Michael Bay Can Normally Suck Hocks In Hell, But This One Is Actually Pretty Good

Rating: 7/10 (30 May 2008)

I like Nicolas Cage. I like Sean Connery. Good start. We've got two great actors bouncing off one another.
The plot is not paper thin, and Michael Bay leaves room for action, but doesn't make this film a completely mindless shootfest. The fact that Ed Harris is not a psychopath also adds depth to the film, as it is not a simple matter of good versus evil.
Special effects and stunts are very well performed. As far as non-CGI action goes, this is a wonderful film.
What makes this film? Two things: the actors, and the action. The script works well because of the actors, and the film works well because of the thrill ride that the audience is taken along for.
Michael Bay is not normally a good director, so it looks like he stumbled upon a decent film when he made this. Most of his films are tedious, patriotic to the extent of pukefests, and edited so quickly, that it's like watching a hard-house music video most of the time. For once, though, he's done alright. I'll probably never say or write this again, but nice one, Michael Bay. You've made a good movie.