The Rock

I remember this movie definitely differently than how I saw it this time. The child's mind beautifully obscures certain facts. For example, that the plot is illogical in so many places and there is so much paper rustling that it's not pleasant. But it is still a good action movie with simply excellent characters that you will remember, not just the main ones. (03/25/2015)

Sean Connery made this film. His Mason is a truly desolate version of James Bond after 30 years in prison. His sarcasm and dry humor are simply great, and when I say that despite being at the retirement age, Connery does not lose the sparkle and viability of his youth, I am not far from the truth. Michael Bay did his job decently, and I would like to kick his ass for the occasional pathetic blabbering, which is underscored by agitation compositions with the American flag and an F-18, but I have to say that the film flows very nicely. If it wasn't for the great actors, it would be barely as good... unfortunately, the "villain" Ed Harris is extraordinarily likable, and "good guy" Connery is totally incalculable, so there is fun to be had. Add the possibly overacting neurotic Cage, great editing (especially the opening sequence with the warehouse robbery is excellently rhythmic), Hans Zimmer's perfect soundtrack, and we can fill the hole left by the starlet missing from the film from Connery's stockpile. Here we have action relaxation with style. (12/05/2004)

One of my all-time favorite films. An absolute action hit for the time and quite possibly one of the best action films ever made. I was 10 the first time I saw it, and I told everyone at school about it until they had to see it too. :) Even with the distance of time, I'd gladly watch The Rock again anytime. The filmmaking is absolutely excellent, plus Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage have long been my favorites... (05/13/2009)

Today, Bay is considered one of the most twisted megalomaniacs of the dream factory, and I must admit that his exaggerated grandiosity still genuinely entertains me. Among his best films, this high-octane, adrenaline-fueled ride will forever remain the one that perfectly defines the action films of the 1990s. The technical aspects may have their flaws, but it has a clever screenplay that makes fun of the 'Bond myth' and cleverly puts together all those clichés with incredible elegance and simplicity. That means that there's no point in getting upset about it. However, the main strength lies in the cast and Bay's directorial engine, which runs at impressive speeds. The opening ambush scene is rhythmically (the cinematography, editing, music) probably the best I've ever seen in the genre. And Hans Zimmer has never made more heroic music. I've never seen any other movie more times in my life. It’s been around 60 times. (08/24/2003)

The Rock is a widely revered action movie. In visual terms, it is an example of great genre craftsmanship. It’s dynamically edited, filmed through cool filters, contains one of the best car chases ever (Hummer vs. yellow Ferrari on the streets of San Francisco), and it has likable and well-cast good-guy characters. But... it doesn't have a proper bad guy (!!!) and everything in it is so artificially timed and polished that I was never in suspense, I didn’t fear for the protagonists and I thus didn’t care what would happen next. Formalistically overwrought and formulaic banality. (05/07/2002)