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"The Rock", of course, refers to Alcatraz, the prison-turned-tourist site, which is later seized by the determined General Harris (Ed Harris) and his elite mercenaries in Michael Bay's 1996 Action Thriller.

I've watched The Rock numerous times, and although I do really enjoy it, it will never be my favourite actioner. Don't get me wrong, it works at grasping my attention in certain areas, but it lacks a certain something. I guess, because it spends a lot of the time away from the old prison to focus on Patrick Mason (Sean Connery), a British spy, who was captured thirty years ago with U.S. state secrets and prisoned without trial, the film felt to me as if it failed to take full advantage of its setting.

Most people will argue that Connery deserves centre attention in any film, and that may well be true, but Alcatraz Island should be considered as an absolute treat to any director; and the action scenes on the island aren't quite as audacious enough, when compared to the standard that I've come to expect from watching numerous action films. The downtown car chase here is definitely memorable; other than that, nothing really stands out quite so much for me.

The Rock's characters, however, at least make up for it. Harris is great as the misguided, yet patriotic soldier, in charge of the fifteen rockets full of V.X. nerve gas, holding the city of San Francisco hostage until his demands are met. Cage, also, makes an unlikely hero as the geeky lab scientist along for the ride. Connery is as witty and suave as we've come to expect; though, it's just a real shame that Michael Biehn (The Terminator) is once again under used here (surely he deserves considerably more roles and screen time for his talents?)

The Rock was a decent enough action film for its time, but Bay has created much more exhilarating ones since. It delivers a fair slice of action, but the acting is what really should take the audience's interest.

(C) Andy Carrington, 2009.