Plot: What’s it about?
It’s going to be hard for me to be objective and review this one. I’ve seen it four times; three of them on DVD and it still jams a mile a minute. The only man to ever escape from Alcatraz and live is John Mason, (Sean Connery) who is recruited to guide a team of SEALS back to the prison and stop a renegade Marine General (Ed Harris) who is threatening to launch chemical weapons at San Francisco. Unhappy with the abandonment of some U.S. soldiers killed in action by the government Gen. Hummel demands 100 million dollars in reparations for their families or he launches his missiles. The key to disarming the chemical weapons is Stanley Goodspeed, (Nicholas Cage) an FBI agent specializing in chemical agents but not field service. Battling Hummel’s crack team of mercenaries and Alcatraz, Connery and Cage try to find the missiles before the Air Force drops a bomb second only to Dante’s Inferno.
Right from the start The Rock has the Simpson/Bruckheimer signature, big name stars and big time action. Nicholas Cage obviously enjoys this character and even shows his humorous side in some scenes giving us a good look at his versatility as an actor. Cage has proven that his success is well deserved and not because he is the nephew of Francis Ford Coppola. This is Michael Biehn’s second movie as a SEAL team leader, remember him in The Abyss with Ed Harris? I like Michael Bay’s style as a director…livin’ large is the only way to go in my book…if you’ve seen Armageddon you know what I mean. I hope to see more from him in the future. Don’t be afraid to go out and buy The Rock before you see it, any collection worth its salt should have it.
Video: How does it look?
Widescreen only but what a view. This release has the cleanest look I’ve seen in a while. Flawless in its camera work and just the right use of slow-motion at the perfect moment provides the visuals I look for in a top notch DVD release.
Audio: How does it sound?
Action is what action does and this 5.1 audio does just that, ROCKS. Turn it up and hang on and when it gets even more intense, turn it up even more. Don’t be afraid to take a stand against timid soundtracks…we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore…action fans unite!!!
Supplements: What are the extras?
Needs a lot of work in this department but I can live with it…this time.
