An incredibly exiciting,captivating Movie

Rating: Null/10 (7 June 2002)

I think a fair way to sum up this film would be in one word:Brilliant.However, I think it, and you, the readers of this review deserve a slightly more comprehensive description than that. Firstly, a quick summary of the plot,without revealing too much: Ed Harris (Apollo 13) plays Francis Hummel, an ex General who wants to get back at the armed forces, because of the way they treat the kin of killed officers so poorly, and other things of similar sorts. To do this, he takes control of Alcatraz and keeps the visiters there hostage, threatening to also launch poison missiles at San Francisco. Two men, in particular, are relied upon to break into the Island and stop him. Firstly, chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed, played by Nicholas Cage(Gone in 60 Seconds,Face/Off). His job is to disarm the weapons. Secondly, John Mason, played by Sean Connery(The Untouchables,Entrapment). His job is too break in because he is the only man to ever have broken out.
Of course, chaos ensues and what unfolds is a couple of hours of great action that is made even better with the special effects and expert production and direction. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, who really is a genious with other titles like Armageddon, Enemy of the State,Top Gun and Gone in 60 Seconds to his name, pulls off another great, with the help of Don Simpson, who he worked with on Enemy of the State and Crimson Tide. Micheal Bay is once again very good as the director, as with Pearl Harbour and Armageddon, where he also worked with Bruckheimer. These three people, together with the cast already mentioned, have created a unique film that is very entertaining and great to look at, in terms of effects, and scale. The soundtrack is very dramatic and fitting as always with a Bruckheimer film. All in all, a wonderful film, that I don't think got all the applause it deserves.