This one is Rock-solid!

Rating: 9/10 (16 June 2011)

This is the only Michael Bay film I've ever LIKED, in fact. Despite it's over-the-top action, THE ROCK is one solid action flick (yes, this IS one of those movies where the good guys can somehow magically outrun explosions, never break bones when they fall and never seem to catch a stray bullet from automatic rifles). The action is a lot of fun, although its truly outrageous examples of 'movie-physics' often threaten to re-qualify it as fantasy movie.
Sean Connery is wonderfully gruff (and paternal) as former Alcatraz 'resident'/MI-6 agent John Mason; who is pulled out of prison to help nerdy, 'chemical weapons freak' FBI agent/surrogate son-figure Stanley Goodspeed (Nicholas Cage) and a squad of Star Trek-styled 'red-shirt' Navy SEALs to retake Alcatraz from former Marine general Hummel (Ed Harris), who's gone rogue with a platoon of mercenaries who are holding the island, it's tourists, and the city of San Francisco hostage by threatening to hit it with really NASTY chemical weapon warhead rockets (the grisly effects of which are illustrated very graphically in several key scenes).
Goodspeed (ridiculous name, by the way) comes to understand that Mason was wrongfully imprisoned by the CIA because he dug up too much dirt on the United States covert ops during his MI-6 service; only to have Her Majesty's Secret Service disavow any knowledge of his actions.
Despite the thumping, jingoistic, oftentimes ridiculous, over-the-top action sequences (which are still very well done, by the way), there is a great father-son, 'Quint/Hooper'-styled relationship between Connery and Cage that really keeps the film working where it could've easily failed; they have a terrific, almost palpable chemistry together. And Harris' Hummel is at times, surprisingly sympathetic for a militaristic terrorist; less villain, more misunderstood patriot (in his own way). His goon squad lackeys, however, are as subtle as a sledgehammer; yet act as a nice counterbalance to his 'good man gone astray' performance. Harris is also aided by his sympathetic comrade-in-arms 'Maj. Baxter,' played by the reliable David Morse.
The action scenes are exciting and extremely well-choreographed; but honestly? This is not the kind of movie where one nitpicks over the physics. Just relax, turn up the surround sound, grab the popcorn, and enjoy the wonderful chemistry of this terrific cast! Kudos to Cage, Connery and the terrific, subtle performances of Harris and Morse (subtle for a Michael Bay movie, anyway). The movie is an absolute blast (yet with a surprising amount of heart as well). Call it a guilty pleasure, but this is the ONLY Michael Bay film I can really sink my teeth into and ENJOY! Hopefully, you will too!