The Island (B or 3/4 stars)
2019: The outside world has been contaminated, so a community of people rescued from the toxic environment live in a sort of isolated Utopia. All rules of living are pre-ordained for its' inhabitants: food, jobs, clothes, free time, etc. A special event, 'the lottery', decides which one person will get a lucky chance to relocate to paradise ... the island. However, Lincoln 6 Echo (Ewan McGregor) soon discovers that there's a sinister purpose for eventually getting to the island. It's up to him & Jordan 2 Delta (Scarlett Johansson) to escape the facility and warn others of the potential peril. There are some plot holes in 'The Island' (directed by Michael Bay); the script isn't mind-blowing. But this is a fun summer blockbuster that offers attractive characters & solid action sequences.
Lincoln works hard, obeys the rules, & hopes he can one day head for the island (nature's last remaining pathogen-free zone). Several members of the community are rebellious, so their chances of leaving the institute are slim. Amazingly, Jordan is the next person who wins the lottery; she is ecstatic. Lincoln is happy for her, but is upset to lose his best friend. Upon questioning the institute's intentions, Lincoln discovers the horrifying truth about what happens on the island: You see, they are ALL human clones, generated to provide replacement organs & various body parts to the greedy owners of the Island's insurance policy! Lincoln saw evidence of this when the last person who won the lottery, Starkweather (Michael Clarke Duncan), underwent non-consenting surgery.
After a harrowing escape, Lincoln & Jordan are relentlessly pursued by the institute's authorities. They're in a race for their lives, and to find out who they really are. Their journey is made difficult as a hired ex-military mercenary, Laurent (the kinetic Djimon Hounsou) who works for Merrick (Sean Bean), the doctor who runs the institute, tries to hunt them down. While seeking the truth, they receive help from a technician, McCord (Steve Buscemi, as usual comic relief). Can they hold-off Laurent for much longer? Will they eventually meet their original donors (the real McGregor & Johansson)? What is the real truth of their existence? Can they take down Merrick & stop the harvesting of body parts?
To think that something like this could happen in our future is startling. The premise of 'cloning of humans for medical advancement' is intriguing. But it's the evil people at the helm of the institute which makes this plot what is truly is (the end of the human race is imminent ... or so we think). I liked a lot in 'The Island'. The basic visuals are astounding. The lavish set designs are futuristically cool, as are the glossy outfits that are worn. The mere thought of the plot is creepy, existential, but then it shifts to a high-tech chase flick. It's not overly witty, but it's highly entertaining & begs us to ask questions about our own existence.
My least favorite segment of this lengthy film is the climax (unfortunate, I know). Things just get a bit silly & overblown. Action sequences become increasingly repetitive & far-fetched. But they did draw some oohs & ahs from me. There isn't much of an ethic or moral compass in the film (that's Michael Bay for ya). And it's not the kind of film where we look for great character development; there isn't much. But I'm nitpicking. To sit back, relax, chomp on some popcorn, and be exhilarated by flashy imagery, cool stunts, & a thought-provoking concept ... 'The Island' may just be for you.
Lincoln works hard, obeys the rules, & hopes he can one day head for the island (nature's last remaining pathogen-free zone). Several members of the community are rebellious, so their chances of leaving the institute are slim. Amazingly, Jordan is the next person who wins the lottery; she is ecstatic. Lincoln is happy for her, but is upset to lose his best friend. Upon questioning the institute's intentions, Lincoln discovers the horrifying truth about what happens on the island: You see, they are ALL human clones, generated to provide replacement organs & various body parts to the greedy owners of the Island's insurance policy! Lincoln saw evidence of this when the last person who won the lottery, Starkweather (Michael Clarke Duncan), underwent non-consenting surgery.
After a harrowing escape, Lincoln & Jordan are relentlessly pursued by the institute's authorities. They're in a race for their lives, and to find out who they really are. Their journey is made difficult as a hired ex-military mercenary, Laurent (the kinetic Djimon Hounsou) who works for Merrick (Sean Bean), the doctor who runs the institute, tries to hunt them down. While seeking the truth, they receive help from a technician, McCord (Steve Buscemi, as usual comic relief). Can they hold-off Laurent for much longer? Will they eventually meet their original donors (the real McGregor & Johansson)? What is the real truth of their existence? Can they take down Merrick & stop the harvesting of body parts?
To think that something like this could happen in our future is startling. The premise of 'cloning of humans for medical advancement' is intriguing. But it's the evil people at the helm of the institute which makes this plot what is truly is (the end of the human race is imminent ... or so we think). I liked a lot in 'The Island'. The basic visuals are astounding. The lavish set designs are futuristically cool, as are the glossy outfits that are worn. The mere thought of the plot is creepy, existential, but then it shifts to a high-tech chase flick. It's not overly witty, but it's highly entertaining & begs us to ask questions about our own existence.
My least favorite segment of this lengthy film is the climax (unfortunate, I know). Things just get a bit silly & overblown. Action sequences become increasingly repetitive & far-fetched. But they did draw some oohs & ahs from me. There isn't much of an ethic or moral compass in the film (that's Michael Bay for ya). And it's not the kind of film where we look for great character development; there isn't much. But I'm nitpicking. To sit back, relax, chomp on some popcorn, and be exhilarated by flashy imagery, cool stunts, & a thought-provoking concept ... 'The Island' may just be for you.