"The Island" Review

Chris' Movie Review
THE ISLAND

Note: The following movie review may contain spoilers. If you'd prefer not to know anything, stop reading now.

-- Love him or hate him -- there doesn't seem to be any middle ground -- Michael Bay's movies make big bucks. Even the nearly unwatchable "Pearl Harbor" made $198 million dollars. Action junkies, i.e. adolescent boys (Hollywood's favorite demographic), swarm to his films.

Director Michael Bay--known for such vapid but action-packed thrillers as The Rock, Armageddon and the Bad Boys series--hasn't ever made a film without his anchor, the grand pooh-bah himself producer Jerry Bruckheimer. The Island is the first time the director is flying solo--and apparently, Bruckheimer was a little peeved when he found out about it. According to Entertainment Weekly the producer told Bay, "Just so you know, we passed on it." Ouch. But you know what? Bay does just fine without the Bruckmeister, turning in his most compelling movie to date--and that's really saying something. Screenwriter Caspian Tredwell-Owen, obviously influenced by George Orwell's 1984 and the campy 1976 Logan's Run, turned in an original script that was a tad too cerebral, but we all know It had to be Bay-ified. So, young writing upstarts Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci were brought in to add that all-important action elements. Of course, the idea that sometime in the future, for the right amount of money, you could have a clone made of yourself to use in case something happens to you, seems intriguing. And mix some good old-fashioned run-for-your-life smash 'em ups, the combination pays off.

"The Island" contains all of Bay's trademarks -- a total disregard for the laws of physics, over-the-top chase scenes, and lots of circular panning shots. But unlike his other films, "The Island" also has an interesting story, penned by Caspian Tredwell-Owen (with script credit also going to Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci) and two very good actors -- Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson -- playing the leading characters. This is the first Michael Bay film I've actually enjoyed. But that's not saying much.

The Island is a sci-fi action drama in its own sort of way that has a fresh feel to it if not completely original. Good or bad, Michael Bay executes his vision well enough for the film to be enjoyable and fun. The Island begins with one of what seems like the slowest first acts in a film that I have ever seen. You get to know Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor) and how he and other people have lived in this enclosed facility. Some people seven years, others four and three. Then we meet Jordan Two Delta (Johansson) a good friend of Lincolns. There is in fact no sexual attraction between any of these clones which makes it interesting to see how people interact with one another. The beauteous pair are also supported by an eclectic group. They include Djimon Hounsou (In America) as the mysterious special ops leader relentlessly hunting down Jordan and Lincoln, and Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring , James Bond: Goldeneye and National Treasure) is ‘god’ of the facility you might say. Bean knows how to play a villain well so his roll in this movie was more than perfect! And if you want to add a little screwy humor to your full-blown action flick, hire Steve Buscemi (remember him in Con Air?). He plays a technician at the facility who befriends Lincoln--and lets him know how it really is.

The slow start and the plot of The Island might leave you a little confused in the beginning as some of the dialogue sounds rather patched together, leaving you confused about some of the characters' statements and whats going on such as the weird things going on around the area and a lottery drawing where one person a week is allowed to go to a place of luxury and peace called The Island. Lincoln (McGregor) discovers that the whole charade is but a conspiracy, and takes it upon himself to go out, and get some dire information about what the truth is behind his existence. McGregor does well when it comes to acting and Johansson does the best piece of acting I have seen her do since her breakout role in 2003’s Lost In Translation.

A couple of nice CGI (Character Generated Images) go well with the film and Bay's vision of what Los Angeles in 2119 will like. Bay only makes a film about every other year. Finally, after nine years of waiting Bay has finally returned to give us another good and exciting action piece, the last being The Rock.

Like many other action dramas, the film contains some lengthy dialogue scenes, which can be bad or good depending on how the director and actors deliver them. The Island puts forth its character and plot development excellently. The scenes with Steve Buscemi as a character of note named McCord are wonderfully done and seamless in design. Buscemi has shown us some impressive acting chops in the past and here he's particularly awesome.

There are five major action scenes in The Island, all of which should keep you on the edge of your seat and having a blast. One involves a weird but cool flying motorcycle chase and another revolves around McGregor and Johansson's characters trying to escape a sticky situation while dodging flying spears. When Bay said he was going to make a good summer popcorn film, he meant it. He doesn’t disappoint in that category, despite coming up short in some other aspects of his filmmaking.
From this point on it's pure Bay -- action, action, action.

However, the story still has some surprises left, and Johansson and McGregor have good romantic chemistry. They're both such good actors they somehow make the unbelievable in "The Island" believable -- to an extent.
"The Island" isn't the best sci-fi thriller out there this summer -- "War of the Worlds" wins by miles -- but it's enjoyable. You just have to take all of Bay's excess with a grain ... oh, let's make that a pound of salt. After all, he doesn't really make movies, he makes roller coaster rides. So, if you're in the mood, "The Island" is just worth the trip.

Overall
When leaving The Island you might think to yourself, "Should I be taking precautions for the future?" And if so, will we ever remember what our lives were like today if a future like the one dreamed up here comes to pass. Michael Bay brings wonder to the summer of 2005 with a vision of a disgusting world that might become a reality for us. After all, he doesn't really make movies, he makes roller coaster rides. So, if you're in the mood, "The Island" is just worth the trip.

"THE ISLAND" MOVIE VIDEOS:
Featurette: "Bay-hem"
Quicktime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / HIGH
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

Featurette: "Production"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

"The Island" Clip #1 - "I Wish There Was More"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM/ LOW

"The Island" Clip #2 - "Jordan Wins the Lottery"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

"The Island" Clip #4 - "You Are Clones!"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

"The Island" Clip #8 - "Worth Every Penny"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

TV Spot - "Get Ready"
QuickTime - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Windows Media - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW
Real Player - HIGH / MEDIUM / LOW

Trailer (May 2005):
LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH

Teaser #1:
Quicktime - LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / SUPER HIGH
Windows Media - LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / SUPER HIGH
Real Media - LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / SUPER HIGH

Teaser #2:
Windows Media - LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH SUPER HIGH
Real Media - LOW / MEDIUM / HIGH / SUPER HIGH

International Trailer:
Quicktime - SMALL / MEDIUM / LARGE