hollywood gunplay with Harry Humphries and Marshall Teague; excerpts from "Secrets of Alcatraz", a documentary by A la Carte Communications; storyboards, production design drawings and production stills; outtakes selected by Michael Bay; and "The Rock" world premiere on Alcatraz.
Looking back on this movie, seeing as there not much I can remember about it, I'm not that impressed. Probably for you action buffs/Michael Bay fanatics out there, or something to fill up a couple of hours, but I wouldn't be that thrilled about watching it again. Still a good movie though.
Rating:
Summary: Action Packed Adrenaline Rushed Race Against Time...
Review: The Rock is an extraordinary action film with pure adrenaline pumping in its veins as lethal VX gas threatens to kill hundreds of thousand in the San Francisco bay area. This will lead into a high speed nitroglycerine race against time where a group of highly trained marines led by Brigadier General Francis X. Hummel (Ed Harris) decides to turn into a terrorist. Hummel invades Alcatraz and takes tourists' hostage as he plans to shoot rockets with lethal VX gas into the city of San Francisco, unless the United States answers his demands. The United States answers by sending a group of Navy SEALS led by Commander Anderson (Michael Biehn) and two oddities, a geriatric ex-SAS operative and a tense chemist.
The real weapons against the Hummel are the former SAS soldier, John Mason (Sean Connery), and the chemist, Dr. Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage). Mason has been locked away in secret in a United States prison for the last three decades, one of these prisons used to be Alcatraz from which Mason also escaped. Goodspeed is a laid-back chemist that works for the FBI's chemistry unit that has never been outside of a laboratory, which makes him more of a hazard than an asset as they enter the undergrounds of Alcatraz.
Michael Bay brings the audience a film full of daunting stunts, explosions, and shoot outs. The special effects are a big part of this carnival of sound and color which is tied together neatly with a decent story. The story is well balanced with good actors and well developed characters. For example, the evil Hummel is not just a bad guy as he also has a deeper moral value, which fuels his anger that drives him to this madness. Goodspeed is obsessed about vinyl records and his wife just got pregnant. These small character traits that are portrayed on the silver screen enhance the cinematic experience as it brings texture to the story, which offers humor, suspense, and drama.
Rating: 
Summary: Racist, Sexist, Anti-Gay
Review: What a horrible excuse for film. The African American characters are portrayed as knife-wielding, blood-thirsty, and foul-mouthed animals. The only female characters are a completely worthless ditz, and an extremely foul-mouthed African American woman threatening gun violence. And the cherry on this Michael Bey/Jerry Bruckheimer sundae: A obviously gay hair dresser.. in San Francisco. Get it? He's GAY.. a HAIRDRESSER.. and it's SAN FRANCISCO!!!! Get it? Get it? Hee yuk! Haw haw haw!
A love a good, violent action flick. Peckinpah, Verhoeven, Kurosawa, Tarantino. THIS one is an execrable waste of celluoid. If I could have given it negative 5-stars, I would have.
Oh yeah.. I hope this doesn't violent Amazon's "No Spoilers" rule, but Nicholas Cage's character.. he's an Elvis fan! Does Cage play an Elvis fan in EVERY FREAKING MOVIE he makes?
Ugh.
Rating:
Summary: coolcoolcool
Review: one interesting fact is that the navy seals are the best anywhere and would have gutted those marines in the first fight.anyway,the moviemakers know nothiung about the special forces.in this great film,sean connery is offered a pardon if hell help some navy seals and a rocket nerd sneak into alkatraz prison to stop some renegade marines from blasting sanfransisco full of rockets filled with cx gas.this stuff will make you "spasm so hard youll snap your own back and thats after your skin is eaten off."why does sean get to go?hes the only guy whoever escaped the prison.so its sean connery and that dorky guy from that movie where there stealing cars.its definately action packed and well written.the dorky guy is kind of a pain.sean connery did quite well in his role as a escape artist extrordinairre.there are all kinds of cool parts!i love it!there is this one stupid part where a marine walks out in front of a rocket and the dork pushes the button and launches him after a lame line about elton john who for the record-SUCKS!this is my favorite sean connery movie but league of extraordinary gentleman is quite nice too.
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