review - The Island

2.5 /5

I don't think I would see this film again. It had potential, but it unravelled itself into derivative Hollywood crap.



Workers in an high-tech complex all dress alike and live individualy without families. They are told that they are survivors from the outside world, which has become too contaminated to live in. They all aspire to win the weekly lottery, which promises a trip to a beautiful tropical island where one can enjoy life free of toxic pollutants. This is the only safe outdoors place to live in the world and it is a much coveted prize... You get the feeling that the script writers watched Logan's Run and Gattaca for inspiration.

The film has a frantic pace, once our heroes get outside. With all the car chases, etc., the film becomes to similar to every other action thriller.

There is a scene in which McGregor tries to turn off the holographic generator. This reminded me of the scene in which Alec Guiness turns off the tractor beam in the first Star Wars film. Both Guiness and McGregor played Obi-Wan Kenobi.



The Dr. played by Sean Bean, squirts a liquid on Lincoln Six Echo's cheek, which turns into little robots that crawl into his eye socket, to monitor his neural processes. This reminded me of the spider-like identity checkers from the film Minority Report.

What happens when your turn off a huge turbine generator and turn it back on again? Does it make more power and operate smoothly? Or does it catch fire and crash into the infrastructure of the secret facility? You'll have to watch the film to find out!

Sadly, the plots holes are massive. You'd think this ultra-secret and secure facility would have a metal detector that could detect hand guns, right? You'd also think that if you were't sure who the clone was and who the client was, you'd just check their right wrist for the serial number or brand.

The final scene reminded me of the Polyphonic Spree's last album cover.

The acting wasn't anything special. McGregor and Scarlett Johansson's talents are wasted. They just go through the motions, mostly. No Oscar nods, guranteed. Steve Buscemi did the best acting job. I'm getting so tired of seeing Sean Bean as the bad guy.