dumb but fun

Rating: Null/10 (8 May 2002)

A group of renegade U.S. Marines—led by highly decorated but deeply disgruntled general Harris—take over Alcatraz where they threaten to unleash chemical warfare on San Francisco with a deadly nerve gas. The only way to stop them is to lead an elite SEAL team onto the island with the help of long incarcerated British operative Connery—the only man to ever escape The Rock—and FBI biochemist Cage—who's never been in the field. The film's violent, high-energy action scenes provide a pure adrenaline rush, but it might have worked a lot better without shaky direction, lame comedy, or far-fetched plotting. It's still highly watchable, especially on a no-brainer level, and sure to deliver what's expected for fans of the Simpson-Bruckheimer team. **½