The Rock Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
Alcatraz. Only one man has ever broken out. Now five million lives depend on two men breaking in.
Get ready to rock!
America is Rocking!
Cocked, locked, and Ready to Rock!
From Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer the producers of "Top Gun" and "Crimson Tide", and from Michael Bay, the director of "Bad Boys."
Stanley Goodspeed, who lives in Washington D.C., is a biochemist who works for the FBI. Soon after his fiancée Carla Pestalozzi announces that she is pregnant, Stanley gets a call from FBI director James Womack. Womack tells Stanley that San Francisco's Alcatraz Island has been taken hostage, along with 81 tourists, by marine General Francis Xavier Hummel, who, for years, has been protesting the government's refusal to pay benefits to families of war veterans who died during covert military operations. The death of his wife Barbara Hummel on March 9, 1995 drove General Hummel over the edge, and now he's holding hostages in order to get his point across. Stanley is needed because General Himmel has stolen some VX gas warheads and has announced that he will launch them onto San Francisco unless his demands are met. Stanley knows how to disarm the bombs, but Stanley needs someone who knows Alcatraz well enough to get him inside. That man is former British intelligence agent John Patrick Mason, who has been in prison for the past 30 years without a trial because he was accused of stealing the private files of J. Edgar Hoover. In 1962, John became the only inmate ever to escape from Alcatraz, and he stayed out of Alcatraz long enough to father a daughter named Jade Angelou. Despite his extreme hatred of the FBI, John agrees to help Stanley. When John and Stanley are sent into Alcatraz with a Navy SEAL team, General Hummel's men kill the entire SEAL team, leaving Stanley and John to work on their own to rescue the hostages.
| Sean Connery | John Patrick Mason |
| Nicolas Cage | Dr. Stanley Goodspeed |
| Ed Harris | General Francis X. Hummel |
| John Spencer | FBI Director James Womack |
| David Morse | Major Tom Baxter |
| William Forsythe | Special Agent Ernest Paxton |
| Michael Biehn | Commander Anderson |
| Vanessa Marcil | Carla Pestalozzi |
| John C. McGinley | Captain Hendrix |
| Gregory Sporleder | Captain Frye |
| Tony Todd | Captain Darrow |
| Bokeem Woodbine | Sergeant Crisp |
| Jim Maniaci | Private Scarpetti |
| Greg Collins | Private Gamble |
| Brendan Kelly | Private Cox |
| Michael Bay |
7.10 out of 10 (65532 votes)
Visitor Reviews
Rock House Jail!
posted on 30 Aug 2009The Rock is the best jerry bruckheimer action thriller ever made. The action never stops in this movie. And the thing that I love most about the movie is that with ever bullet that comes out of a gun in this movie, there is always the sweet sound of "The Rock" theme playing. The score is very powerful and lives up to the movie. I enjoyed this movie very much and would recommend it to anyone who really loves action.(9 out 10 stars)
An exciting, action packed film with a difference.
posted on 30 Aug 2009'The Rock' is an action film with a difference. There is emphasis on character, what makes each of them tick - and I'm not just referring to the characters at the top of the cast list. These little asides add a new, and welcome, dimension.Each and every character is given depth, from Hummel, the General mounting the threat to San Fransisco, to the FBI agents who are supposed to be guarding Mason.High points - Michael Biehn as the tough Navy SEAL Team Leader who refuses to stand down, crawling through the carnage as his team are being massacred, still firing.Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage in that fantastic car chase.Ed Harris as the General with a conscience who eventually pays for including unknown/untested men on his own team.Every actor in this film put in a top-notch performance turning what could easily have been an unexceptional film into something well-worth adding to anyone's video collection.
An action movie with everything.
posted on 30 Aug 2009I have simply not seen a bad Sean Connery movie. There was Entrapment... but his acting wasn't bad in that movie either.Well in The Rock, Sean Connery does well again, and this time the movie supports his role very well. There's action, good humor, some thought inspiration, and even a little bit of suspense.The plot is pretty solid and believable, which only adds to the movie. Each of the main characters are played well by their respective actors too. The humor is mixed in evenly and keeps the movie from getting anything but dull.This movie is one of my most favorite action flicks of all time.
action packed!
posted on 30 Aug 2009i saw this movie in the cinema almost four years ago, and i loved it. I didn't really follow the story (i was 10), but i really enjoyed it nevertheless. I saw it recently again on television and i loved it even more. I can easily state that this is my all-time favourite action movie. I just love the car chase scene, it was so awesome, and so were all the other action scenes. No other action movie is so purely ACTION! But what makes it stand out are the brilliant performances by Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris. Everyone is so perfect in their role and they're all having fun! I'm happy this movie is woman-free, çause they just don't belong in these kind of movies. It's really a tough man's movie, i love it!Check this movie out now! Michael Bay's best movie, forget Armageddon.
one of the coolest movies, ever.
posted on 30 Aug 2009putting aside all other opinions that i may have, this is one of the best action movies, ever. an awesome movie directed by an awesome... uhh... director is, well, awesome. :)the plot: here we see a rather unique, but predictable, story. in short, hummell (played by ed harris,) who is an ex-army general (or something high-ranked,) has decided to steal a whole bunch of rockets with some nasty stuff in them because his men were not reimbursed for the stuff they suffered. he puts all of the rockets on the rock - alcatraz island - and maintains base there. enter the government. they decide to use (cheesy) the only man who's ever escaped: john mason, who is played by sean connery. with mason is goodspeed, who is played by nicholas cage. together, and with other guys, they have to disarm all these bombs before hummell fires them off.character development: the three main characters - hummell, goodspeed, and mason - are rather well developed. from the beginning of the movie, we see hummell's reason for doing this, and we feel some form of compassion, as if it's something he has to do. and we see goodspeed's relationship with his girlfriend and how he puts work above all, and yet he has a fear of needles. finally, we see mason's struggle because he's been in jail for the longest time because he stole a microfilm. everything in the movie has a purpose, and in time, we see the purpose.the action: what's a bruckheimer movie without action? one of the greatest action sequences in this movie is the shower-room scene. hummell's men have the advantage of height, looking down on a now-infiltrated shower room. we see the bloodshed and the loss of men, and then we see hummell's reaction - he is ashamed and angry because of what has transpired. without giving away more of the movie, we see some very cool deaths for the characters we grow to hate.the music: i love a good movie score. in fact, i hold the soundtrack in my hand right now. hans zimmer did an incredible job when he wrote this - the recurring notes we hear throughout the movie are reverberated and pounded into our heads. the music is action-packed and keeps the audience into the movie.all in all, this is one of bruckheimer's greatest movies. he has put together a masterpiece, and i am incredibly glad for having seen this movie. and if you see it, you'll feel the same way.
The Pro
posted on 30 Aug 2009Once again, Connery eats all of his co-star in a movie.After Red October, he is given an opportunity to play a charismatic characters against prejudice and threats. Not mentioning mass destructions.This time, he got a fair act from Nic Cage, but Stanley Godspeed characters doesn't give Cage enough room to expand his acts. What do you expect? Nic Cage has already famous partly for playing a looser. And this time he played another non-field agent who has to work together in a terrorist act with a lethal secret service agent.Ed Harris got an opportunity to kick some good ass, and he did well, as he did in Just Cause (also with Connery). They should stop meeting like this.The action is fast and good.The story is much gripping, and the director of photography provide us with much excellent shoots. Very entertaining.Claire Forlani (if I'm not mistaken)steal an act as Connery's daughter. She shines bright because his face suites the scripts and situation. Good casting!An all time action movie...
Comment you can trust!!
posted on 30 Aug 2009This film was made when Don Simpson sadly died, so you can guess that he will want it to be special......and it IS!!! this is quite possibly the best action film i have ever seen! (and i'm not just saying that because Nicolas Cage is my favourite actor). It has everything, fast cars, cool action music, evil bad guys, hi-tech weaponery, dark locations and a plot that will just blow you away!General Francis X Hummel (Ed Harris) is a pro. He is evil but he's a pro. He is also sick of the lies that he has lived on his entire career. Now Hummel has a plan to make the lies stop - he is going to take over Alcatraz Island and threaten to send a bunch of missiles armed with VX poison gas on to San Fransisco and wipe out the whole city. while he is doing this he has also taken 81 hostages in the process.Now...here comes the catch, the FBI believe that nobody has ever escaped the island...that is except the Director of FBI Womack (John Spencer) he knows exactly who has escaped...that person is John Mason (Sean Connery) of Her Majesty's Secret Service. Womack can't believe that the only hope they have is a 60 yr old convict. But he has no choice but to let Mason out.Mason is teamed up with Dr. Stan Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage "My favourite actor YEY") a chemical specialist for the FBI. together Mason and Goodspeed team up with a couple of NAVY SEALS (headed by Micheal Biehn) to stop Hummel and his band of merceneries.I would have to give this film 10/10. Superb. (And Jerry i think you've made Don happy).
Entertaining if you can believe it...
posted on 30 Aug 2009I'll start by saying that I enjoyed The Rock, but had a big problem with it in the area of suspension of disbelief. There were too many contrived situations, characters whose actions didn't quite fit with situation or background, omissions and such.*** MILD SPOILER ALERT ***The idea that a general would be overcome by righteous indignation, and be driven to blackmailing the Government with a "bluff" (his word) is a bit far-fetched. But to think that this same General (who we find is indeed an honorable man) would actually poise the rockets at a city of millions of civilians is utterly unbelievable.The idea that Mason (Connery) would know all of the premises as well as he did, AND REMEMBER the tunnels where he spent three days "in the dark" in such detail, is also beyond belief.The actions of Hummel's cohorts in the last few scenes is also unbelievable.Well, I could continue, but in summary the film could have been much better, had it not lacked so much fundamental credibility.But all in all, worth the $.99 rental cost...
A Suprisingly Humane Action Movie
posted on 30 Aug 2009While "The Rock" is not a flawless film, it is very well made and suprisingly humane. The are a lot of character elements in this movie that makes this movie above average. Director Michael Bay always gives the audience too much to digest at once like in "Armageddon" but here he gives the audience just enough. The car chase through the streets of San Francisco is one of all time best car chases it is amazing. This film also features strong performances from an A-list cast including Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris. This film shows it's humane side in the characters actions. The characters realize what they are doing and the feel remorse. The chemistry between Connery and Cage also makes this movie good.
Good plot, great characters, brilliant movie.
posted on 30 Aug 2009A highly ranked general in the US army steals 15 nerve gas rockets and threatens to send them into San Fransisco from Alcatraz to teach the government a lesson for lying about soldiers killed in the gulf, desert storm etc.The only way to stop him is to break IN to Alcatraz. Mason (Sean Connery), is the only person who ever escaped alive, pulled out of Max security to get them in, he is played very well by Connery. Smart, arrogant and full of one-liners you're never quite sure about him.Once in Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage), has to disarm them. A chemistry superfreak Goodspeed is way out of his depth and has no idea of what to do in a combat situation, played incredibly believably by Cage this is the character we like the most. Watch for how different he is in the office, and in combat.Ed Harris is masterful as the general torn between duty and honour. One of his best roles to date.I highly recommend seeing this movie. You won't be disappointed.
Who was dill enough to hand such good material to Michael Bay?
posted on 30 Aug 2009I won't say the script is perfect. Some of the dialogue clunks - that corny speech the president gives! I mean, really: `How does one weigh eighty lives against five million?' One counts. -Or my favourite (no doubt I paraphrase a little): `We can't risk letting him loose. He's an escape artist.' It's funnier than `You can't fight in here, it's the war room,' but I suspect the humour was unintentional. And however over the top the action may have been, it all seems much sillier when we're casually informed that John Mason knows all of the FBI's secrets: `The alien ship at Roswell, who really shot J.F.K. ...'; I was surprised they didn't add, `... and the truth about the Cottingley fairies.' These clunky lines eat away at the script's solid foundation like acid. It's particularly bad to watch how keen the film seems to be to undermine its two main characters, Mason and Goodspeed. Sean Connery (Mason), and to an even greater extent, Nicholas Cage (Goodspeed) are frequently called upon to drop out of character in order to deliver some tough-guy sarcastic comment; it's never worth it. The most jarring moment comes when Connery says, `Your BEST? Losers always whine about doing their best. Winners go home and hump the prom queen.'
(Actually, he used a different verb; but - and I strongly disapprove of this censorship regulation - the IMDb won't permit me to reproduce it here.) Not only is this not the kind of thing Mason would say; nobody from outside the United States would ever, in any context, utter the phrase `prom queen'.But these departures from character at least show us that Mason and Goodspeed had characters to depart FROM. This is something, surely. In fact it's a good deal. The characters actually survive the corrosive process the writers have put them through. There are a lot of ideas - plot and character ideas, I mean - in `The Rock', and they're mostly rather good ideas. (Okay, ONE of the ideas is, `terrorist threatens to destroy city unless his rather silly demands are met' - an oldie, but a goodie.) The story is well built and it feels satisfying however much the fascist military sentimentalism sours the palate, however many of Michael Bay's damned music video montages we have to sit through, however the rapid cutting tends to confuse rather than enlighten us as to exactly what's going on during the action sequences. A good story triumphs - at least to some degree - over poor execution.NB: Not once but twice a character sticks a syringe into his own heart. I find this kind of thing MUCH more disturbing to watch than most of the things people complain about seeing in the cinema; I suspect I'm not alone, and I feel it's my duty to warn others. Notwithstanding this, or anything else I've said, it's an enjoyable movie.
The Rock is a fast-paced powerhouse of an actionthriller!!
posted on 30 Aug 2009The Rock is a perfect actionthriller. It has three brilliant actors: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage and Ed Harris. Some war-veterans under the command of general Hummel(Harris) steal some rockets containing VX-gas.
One of these rockets are able to kill 70000 people, and the soldiers occupy Alcatraz alias "The Rock", and they take 60 tourists hostage. The terrorist want to launch their rockets if their demands aren`t met. Mason(Connery) is a prisoner, who has vital knowledge about Alcatraz, and how to get in there, because he is the only man who has been able to escape from the Rock. Goodspeed(Cage) is an FBI-agent, who is really good with chemestry, and it is his mission to disarm the rockets. However, the team which is sent in to take out the veterans is soon wiped out in a bloody shoot-out with the veterans. Only Mason and Goodspeed survived this slaughter.
The Rock has interesting characters, and spectacular actionscenes. The extra ice in the cake is the magical soundtrack composed by Hans Zimmer, which creates a perfect atmosphere. Buy or rent it now!! 10/10
One must see, must buy movie of 1996
posted on 30 Aug 2009I found this movie completely to be what every movie needs to be. Something for everyone. Great actors (let's face it you can't go wrong with Sean Connery or Nicholas Cage), great story plot, and enough action to keep you in your seat from beginning to end. Well worth watching again and again.
From my favorite action director, Michael Bay, comes my favorite action movie.
posted on 30 Aug 2009From my favorite action director, Michael Bay, comes my favorite action movie. Ed Harris, Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Michael Biehn make up this movie's excellent cast and all give great performances. Not only does this movie have top-notch acting and directing, but the musical score rocks. I loved the music during the Cage/Connery chase scene. The SEAL slaughter scene also had great music. I thought the plot was a little far-fetched, however. Don't get me wrong, it was a -good- plot.. just not very believable. I high recommend this movie not only to action fans, but just about any movie fan out there.
An action packed, high octane thriller with great performances. ***1/2 out of ****.
posted on 30 Aug 2009THE ROCK / (1996) ***1/2Starring: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, Jon Spencer, David Morse, William Forsythe, Bokeem Woodbine, and Vanessa Marcil. Directed by Michael Bay. Running time: 135 minutes. Rated R (for strong intense violence, language and brief sexuality)Notes taken while screening The Rock:· The film contains superior character development of both the antagonist and protagonist. Each is clear and well defined. We also learn the characters motives, reasoning, dramatic situation, and premise--all brilliantly introduced within the setup.· Sean Connery provides us with strong character development through John Patrick Mason--although the character is somewhat a rip off of the Anthony Hokins' Hannibal from "The Silence of the Lambs."· It is uncanny how well the movie's visual style works. It propels the film's suspense the extra mile, increasing the tension and enticement. Also contributing to the style is the fitting soundtrack.· Some of the events are excessively coincidental. For example, during an exciting chase scene, Mason dashes out of a building, escaping the clutches of concealing police, discovering a Hum-V seemingly awaiting his arrival. Experienced chemist, Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage), chases after him, in a high speed Ferrari sitting outside his position in a building. Another coincidence occurs in the high security prison, where Mason escapes a grenade blast by dashing at random into a room, where, of course, there just so happens to be a secure bathtub to climb in. · There is a stolid, aggressively effective cast present. Each actor contributes a taut, penetrating performance, especially Ed Harris as the film's villain, General Francis X. Hummel who demands a moral purpose holding the lives of an urban area at stake.* The character's motives and perfectly defined, especially General Francis X. Hummel. Even as the film's bad guy, he serves an understandable position, thus we empathize with him, unlike most villains witnessed in modern day thrillers.· The standard three act structure is flawless: each scene propels the plot forward. The sequences either create a new problem or complicate a previous conflict, favoring with the later concept. This raises the line of tension even further.· Most of the production takes place in a high security prison, Alcatraz, crafted with a complex, awe-inspiring atmosphere towering over that of most action movies.· Sean Connery handles the complicated role of John Mason with mere simplicity, yet easily torments the audience with a sense of omniscient knowledge of the plot.· The picture is unpredictable and contains several inducing and unexpected twists proving this movie is imaginative and free to surprise us. The conclusion is not fomulatic. "The Rock" is filled with artful design and crafty performances. It is one of the year's best action films.Brought to you by Hollywood Pictures.
Great cast makes this cool action-flick exceptional.
posted on 30 Aug 2009This is easily one of the most satisfying action flick of all time. The plot was decent, action was intense (it's got one of the most memorable car chase scene), and the music is one of the coolest ever. But the real reason why I give this movie a perfect score of 10 is its wonderful cast.The rather far-fetched motive of General Hummel was so well rendered with conviction by Ed Harris that the audience won't care that it's the lamest excuse anyone has ever come up with to hold a whole city hostage to a deadly chemical weapon. I mean, the cause itself is noble, but threatening to kill millions with the VX gas?? Even for a bluff, it was pretty lame. But did I care? Ed Harris is so overflowing with authority and charisma that I might follow his orders even without the promise of million bucks pay.And the chemistry between Nick Cage and Sean Connery is magical; you just gotta love the dialogue between the two. All the one-liners and witty comebacks that could sound extremely cheesy by lesser actors are delivered to perfection. And that little remark about John Mason (Sean Connery) being trained by the best -- the British Intelligence -- brought back the memories of James Bond. Gotta love it.Even the supporting cast was wonderful at their roles. The mercenary marines were especially cool in their crazed bloodlust. And Commander Anderson, played by Michael Biehn, was simply amazing. I mean, there wasn't a single lame actor who took me out of my suspended disbelief.It ain't a movie that'll make you cry or think or whatever. This is a pure entertainment movie. A great action movie cooked to perfection. Action flicks don't get much better than this.
Lots of action, little intelligence
posted on 30 Aug 2009If you like action you will like this film.But I miss the intelligence. E.g. all rocket guidance chips are destroyed as soon as they are found (good thinking by Connery) except the last one!? Why take that risk? Furthermore, imho, the micro film spy stuff of Connery is completely unnecessary for the film, so why mention it?I also don't like the 'romantic' sub plots. Pregnant girlfriend of Cage and long-time-no-see daughter of Connery. Why spent time on that? I'm sure that if you remove these 'romantic' parts, including the action packed but ridiculous car chase in SF, and spent the time on more character building, the film would have been better. Just stick to the "How to take a heavily defended fortress in 24 hours?" plot line.The main actors are ok. I liked the performance of Harris who turns out to be a 'good' one after all. Connery, as always, plays very well.All in all I give it a 7 out of 10.
Good action movie with a great performance by Ed Harris
posted on 30 Aug 2009The Rock was a sometimes overdone action movie which was nonetheless well made and superbly acted. Connery, as the only man ever to escape, is in fine form here. Cage provides a humanizing portrait of a reluctant action hero. He's excellent, but for his best work in an action movie, check out Face/Off (with a much more complex set of characters). The standout here is Harris' outstanding performance as the conflicted General. Harris gives Hummel a passionate conviction that he is doing the right thing, combined with a genuine desire to resolve things peacefully (witness the confrontation with the Seals where he tries desperately to save his enemies' lives). Because Harris is so good in the role, the movie's ending is a letdown as it shortchanges the fascinating character he has created.
When will the bad guys learn?
posted on 30 Aug 2009First off, I enjoyed this movie. As usual, if I had directed it, it would certainly have been better! The actors give very good performances, and the action scenes are exciting, and well shot, even if the locations are a little unbelievable. (Is there really a vast abandoned mining complex beneath Alcatraz? Why do all furnaces have unnecessary cogs and pulsed flames, like the crusher in Galaxy Quest?).My main gripe is with Ed Harris. Why on earth does he give the government so much time? They could effect an electronic transfer in minutes, so 4 hours would have been ample. Mind, this would rather have shortened the film!On a technical note, is that really how chemical weapons are constructed? BAN THEM NOW: THE RISK OF DISASTER IS TOO GREAT! The bomblets would never survive being carried to the launcher, never mind being fired!Facade