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The Rock (2 Disc Collector's Edition) [1996]
from Buena Vista Home Entertainment
starring Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, John Spencer, David Morse
directed by Michael Bay

Features:

• PAL

Editorial Review:

Between his high-octane debut, Bad Boys, and 1998's wannabe blockbuster Armageddon, hotshot director Michael Bay forged his dubious reputation with this crowd-pleasing action extravaganza. In Rock, a psychotically disgruntled war hero (Ed Harris) seizes the island prison of Alcatraz and threatens to wage chemical warfare against nearby San Francisco unless the government publicly recognises the men who were killed under Harris's top-secret command. Nicolas Cage plays the biochemist who teams up with the only man ever to have escaped from Alcatraz (Sean Connery) in an attempt to foil Harris's terrorist scheme. As one might expect, what follows is an action-packed barrage of bullets, bodies, and climactic confrontations, replete with enough plot contrivances to give even the most jaded action fan cause for alarm. It's a load of hooey, but the cast is obviously having a grand old time, and there's enough wit to make the recycled action sequences tolerable. --Jeff Shannon

In director Michael Bay's filmography, The Rock came between his high-octane debut Bad Boys and 1998's Armageddon, and consolidated his dubious reputation as the purveyor of crowd-pleasing action extravaganzas. Here, a psychotically disgruntled war hero (Ed Harris) seizes the island prison of Alcatraz and threatens to wage chemical warfare against nearby San Francisco unless the government publicly recognises the men who were killed under Harris' top-secret command. Nicolas Cage plays the biochemist who teams up with the only man ever to have escaped from Alcatraz (Sean Connery) in an attempt to foil Harris' terrorist scheme. As one might expect, what follows is an action-packed barrage of bullets, bodies and climactic confrontations, replete with enough plot contrivances to give even the most jaded action fan cause for alarm. It's a load of hooey, but the cast is obviously having a grand old time, and there's enough wit to make the recycled action sequences tolerable. --Jeff Shannon, Amazon.com

On the DVD: The Rock special edition two-disc set presents the movie on Disc 1 with a selection of subtitles and a cut-and-paste group commentary with director Michael Bay, producer Jerry Bruckheimer, ex-Navy Seal Harry Humphries, Ed Harris and Nicolas Cage. The editing together of separate comments is a frustrating experience and the energy of conversation, which often enlivens a DVD commentary, is lost. Picture is anamorphic 2.35:1 and sound is vivid Dolby Digital 5.1.

The special features are contained on Disc 2. "The Production Secrets" section includes an interview with the Navy Seal adviser on set, who demonstrates the correct way to shoot your gun, and special effects secrets. "The Secrets of Alcatraz" offers a short history of the infamous prison. There's also an interview with Jerry Bruckheimer which simply demonstrates how little he has to say. Storyboards, production designs and out-takes (including a stressed Ed Harris) are also included. But nothing here really excites or informs and most of it is very Americanised, making this a special edition that doesn't seem all that special. --Nikki Disney

Customer Reviews:

• Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0

• Top notch entertainment
  This is cracking stuff. Plenty of stunts, good one liners, car chases, gunfights - in fact it's pretty much perfect action cinema. A guaranteed good evening's TV.

• Class action
  This is a fine, in many ways typical, Hollywood action movie, that without its fine cast wouldn't have been half the movie it is. What makes the film work so well is the performance of Sean Connery as an SAS soldier whos been kept under lock and key by the US as he had discovered the truth about JFK and numerous other US follies. In the Winter of his career (age 66 when this was made) Connery still had that magical screen presence that only a few actors are blessed with.
  Pushing him close though, is a... more info

• A really good solid film with a nice bit of action
  I really enjoyed this film, another really good film from Jerry Bruckheimer, who I'm a huge fan of.
  A good paced film with a good storyline, for me Sir Sean Connery wipes the floor with the rest of the cast with his performance, if it were not for him being in the film I'd have given it 3 stars, he just takes it to another level, there's good support Ed Harris, William Forsythe and the late John Spencer, Nicholas Cage is okay, but this is why he rarely works with really good actors as he simply is not... more info

• AN ACTION FILM WORTH WATCHING
  The Rock is one of my all-time favorite suspense - thrillers. Believability - almost always a problem for this sort of film - is enhanced by a very compelling script, sets, and powerful performances by masters Sean Connery and Ed Harris. Like a good work of fiction, it's the quality of the telling that makes it believable, not the likelihood that it might happen. There are no problems with the way this story is told. The acting, editing, directing and visuals do not slip at all. Nick Cage - in a performance... more info

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