The Rock

release year: 1996
genre: over-the-top action
viewing setting: home DVD (Critereon Collection) 12/30/01, also home laserdisc 6/7/97 and theater sometime in 1996

synopsis: Disgruntled U.S. Marines steal biochemical weapon and take over Alcatraz; they must be stopped.

impressions: It's one hell of an action ride. Aside from Nicolas Cage, who I detest, this movie has everything: macho soldiers trying to one-up each other, government scumbags, missiles, Alcatraz, an SAS agent, secrets, Navy SEALs, toxins that make flesh melt, big guns, big knives, military honor. Lots of fighting, lots of death, lots of good lines. This is an action movie for action fans.

things to watch for: Melting flesh, needle to the heart.

acting: Sean Connery and Ed Harris do the strongest jobs here, the former as the SAS commando who must help the SEALs break into Alcatraz, the latter as the general-turned-terrorist. Nicolas Cage is nothing compared to them. Other strong performances come from Michael Biehn as the leader of the SEALs and William Forsythe as the head FBI guy.

final word: This movie has all the action that any living person could ask for.

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