My favorite action movie of all time!

Rating: 10/10 (18 April 2001)

I've watched this movie too many times to count and I'm always ready to watch it again. It combines everything that makes a great action movie. The three top-billed actors do an extraordinary job of taking on the roles of Stanley Goodspeed, John Patrick Mason, and General Francis X. Hummel. We are offered Nicholas Cage in one of the few action roles that he triumphs in, as Goodspeed. He may not be the typical tough skinned action hero, but he responds to the threats with a realistic amazement.

Add Ed Harris in an uncharacteristic action film role as Hummel and it gets better. We are given a United States General as a villain which leaves us asking, "Why is he doing this?". Like many action movies, one would think that this is where the action simmers down and a bit of drama takes over. In this case, it does turn dramatic, but with the great work of Harris, each line is delivered with fierce conviction that the action truly never stops.
Finally, we are given Sean Connery as ex-SAS operative, John Patrick Mason. It could have been a role with no more than one dimension, but that's not what you'll find here! He is a mythical character who accompanies Goodspeed, and as they take on the evil element, they find that they learn a little bit more about themselves thanks to each other.