"Get Ready To Rock"

Rating: Null/10 (24 February 1999)

On the surface, "The Rock" seems like one of those formula action movies with the big budget($80 million), big stars (Connery, Cage, Harris), big explosions (I only counted 2), and big fun (you have to admit it was entertaining). In actuality, I believe "The Rock" to be a new kind of action film. It has bad guys who want to do good and a good guy who used to be bad. During the film, I was unsure who to root for.
Michael Bay (Hollywood's soon-to-be most sought after action director) has crafted a truly incredible piece of action filmmaking. His use of the moving camera and the close-up are perfectly choregraphed in such away that his footage is an editor's dream. From Bay's previous experience with music video, he has attained the knowledge and foresight necessary in creating a very busy film that works. Cut after cut soar by so seamlessly as you watch the film that you don't realize the incredible planning put into each individual shot. His film is so visual, so full of imagery that you feel the patriotism of the "bad guys", you feel the intensity of the action, the emotion of the conflict.
You absolutely love what you see, you love what you feel, and you leave the theatre knowing you enjoyed yourself. A film needs to pull you in to be fully successful. With the collaborative efforts of the entire crew you are able to feel the film working. "The Rock", with its face-paced musical score, its machine-gun editing, its tight story and its devoted and amazingly talented director, is the most thoroughly entertaining and well developed film of 1996.