Alcatraz has just re-opened, with a vengeance!

Rating: 10/10 (11 August 2017)

A nifty old school crime/disaster film that reinvigorated and brought out the best in Sean Connery, oh and Nicholas Cage was pretty decent too, decent as in quite possibly one of his greatest ever performances.
It was still the 90's when The Rock rolled into cinemas, and you can tell even now as it maintains some of the classic charm that was sadly lost as the millennium turned, in other words it's aged a bit since it was released.
To use Alcatraz as the principle setting was a daring move as so many previous films had used the iconic island prison as a location before, but it was a move that paid off in abundance, one of the better Alcatraz based films in my opinion.
Like so many top end films, the plot was staggeringly simple, it doesn't make you think too much so you can just sit back and let the action flow, it's exciting and at times, edge of your seat stuff, that's precisely how these kind of films should be.
As good as Nicholas Cage was (and he was very good indeed) the standout performance has to go to the iconic Sean Connery, a master of his craft he brought elements of his old James Bond character to the fold, giving this character John Patrick Mason that something extra, for an old man he sure can move!
Underlining morals come into play also, General Hummel the film's primary antagonist keeps a stiff upper lip through the bulk of the film's run, but towards the end he has a crisis of conscience, there's still too much goodness in him and he plans on scrapping his dastardly plan altogether..., the beginning of the end for him and his loyal followers, setting up the final act of the film.
The Rock naturally gets top marks because I can't see where I can possibly mark it down, it's enjoyable, technically masterful, got a bulletproof story, great character performances, hits all the right emotions, simple to follow and most importantly, it has that iconic 90's feel about it..., great film, definitely would watch it again.