Why The Rock Is My Favorite Sean Connery Movie
It’s been over a week since Sir Sean Connery died at 90. Can the year 2020 end already? I don’t believe we’ve ever lost so many icons in one year. I could be wrong. A few days ago we lost Jeopardy host Alex Trebek. Like many, I grew up watching him on that game show. It was like losing an older friend …who helps to guide you through your early life. It’s been a depressing year all around… in losing people famous and every day.
Sean Connery was another person who felt like he was this cool Grandad… who gave you the advice you weren’t quite ready for, but the advice would be useful as you got older. He was this star you felt that you saw him in more movies than you did growing up. I saw some of his movies he did in the 90s and ’00s. Movies like Dragonheart, The Rock, The Avengers, Finding Forrester, and The League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen.
The crazy part is I had yet to discover he was James Bond… until I read his Wikipedia page in my high school years. I still haven’t seen any of those bond movies he did. He’s had quite a movie career and life. One movie that will always be my favorite of his is The Rock. I honestly believe it’s the greatest action movie of all time. ‘’But why Gerald?’’ I’m glad you ask.
#1. It’s Humor
For a serious action movie, it has a remarkable amount of humor that’s perfect in every scene it’s at.
The part when Nicolas Cage’s character Stanley Goodspeed and the rest of the FBI tries to recapture Sean Connery’s character John Mason… is a prime example of the brilliant humor in this movie. As Goodspeed tries to get Mason, it seems every character in this scene says something that has you cracking up.
Even this tram driver in the scene. When he loses it after his tram is destroyed is sad, but his rant had me rolling. Even the bad guy character have their funny moments. It makes the characters feel more like complete people.
#2. It Has Heart
For all the exciting action parts, The Rock has some touching scenes. The one part where John Mason gets to see his daughter after many scenes is a sweet scene. You can feel that Mason is glad to see her again… and that he wishes he had more time to connect with her. His daughter looks like she’s trying to process her thoughts and feelings for her father.
You hoped that maybe they would bond even more after the movie. Another scene that’s my favorite is when Mason and Goodspeed talked for the last time … after Mason saved Goodspeed from drowning. At this point, it feels like Goodspeed has grown on Mason and vice versa.
You wish the two characters would stay in touch. But the FBI (Womack really) wanted Mason back in prison. Goodspeed being the good guy he is… on his feet. Mason is grateful for Goodspeed’s help and offers some tips of his own to Goodspeed before he disappears for good.
The Ed Harris scene at the beginning is very moving too. He really tried his best to ask for the government's help with fallen soldiers, but they refused, so he feels compelled to take dramatic steps. This is what he says at his wife’s grave.
#3. The Action Parts.
Yep. The action in this movie is top-notch. The fighting scenes had me on the edge of my seat when I used to watch this movie over and over for years. The part where General Hummel (Ed Harris) and Commander Anderson (Michael Biehn) have their confrontation before this gun battle is well done.
I just wished a few of Anderson’s men survived that slaughter.
#4. The Performances
I can’t think of a single actor in this movie who gives a bad performance, to be honest with you all. Nicolas Cage gives one of his best acting jobs here. Ed Harris is just intense and powerful. Sean Connery is just brilliant as Mason. Even the supporting actors like David Morse, John Spencer (RIP), Tony Todd, etc shines in this movie.
The fighting stuff is great. The great acting though makes this movie even better. It makes you really intrigued by the characters… and you wonder what will happen next. There’s a few action movie that comes close to having wonderful performances, but this action movie is at the top for me.
#5. John Mason Is The Ultimate Action Hero
John Mason to this day is my favorite action hero. There’s somewhat of a mystery to this man when you’re first introduced to his character. He has danger on his face but some warmth and humor. You slowly learn as the movie go along why this man was kept in prison for so long (unjustifiably).
This is a man you do not want to cross. This is someone you want on your side …if you end up in trouble or need help fighting someone or something. John Mason is an amazing fighter as we see him take out bad soldiers in numerous ways.
Sean Connery did a great job bringing this character to life that sometimes it didn’t feel like he was acting, he really was John Mason in real life. When the news of his passing came, this movie immediately came into my head. I just thought about the many times I would watch this movie and watch Sean Connery taking out the villains in this movie like it was practice.
Connery was truly a star and his light shined in everything I saw him in. I may watch his earlier movies eventually and maybe a new favorite will come to be, but for now, The Rock is my defining Sean Connery movie.
