If you're visiting San Francisco I suggest you check out this video, you can see the sites, visit Alcatrez Prison, get held up by a mad General played by Ed Apollo 13 Harris. Unfortunately you'll miss the amazing car chase down those famous streets accompanied by some big bangs - the equivalent of a destruction derby.

But seriously folks ... this story has General Hummel who wants insurance pay back for his dead troops and in order to do that he decides to steal some missiles and aim them at San Francisco. After capturing some tourists he advises FBI Director Womack ( John tv's LA Law & The West Wing Spencer ) about his ransom demands.

Enter Nicholas Cage as FBI chemical weapons expert, Stanley Goodspeed ( surname reminds me of Bond's Miss Goodnight ). He thinks that this is going to be a training exercise .. wrong ! He is introduced to long haired Sean Connery as federal prisoner / ex-SAS John Mason, the only man to break out of Alcatrez ( aka The Rock ) and who Womack reluctantly releases to aid the mission.

Mason gets a haircut and escapes followed by the car chase where he causes mayhem, phones his daughter and shouts out "Have you got insurance ?". After a nice scene between daughter and long lost father, back to business Goodspeed is roped into the rescue assault, like Kurt Russell's character in Executive Decision, this time on The Rock. The assault team is led by Commander Anderson ( Michael The Terminator Blein ) and joined by volunteer Mason who must go along as he knows The Rock's secret entrances.

Connery ( also co-Exec Producer ) at his best and Nic Face/Off Cage prove an interesting duo on the big screen. Some of the best one-liners ( e.g. during the explosions - "I'm too old for this !" & about prison showers "Losing my sex appeal" ) were used for Sean Connery's '98 tribute at the BAFTA's, When asked about his background, Mason replies "Trained by the best - British Intelligence" - shades of Connery's 007 past.

Watch out for Tony Candyman Todd ( pops up in different roles in tv's Star Treks ) as Capt. Darrow who give the General problems towards the end but finally thanks to Goodspeed sees the point. Supporting the excellent Harris is David tv's St. Elsewhere Morse - slightly greyer as Major Baxter and stalling on the phone is ( uncredited ) Stuart The Mask of Zorro Wilson as General Kramer.

Great non-stop action with good use of theme music & no silly songs tagged on at the end.