The Rock Sean Connery Nicolas Cage

directed by Michael Bay
USA 1996

A highly decorated, retired U.S. Marine general (Ed Harris) seizes a stockpile of chemical weapons and takes over Alcatraz, with 81 tourists as hostages on the San Francisco Bay isle. His demand: Restitution to families of soldiers who died in covert operations. The response: An elite Navy SEAL team, with support from an FBI chemical-warfare expert (Nicolas Cage) and a former Alcatraz escapee (Sean Connery), is assembled to penetrate the terrorists’ defenses on the island and neutralize the threat before time runs out. The result: A fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller with a first-rate cast, directed by Michael Bay and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer.

Poster

Theatrical Release: June 7th, 1996 - North America

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DVD Comparison:

Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista (2 Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL

Big thanks to Gary Tooze and Henrik Sylow for the Screen Caps!

(Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista (2 Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers		Same as the UK version (different cover and different subtitle options)
Distribution	Criterion Region 1 - NTSC	Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista Region 2 - PAL
Runtime	2:16:30	2:10:51 (4% PAL speedup)
Video	2.31:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 7.00 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	2.31:1 Original Aspect Ratio 16X9 enhanced Average Bitrate: 8.15 mb/s PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Criterion
Bitrate: Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista (2 Disc Collector's Edition)
Audio	2.0 Dolby Digital English, 5.1 Dolby Digital English, DTS English, 2.0 Dolby Digital English (Commentary)	5.1 Dolby Digital English, DTS English, 2.0 Dolby Digital English (Commentary)
Subtitles	English, None	English, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Finnish, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Criterion Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.31:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Michael Bay, stars Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, technical advisor Harry Humphries, and producer Jerry Bruckheimer • ... • Disc 2: • Analysis of the dive sequence by Hoyt Yeatman of Dream Quest Images • Movie Magic episode on the film's special effects • Outtakes selected by Michael Bay • Production Stills • Storyboards • Production design drawings • Do's and Don'ts of Hollywood gunplay with Harry Humphries and Marshall Teague • Interview with Jerry Bruckheimer • Excerpts from DVD Release Date: March 13th, 2001 Double think Keep Case Chapters 32	Release Information: Studio: Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista Aspect Ratio: Widescreen anamorphic - 2.31:1 Edition Details: • Commentary by director Michael Bay, stars Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, technical advisor Harry Humphries • ... • Disc 2: • Analysis of the dive sequence by Hoyt Yeatman of Dream Quest Images • Movie Magic episode on the film's special effects • Outtakes selected by Michael Bay • Production Stills • Storyboards • Production design drawings • Do's and Don'ts of Hollywood gunplay with Harry Humphries and Marshall Teague • Interview with Jerry Bruckheimer • Excerpts from DVD Release Date: August 21, 2002 Keep Case Chapters 33

Comments

Well, being honest I bought this because... it was a Criterion. I did succumb to the collection-ist bug for a while and this was one of the gaps, but after watching it I didn't mind it at all. Segments surprisingly stayed with my memory where many, ex. Arnold flicks or similar action Hollywood genre, are forgotten almost immediately. Do I think it is out of place in the Criterion Collection? - absolutely. I seem to recall reading something 'Jon Mulvaney' said in his defense of this for the Criterion label. It stated that Michael Bay would be recognized decades later for his contribution to cinema... or something to that effect. I guess only time will prove this right or wrong.

As far as the image goes it looks a strong large-studio production with very deep contrast - almost bordering on saturation. Colors are great as are subtitles and the 2 (of 3) big audio options are exceptional. I don't know how this compares visually with the Hollywood Pictures NTSC very inexpensive DVD release, but I do know that this Criterion edition is stacked with extras. More than most people would care to venture through.

Yes - this is an unusual choice for Criterion - a testosterone infused extravaganza complete with mega-stars hoisting the protagonists roles - but it is kind of fun, if you ever get in the mood for something of this nature. I admittedly do when in full bachelor-mode with my buddies. Shirt discarded, I serve them a trough of baked beans garnished with a couple of dead dogs... and we watch The Rock. The only saving grace for my egoist culture-pride - it is a Criterion DVD.... I know cause it has one of their #'s on the spine.

NOTE: The Criterion DTS track has a known 'bug'.

Gary Tooze

It is the same transfer, it even begins with the Criterion Collection introduction. The only differences between the two DVD editions are a higher bitrate, anamorphic menus on disc 1, no 2.0 Dolby Digital track and a slightly brighter image (and the cover) on the Buena Vista DVD. The subtitles differ marginally. That, and that you can get the Buena Vista DVD for less than £10.

Henrik Sylow

DVD Menus

(Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista (2 Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - RIGHT)

Screen Captures

(Criterion - Region 1 - NTSC - TOP vs. Hollywood Pictures / Buena Vista (2 Disc Collector's Edition) - Region 2 - PAL - BOTTOM)
subtitle sample (English only)
Captures resized to 800px from 1016px native resolution