Fans of action movies can enjoy what has been hailed as ‘Michael Bay’s best film’ for free in form of classic The Rock. This 1996 blockbuster, directed by Bay, features an impressive cast including former James Bond Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
The film will be aired at 10pm on ITV4, Saturday November 30. In this thrilling narrative, FBI chemical warfare expert Stanley Goodspeed (Cage) teams up with ex-British spy John Patrick Mason (Connery) on a critical mission to prevent General Francis X Hummel, portrayed by Ed Harris, from launching chemical weapons from Alcatraz Island onto San Francisco.
General Hummel demands $100 million in war reparations for the families of fallen servicemen who lost their lives during covert operations. Initially, the heroes are accompanied by a SEAL team, but when the team is eliminated, Stanley and John are left to tackle the lethal situation alone, reports the Daily Record.
Despite receiving mixed reviews upon its initial release, The Rock has since gained cult status and is frequently celebrated as a defining film of the 90s, alongside other classics like Con Air, Air Force One and Face/Off. It even earned an Oscar nomination for Best Sound.
At the time, The Rock was only the second film directed by Michael Bay, who had previously helmed music videos for icons like Tina Turner, Meat Loaf, and Lionel Ritchie. Yet, when he took on ‘The Rock,’ he did so on the heels of ‘Bad Boys,’ another hit featuring big names Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.
During the shooting of ‘The Rock,’ Bay reportedly faced some flak from Disney execs. The DVD commentary reveals that screen legend Sean Connery stepped into a meeting with the director and staunchly defended him, insisting to the folks at the studio that Bay was excelling at his job.
Although The Rock emerged early in Bay’s filmography, before he would helm blockbusters like Armageddon, Bad Boys II, and the Transformers live-action series, a slew of fans proclaim it’s his pinnacle work. Collider anointed The Rock as ‘Michael Bay’s best film’ and lauded it as ‘a perfect snapshot of the zenith of 90s action flicks.’.
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Walt Disney Studios)
This sentiment resonates among many cinephiles, with one Rotten Tomatoes user expressing: “It’s not the only great movie from Michael Bay but it’s by far the best one and the one that has the most nuanced storytelling and character development they matter this time and it isn’t just about action spectacle.”
Another fan echoes the sentiments, posting that “The Rock is absolutely one of Michael Bay’s best movies, thanks to its off the charts action sequences and incredible performances by Nicolas Cage and Sean Connery.”
A third praised it as the “best action movie in history great plot, great actors and great music”, while another chimed in: “This ordinary action flick that at times is unintentionally funny is probably Michael Bay’s best work. That’s saying something.”
The Rock airs on Saturday, November 30 on ITV4 at 10pm and is streaming on Disney+
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