The Island starts as an intriguing sci-fi thriller that raises questions about the value of human life and how far one will go to survive. Then all hell breaks loose and you remember that you're watching a Michael Bay movie. Bay, of course, is the producer-director of such bombastic blockbusters as Bad Boys, The Rock, Armageddon and Pearl Harbor. The Island pays greater attention to story and character than any of those, at least early on. But after a certain point, Bay bows to the demands of summer movie-making and it becomes a noisy, relentless action film. Read the full review
Like all of the inhabitants of a carefully controlled mid-21st facility, Lincoln Six-Echo (Ewan McGregor) hopes to be chosen to go to the resort known as "The Island," reportedly the last uncontaminated spot on the planet. But when he discovers that everything about his existence is a lie, Lincoln makes a daring escape with fellow resident Jordan Two-Delta (Scarlett Johansson).
Director: Michael Bay
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou, Sean Bean, Steve Buscemi
Run time: 127 minutes
Release date: July 22, 2005
Rating: PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexuality and language.
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The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: D+
"Loud, fast and dumb, with budget-busting special effects."
Austin American-Statesman: 2 of 5 stars
"These are scenes we've seen far too many times before, and there is nothing added in Bay's retelling."
Dayton Daily News: C+
"... attempts to be a thought-provoking thriller, but its premise and characters get lost amid the mayhem."
The Palm Beach Post: C-
"Bay (Armageddon, Pearl Harbor) is not known for directing human interaction, a rep that need not be revised after this latest release."
