This day an age, a variety of action movies come out, but they are all similar to past movies. Some hope that the pure, intense action of the film will suffice for a profit, while others cut back on the action to give a more convincing plot. Luckily, The Rock fits snuggly in between these two categories, although it still can't escape from some of those pointless action scenes.

The opening sequences are great... a bunch of commandoes sneak into a high-security facility and steal some nasty-ass chemicals, and elsewhere, Nicholas Cage defuses a bomb that delivers some high-quality suspense. Alcatraz is taken over, rather subtly, and Cage's sexy girlfriend is introduced, mainly in the erotic sex scene of the movie. So far it's good.

And then it becomes a stereotype action movie. Sean Connery is offered a deal, even though he's a dangerous criminal, and soon after escapes. For some reason, the director needed a car chase scene in the movie because Cage ends up stealing a really expensive Ferrari to chase Connery in  humvee and ten blocks of San Francisco are destroyed. It was pointless, but definitely cool.

They finally get back on track with what the movie is dealing with, and the a bunch of highly-trained soldiers, assisted by Cage and Connery, sneak aboard "the rock." Somehow, these highly-trained operatives walk right into a trap and are all killed, leaving just Cage and Connery. And somehow, a sixty-year old prisoner and a chemical superfreak who has never gotten into a fight with anyone manage to take down an entire terrorist group. Still, the action is cool.

Nicholas Cage was an excellent pick for the role he played; even though he can look like a war hero, he can also look like a nerd, and that's what he was supposed to be. Connery's action makes James Bond look like Barney, because he's a lot more violent, and has a more colorful vocabulary. And Ed Harris is the most standout character, due to the fact that he delivers a realistic, strong, and emotional role as the movie's main "bad guy."

The Rock is an excellent action movie, with a pretty good story, but some of the violence is pointless in parts, keeping it from its full potential. Still, I liked it, mainly due to the fact that, even though it was pure action, it was fun pure action, and that's what these movies are all about...

Review by Erik Samdahl unless otherwise indicated.