I was just thinkin' that it was time that I started doing this. Okay... where to begin?
Story- Rogue Marines capture several warheads loaded out with a chemical inside them labeled VX. (SCIENCE TIDBIT- This particular type of nerve gas can cause death by asphyxiation by blocking certain chemicals within the human body. As little as 200 micrograms can kill a person. It is known as the deadliest type of nerve gas to date.) They are intent on firing these warheads into the heart of San Francisco if their demands for compensation towards families of the fallen are not met. They expected that they'd send in SEALs- what they didn't expect were a bio-physycist from the FBI and a former "guest" of the facility. It's not the most original story out there, but it's one of the best (if not THE best) executions of the general idea.
Acting- This is some of the best acting done by live humans that I've seen, period. Sean Connery, Nicholas Cage, Ed Harris, and everyone else work splendidly beautiful together in this work of treachery, government cover-ups, and action-packed battle come together on-screen. Michael Bay knew what he was doing with all of the various parts of the film, and knew full-well that a film that took place on Alcatraz could only be filmed there on the Rock.
Sound- Holy crap- that explosion was HUGE! Did that bullet just whiz by my head? Whoa, I'd better get out of the way of that Humvee! "Dude... you just %#$@*^ up your Ferrari" "It's not mine." So many classic moments, such great sound... and the soundtrack- WHOA! I can now see why they picked Harry Gregson-Williams as the man to do the MGS 2 and 3 soundtracks... it's so... beautiful, tense, whatever you want to call it. It just fits perfectly.
Overall: If you've got the time to, I would say that you at least give this one a rental (if you have the cash to, buy the Criterion Collection edition of the DVD- it's the best one) on a Friday night.
