One of the Best Action Flicks of the Decade.

Rating: 9/10 (4 September 2015)

In the 1990s Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, Steven Seagal, and Wesley Snipes were some of the hottest action stars that came out with mindless but very cool violent movies. Occasionally, there would be an action movie not starring a 90s action icon. Furthermore, there would be an action movie that had all the right stuff that would make it stand beside Die Hard or Terminator. The Rock may not be at their level, but it is better than most action movies you see.
The biggest hit for The Rock is its general premise: after locking down and taking over Alcatraz, a vengeful marine (Ed Harris) and his crew steal a lethal poison and place it in missiles and threaten to destroy San Francisco unless his fellow comrades get royalties they much deserve. Only an FBI chemical weapons expert (Nicolas Cage) and Alcatraz escapist (Sean Connery) know how to save the day.
Sure it may sound like just a general hostage story, but knowing Harris' motives really set this apart from other hostage movies. I actually rooted for Harris to make it out alive and/or align with Connery and Cage after all hell breaks loose. He is so sympathetic and steals every scene he is in. He and Sean Connery are the deepest characters in the movie. Although they appear to be bad at first, your mind soon changes. Nicolas Cage is his usual flamboyant self who is not quite as likable as Connery or Harris. John Spencer, David Morse, and William Forsythe are the forerunners and they each help raise the quality of chemistry and plot development.
Of course, an action movie has to be fast-paced and well choreographed in order to pass. And by-golly this does! Many awesome gunfights and explosions that cause the stakes to rise and plot to advance.
Tremendous!
3/4