Other Titles • The Rock • The Rock - Fels der Entscheidunge (1996)
Synopses for The Rock (1996)
1.
In Michael Bay's THE ROCK, gung-ho general Francis Hummel (Ed Harris), armed with deadly chemical rockets and aided by violent cohorts, takes over the island of Alcatraz, holding 81 tourists hostage. Hummel promises to deploy the missiles over San Francisco if Washington doesn't make amends to ignored combat victims to the tune of $100 million. A cadre of Navy SEALs are dispatched to quell the situation, assisted by the mysterious, macho John Mason (Sean Connery), the only man to ever escape from Alcatraz, who must now help the SEALs break back in. Joining them is mild-mannered chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage), who is unaccustomed to such things as guns and military maneuvers. Their high-octane mission is filled with surprises, particularly after Hummel and company quickly annihilate the SEALs--leaving Mason and Goodspeed to save the day all by themselves.
(5 votes)
2.
In director Michael Bay's filmography, The Rock came between his high-octane debut Bad Boys and 1998's Armageddon, and consolidated his dubious reputation as the purveyor of crowd-pleasing action extravaganzas. Here, a psychotically disgruntled war hero (Ed Harris) seizes the island prison of Alcatraz and threatens to wage chemical warfare against nearby San Francisco unless the government publicly recognises the men who were killed under Harris' top-secret command. Nicolas Cage plays the biochemist who teams up with the only man ever to have escaped from Alcatraz (Sean Connery) in an attempt to foil Harris' terrorist scheme. As one might expect, what follows is an action-packed barrage of bullets, bodies and climactic confrontations, replete with enough plot contrivances to give even the most jaded action fan cause for alarm. It's a load of hooey, but the cast is obviously having a grand old time, and there's enough wit to make the recycled action sequences tolerable. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com
On the DVD:The Rock special edition two-disc set presents the movie on Disc 1 with a selection of subtitles and a cut-and-paste group commentary with director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, ex-Navy Seal Harry Humphries, Ed Harris and Nicolas Cage. The editing together of separate comments is a frustrating experience and the energy of conversation, which often enlivens a DVD commentary, is lost. Picture is anamorphic 2.35:1 and sound is vivid Dolby Digital 5.1.
The special features are contained on Disc 2. "The Production Secrets" section includes an interview with the Navy Seal adviser on set, who demonstrates the correct way to shoot your gun, and special effects secrets. "The Secrets of Alcatraz" offers a short history of the infamous prison. There's also an interview with Jerry Bruckheimer which simply demonstrates how little he has to say. Storyboards, production designs and out-takes (including a stressed Ed Harris) are also included. But nothing here really excites or informs and most of it is very Americanised, making this a special edition that doesn't seem all that special. --Nikki Disney
(4 votes)
3.
Hollywood superstar Sean Connery (The Hunt For Red October) joins Academy Award winner Nicolas Cage (1995 Best-Actor Leaving Las Vegas) in the action packed thriller of the year, The Rock! All of San Francisco is taken hostage when a vengeful General (Ed Harris – Apollo 13) seizes control of Alcatraz Island, threatening to launch missiles loaded with deadly poison gas! With time running out, only a young FBI chemical weapons expert (Cage) and a notorious Federal prisoner (Connery) have the skills to penetrate the island fortress and defuse the lethal situation! Edge-of-your-seat suspense and unstoppable action explode off the screen in this must-see motion picture event!
(2 votes)
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