The Rock (1996)

The Rock” (1996) is an action thriller directed by Michael Bay and featuring Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, and Ed Harris. The story begins with Brigadier General Francis Hummel (Ed Harris) taking control of Alcatraz Island with a group of rogue U.S. Marines. They capture 81 tourists and threaten to launch rockets armed with deadly VX gas into San Francisco unless the government pays a $100 million ransom. Hummel’s actions are fueled by a sense of betrayal, as he seeks to secure compensation for the families of soldiers who died in covert operations and were denied recognition and benefits. The FBI recruits Dr. Stanley Goodspeed (Nicolas Cage), a chemical weapons expert, to defuse the threat. Recognizing the need for someone familiar with Alcatraz, they turn to John Mason (Sean Connery), a former British SAS captain and the only prisoner to have ever escaped from Alcatraz. Mason was secretly detained by the U.S. government for decades without trial after stealing sensitive information.