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Movies / On DVD / The Rock
The Rock

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The Rock (1996)

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Reviews Counted:46

Fresh:30

Rotten:16

Average Rating:6.5/10

Consensus: For visceral thrills, it can't be beat. Just don't expect The Rock to engage your brain.

Runtime: 2 hrs 16 mins

Genre: Action/Adventure

Synopsis: In Michael Bay's THE ROCK, gung-ho general Francis Hummel (Ed Harris), armed with deadly chemical rockets and aided by violent cohorts, takes over the island of Alcatraz, holding 81 tourists... In Michael Bay's THE ROCK, gung-ho general Francis Hummel (Ed Harris), armed with deadly chemical rockets and aided by violent cohorts, takes over the island of Alcatraz, holding 81 tourists hostage. Hummel promises to deploy the missiles over San Francisco if Washington doesn't make amends to ignored combat victims to the tune of $100 million. A cadre of Navy SEALs are dispatched to quell the situation, assisted by the mysterious, macho John Mason (Sean Connery), the only man to ever escape from Alcatraz, who must now help the SEALs break back in. Joining them is mild-mannered chemical weapons expert Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage), who is unaccustomed to such things as guns and military maneuvers. Their high-octane mission is filled with surprises, particularly after Hummel and company quickly annihilate the SEALs--leaving Mason and Goodspeed to save the day all by themselves. [More]

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn

Starring: Nicolas Cage, Sean Connery, Ed Harris, Michael Biehn, William Forsythe, David Morse, John C. McGinley, Bokeem Woodbine, Vanessa Marcil, Claire Forlani, Brendan Kelly, David Bowe

Director: Michael Bay

Director: Michael Bay
Producer: Jerry Bruckheimer
Screenwriter: David Weisberg, Douglas S. Cook, Mark Rosner
Producer: Don Simpson
Composer: Nick Glennie-Smith, Harry Gregson-Williams

[See More Credits]

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Release:

Dec 2, 1997

No Details Exist
 
 

Reviews for The Rock

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21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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In a summer already bursting at the seams with amazing special effects and star-driven excitement, The Rock redefines nail-biting suspense and heart-pounding action.

Full Review Source: Jam! Movies | comment Comment
06/11/02
Louis B. Hobson
Louis B. Hobson
Jam! Movies

Above Mission Impossible and Twister put together. But being better than two bloated, style-over-substance movies does not equal good.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
06/05/02
Susan Lambert
Susan Lambert
Boxoffice Magazine

From a helicopter's point-of-view, The Rock is just typical big American dumb fun. It's only when you look underneath at the film's underlying assumptions that you want to recoil.

Full Review Source: Globe and Mail | comment 1 Comment
04/12/02
Liam Lacey
Liam Lacey
Globe and Mail
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A popcorn-movie deluxe.

Full Review Source: Rolling Stone | comment Comment
05/12/01
Peter Travers
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

For all-out amusement-park entertainment, The Rock is one heck of a ride.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
03/19/01
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Slick and forceful, largely unconcerned with character, eager for any opportunity to pump up the volume both literally and metaphorically, The Rock is the kind of efficient entertainment that is hard to take pleasure in.

Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment 1 Comment
02/14/01
Kenneth Turan
Kenneth Turan
Los Angeles Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

There are parts of this action movie that are terrifically well done.

Full Review Source: San Francisco Examiner | comment Comment
01/01/00
Barbara Shulgasser
Barbara Shulgasser
San Francisco Examiner

The Rock has its moments, but ultimately overshoots the target.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
01/01/00
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

By the time Cage says, late in the film, 'OK, that's just about the most awful thing I've ever seen,' the audience should be ready to agree.

Full Review Source: Deseret News, Salt Lake City | comment 3 Comments
01/01/00
Chris Hicks
Chris Hicks
Deseret News, Salt Lake City

One hell of a story -- and hands down the best action flick of the year to date.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Flabby and trite.

Full Review Source: Philadelphia City Paper | comment Comment
01/01/00
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
Philadelphia City Paper

The movie deteriorates into a long commercial for the home-game version of itself.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
01/01/00
Hal Hinson
Hal Hinson
Washington Post
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Producers Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson have a highly-successful resume that includes Top Gun and Crimson Tide. The Rock will add more luster to that reputation.

Full Review Source: ReelViews | comment Comment
01/01/00
James Berardinelli
James Berardinelli
ReelViews
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Pure why-not bravado, pumped-up and staggeringly dishonest but exciting just the same.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
01/01/00
Janet Maslin
Janet Maslin
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

It's as tough and hard as it sounds. It's also good fun.

Full Review Source: Sacramento Bee | comment Comment
01/01/00
Joe Baltake
Joe Baltake
Sacramento Bee

Freneticaly paced action flick truly thrills.

Full Review Source: Cinematter | comment Comment
01/01/00
Madeleine Williams
Madeleine Williams
Cinematter

The Rock is the Guy Movie to end all Guy Movies, a ridiculously overblown summer testosterone blowout right down to the Wagnerian strains of the soundtrack and its stunningly high body count. It's also a hell of a lot of fun.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
01/01/00
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle

A summer action film that entertains for an afternoon and then fades away.

Full Review Source: rec.arts.movies.reviews | comment Comment
01/01/00
Mark R. Leeper
Mark R. Leeper
rec.arts.movies.reviews

The Rock's ads urge you to 'get ready to rock.' After seeing this energetic action-packed ride that truly does 'rock,' I can't think of better advice.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
01/01/00
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

[A] 2 1/4-hour exercise in overkill.

comment Comment
01/01/00
Mike Clark
Mike Clark
USA Today
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
 
 
21 - 40 (sorted by date)
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Latest News for The Rock

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