The Island

  • 12
  • Michael Bay (2005)
  • US
  • 130 min
The Island
Film Review
Reviewed By
3 out of 5

Transformers director Michael Bay is a master of high-octane kicks, but often falters when it comes to story development. So it's not surprising that this sleek, futuristic action thriller plays like a series of chase sequences dressed up with flimsy sci-fi. Yet, for all its superficiality, the film is relentlessly entertaining, with Ewan McGregor particularly engaging as a survivor of an ecological disaster that wiped out most of the planet's inhabitants. Now housed in a contained facility, he's led by curiosity to horrific discoveries about his home and the lottery draw that offers relocation to "the Island" - allegedly an uncontaminated paradise. Unfortunately, fellow resident Scarlett Johansson can't match McGregor's allure, and she's reduced to the role of ineffectual love interest following the duo's daring escape to the forbidden, outside world. However Bay seems unconcerned about his sketchy, clichéd characters, sidelining them along with the movie's moral issues in favour of flashy effects, chases and explosions. It hits the spot as an adrenaline fix, but frustratingly squanders its true potential.

Plot Summary

Action thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. Lincoln Six-Echo is among a group of so-called "survivors" of global contamination living in a specially restricted facility. The residents are kept in check by a special lottery offering winners relocation to "The Island" - allegedly the planet's last uncontaminated area. Like everyone else, Lincoln dreams of moving to this paradise, until he makes a series of horrific discoveries.

Cast and crew

Cast

Lincoln Six-Echo / Tom Lincoln
Ewan McGregor
Jordan Two-Delta / Sarah Jordan
Scarlett Johansson
Albert Laurent
Djimon Hounsou
Merrick
Sean Bean
McCord
Steve Buscemi
Starkweather
Michael Clarke Duncan
Jones Three-Echo
Ethan Phillips
Gandu Three-Alpha
Brian Stepanek
Community announcer
Noa Tishby
Lima One-Alpha
Siobhan Flynn

Crew

Director
Michael Bay

Other Information

Language: 
English
Colour
Theatrical distributor: 
Warner Bros
Guidance: 
Violence and swearing.
Available on DVD and BluRay
Released 12 Aug 2005
Certificate 12
Distributor:
Warner Home Video Ltd
Categories
Drama

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