What makes it different from others?

This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

Having served in the military I found some vague references of this movie real and so much more not real. Everything from the attitude of the prisoners and the commandant I thought the movie was too phony. Too many plot vehicles. Too much Hollywood BS.I really hated it and there aren't any scenes which I even remotely thought were worth my time. The characters are unrealistic. The plot even less real. The script poorly written.This might be one of Robert Redford's worst movies.

After checking this site for information about The Last Castle (of which I previously knew nothing about) I decided to take a look at it, despite one of the major issues other viewers and reviewers have had with this film – the trebuchet – which was a key reason that made me stay to watch the ending. I'm rather astounded that such a ridiculous and moronic plot element would remain in the script without someone simply asking that if it is of such importance to the overthrow of power, why does it not get any mention before the surprise reveal during the prisoner revolt.Before the trebuchet ever appeared I was already struggling with the generally poor dialogue, the easily lead prisoners and the basic security flaws within this prison complex. Gandolfini's Col. Winter is a weak and uninspired character that adds little to the intent of the story and misses the mark for what should have been a very complex person within a role of ultimate authority.There's a noticeable lack of story development regarding the inmates banding together and creating the necessary components for their violent uprising – so much so that we simply do not get the impression that they are capable of producing the results later shown. In many ways the plot feels undercooked and simplistic, lacking the necessary depth to produce something worthy of the situation. I can handle moments of flawed movie logic, but this film features way too many of these occasions to retain credibility.If you're prepared to unplug your brain and personally enjoy this type of film, then there may be something of interest. For everyone else – there's nothing of value here to enjoy.

The Last Castle is an army feel good movie set in an prison.The good. Well planned out tactics. Solid action. A bit of suspense and intrigue. Nice acting. Well paced scenario.The actors. Robert Redford, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, and Delroy Lindo give us a credible performance. Their lack of brilliance is not a reflection of their capabilities, but rather what they were given to work with.The bad. Too much army heroic mentality. Not every soldier is like that.The ugly. Single minded characters, lack of normal complexity.The result. A satisfying testosterone flick. Do not expect more.

Despite the setting, this movie has little to do with prisons. Rod Lurie's vision, combined with the extraordinary talents of Robert Redford and James Gandolfini, is a morality play set in the most unlikely of locations. We have a man who has risen to the height of his potential, the Colonel, who will never advance above that rank, and is bitter with his role in life. He is an administrator among soldiers who wanted to be a soldier and was instead given the task of maintaining order at a prison. That he could show leadership by helping these men to regain their self respect and dignity has escaped him, and he is content to amuse himself by creating situations which lead to the prisoners becoming the animals he believes them to be. When the General comes to his prison, he thinks he has found a kindred spirit who can appreciate his manipulation of the men. To his disappointment, he finds the General a thoughtful and honorable soldier who has chosen to accept his punishment without excuse or explanation. While the Colonel must fight to maintain control, his methods and his intellect lack humanity and understanding. The General is given control by the prisoners because of his intellect and understanding. He offers the prisoners the one thing the warden cannot, dignity. Rated R for language and violence, this film is not for everyone, and certainly not for the very young. It is, however, an essential element in the creation of a leader, and should be seen by anyone who aspires to lead.