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FILM DETAILS

Certificate 15

Cast Sean Connery Nicolas Cage Ed Harris.

Directors Michael Bay.

Screenwriters David Weisberg Mark Rosner Douglas S Cook.

Running Time 140 minutes

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The Rock
Nic Cage and Sean Connery break into Alcatraz to thwart Ed Harris from bombing San Francisco with lethal nerve gas. Cracking.

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Plot
A disposal bomb expert is forced to team up with the only man ever to escape Alcatraz, now under maximum security for a mystery reason, to break into the Rock and thwart the evil plans of a disgruntled ex-army general.

Review
Bad Boys. Armageddon. Pearl Harbor. When arguing with people who believe the Jerry Bruckheimer/Michael Bay collaboration is a cinematic axis of evil, that trio provides evidence that's hard to dispute. Yet just introduce The Rock into conversation and watch them founder.

Yes, it's got all the hallmarks of a standard B 'n' B production - it's loud and bombastic, it's crammed with orange filters and epilepsy-inducing editing, and it doesn't make a great deal of sense. But set against that is the fact that it's breathlessly exciting, as Nic Cage and Sean Connery break into Alcatraz to thwart Ed Harris' disgruntled general from bombing San Francisco with lethal nerve gas.

The superb action is choreographed with zing by Bay, before he mutated into Jim Cameron-lite. And the film has a real trump card in Harris' conflicted bad guy - it's a rare and intelligent move for a big budget studio venture to feature a villain with an agenda that's hard not to sympathise with.

Luckily he's matched by the quality of the heroes. While The Rock proved that Connery could still cut the mustard as an OAP action star, it was the making of Cage as action hero, his wild and wired approach gelling perfectly with Conneryís gruff demeanour.

And when theyíre not shooting Alcatraz to bits, they're the funniest buddy-movie double-act in years. In short, The Rock has more pizzazz than an entire roomful of Dwayne Johnsons.

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Average user rating for The Rock

Have lost the count on how many times I`ve seen this now but it`s still a cool film, maybe my favorite action film ever. The usual exxageration as we`re used from Bay`s films are of course present, as well as the over the top action and the even more over the top storyline. But the combination of action and humour works, as it does in Bad Boys for example, perfect. I can watch this over and over again with it getting boring. Now of course it`s extra fun because I went to Alcatraz and San Franci... More

Posted by TheGodfather at 22:12, 08 July 2010 | Report This Post

The Rock

One of the most entertaining films of all time! The leads are great, the action is brilliant and the pace is quick enough that you dont notice that the plot is a little stupid. Just proper old school Friday night action entertainment, up there with the likes of Die Hard and Speed. ... More

Posted by stevolegendbauer at 20:01, 21 April 2010 | Report This Post

as i watched it, i thought this cannot be Happ en ing!!!! yeah gd film, cool action sean connery is gd in it ... More

Posted by ivanahump at 10:41, 10 November 2009 | Report This Post

Entertaining hokum

The plot is pants and it's way too long for its own good, but it's action packed and has plenty of knowing humour alongside the ridiculously OTT mayhemm (or should I say Bayhem?). And Connery and Cage have some great chemistry together. One of Michael Bay's better flicks. A brainless but very satisfying actioner. ... More

Posted by jomo999 at 23:38, 31 May 2008 | Report This Post

Alcatraz was never so much fun!!

The Rock is quite simply one of the best action movies to come from this generation of stars, with two awesome contributions from old hands Harris and Connery! What the rock does that so few action yarns do, is develop characters. Bay directs with great effect, (something we will have to wait a long time to see him do again so well) but it is the story and the witty script that takes The Rock away from being just another action yarn. It is true to say this film has its faults, but when the act... More

Posted by EdiWan Kenobi at 09:15, 29 September 2006 | Report This Post

Alcatraz was never so much fun!!

The Rock is quite simply one of the best action movies to come from this generation of stars, with two awesome contributions from old hands Harris and Connery! What the rock does that so few action yarns do, is develop characters. Bay directs with great effect, (something we will have to wait a long time to see him do again so well) but it is the story and the witty script that takes The Rock away from being just another action yarn. It is true to say this film has its faults, but when the act... More

Posted by EdiWan Kenobi at 09:15, 29 September 2006 | Report This Post

Alcatraz was never so much fun!!

The Rock is quite simply one of the best action movies to come from this generation of stars, with two awesome contributions from old hands Harris and Connery! What the rock does that so few action yarns do, is develop characters. Bay directs with great effect, (something we will have to wait a long time to see him do again so well) but it is the story and the witty script that takes The Rock away from being just another action yarn. It is true to say this film has its faults, but when the act... More

Posted by EdiWan Kenobi at 09:15, 29 September 2006 | Report This Post

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