The Island

Michael Bay has had his directoral ups and downs, but here in the big budget action realm, the director of the excellent The Rock seems right at home. This time, Bay welds the action to a solid, if somewhat unoriginal sci fi plot - which blends elements of Logan's Run, THX-1138 and Gattaca.

Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johanson are an attractive couple living in a completely medically regulated community designed to repopulate a world decimated by a mass extinction. Ethan Phillips, Djimon Hounsou and Sean Beam all provide excellent support. Beam is miraculously transformed into his clever, arrogant and suspect character. Phillips is also particularly memorable as their slightly unhinged pal.

Life in an enclosed, sterile environment, with all of their needs taken careof - including neatly arranged and identical uniforms, jobs, and three square can be a great bore, so - once a week or so - the sponsoring corporation gives away a one way ticket to the only place in the outside world which isn't lethal - The Island.

McGregor's Licoln Six Echo and a number of his cohorts are becoming increasingly agitated and curious about their home. All the while, his platonic relationship with Jordan Two Delta (Johanson) grows. But then, she wins her ticket to the island.

I have described the basic set up, and sci-fi fans will probably understand that this film actually sits among Logan's Run, gattaca, THX-1138 and other intelligent dystopian sci films. What may be a little harder to visualize is how stylistically indebted to Gattaca and THX-1138 this film is. Ewan McGregor doesn't really look like Ethan Hawke, and Scarlett Johanson is certainly not easily mistaken for Uma Thurmond, but between the cinematography, the themes, and the overall prettiness of the cast, the homage is obvious. The camera work is excellent, and the pace is spot-on, though it does become a little breathless toward the end.

Nevertheless, The Island stands on its own as a nice example of big budget sci fi which does not insult its audience's intelligence and uses its budget to tell an interesting story - not just to show off a lot of special effects and highly improbable action (though there is quite a lot of both here anyway). Recommended for serious and semi-serious sci fi fans.

After the movie, I asked myself, how can we know if are not cloned versions of some people maybe outside our planet? What if the Earth is just a big lab?

The other thought is: what if there is already labs like that, that we have no idea about? What about old people that we see that are passed 80 and are close to 90 years old, but still have a good body and mental health?

During the movie I also wondered, what ethics can rule such idea, even if it applied to animals?

I have a thought and a fear that this movie is not science fiction any more. I think the things that we do not know about science experiments are more than what we know!

Critics hate this movie and who knows why, maybe the expectations for it were huge, but I am telling you The Island is an amazing time.

Normally I shy away from Michael Bay movies or anything of his material but The Island is like his rare dime of the pile.

There is great acting and chemistry between McGregor and Johansson and Steve Buschemi was near flawless in his short cameo appearances.

The plot is sci-fi, action and some great drama. I really REALLY enjoyed the story as it surprised me at times. I thought the plot was bold and risky but it definitely payed off and it's too bad Bay hasn't gone this direction with a lot of his movies. He always seems to ditch stories and focus way too much on action to fill in the time. The Island succeeds because it's a strong blend of those 3 genres.

It wouldn't be surprising if you have never heard of this movie. I never see it on tv and I don't know many people who have seen it. It is sadly very underrated. This is an excellent movie and I strongly recommend it to anyone.

I had heard for years about THE ISLAND because of its stellar cast and also because it's directed by Michael Bay, who always makes enjoyable blockbusters. Last March I finally saw it and it stood to my expectations.

The movie is set in 2019 where a huge contamination has made the Earth an unhospitable place and the few survivors live in a giant technological structure where life is organized and monitored even in the tiniest details and a lottery selects who has to go in an island where there can be a new future. Tom Lincoln (Ewan McGregor) waits since three years to win the lottery but not only he doesn't have the requirements but also has too many questions and a frequent nightmare that has discussed with technician James McCord (Steve Buscemi). After discovering that the lottery winners have to die of horrible deaths Tom decides to escape with Sarah Jordan (Scarlett Johannson) and discover that there is no contamination, only to be chasen by mercenary Albert Laurent (Djimon Hounsou) sent by Doctor Merrick (Sean Bean) and after lots of chases and explosions, free all the humans in the structure and let them live a normal life.

The acting by all was good and the action sequences great, not surprising since it's directed by Bay. And the plot and settings were great as well, with various hidden meanings and feel good ending.

Not to be missed if you are Bay fans and overall, an entertaining misunderstood movie from the 2000s.

I liked "The Island" quite a bit due for two reasons: a depiction of the future which wasn't too "over the top", which was refreshing, coming from Bay, and that the leads were very effective at portraying their characters. McGregor, from his acting, and Johansson, from her open, fresh expression. There could have been a little more exploration of the cloning question, and I felt the action was, while visually beautiful, mundane. The score was outstanding, the theme beautifully matching the opening to the film. Pity there wasn't more of it. Sean Bean, to those used to his villainous work in "Patriot Games", and "Goldeneye", was a little weak, but due to writing, not his thespian skills. And what's a Micheal Bay or Cohen Brothers movie without Steve Buscemi? His character was relatively weak, with no real motivation behind his actions in the film. Djimon Hounsou has a pretty good part. Nice to see him carry a substantial role. One good reason to see the film: great visuals, good looking people with consistent positive ideals. Pretty to watch.