The Island takes place in the future where planet Earth has been polluted to the point of being uninhabitable. A habit has been constructed that is free from contamination. Those dwelling in this environment never question what they are told, dress identically (presumably to protect from outside contaminants). Nobody dares disobey those who lead the environment and supervise it.

Residents must never go outside for their own safety nor look for a way out of the environment. When someone is close to breaking out of the environment everyone is placed in lockdown. Mental images and pictures of what Earth was like before it was left uninhabitable play out within people’s minds. 

This hope of one day seeing outside again escalates for there is one place left on Earth that is not polluted. It is a tropical island paradise and naturally being the only place left on Earth that is not a manufactured environment everyone wants a ticket to the Island site unseen with bags already packed. In order, to get there one must win a lottery that takes place each day and randomly selects the winner. This winner is neither seen nor heard from ever again.

Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) is the only one who sensed something is not quite right with the stories residents have been fed about pollution and an island paradise only a select few will ever see. He has discovered a live bug in a room from outside seeming to negate the story fed to everyone about contamination and never leaving the safety of their environment.

When Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) who is Lincoln Six’s best friend is chosen to win the lottery the pair end up escaping from their environment. They make the discovery they are clones of other people and are now the hunted. They must survive as well as reveal the truth about the Island to save their kin. Can they do it with the equivalent of the entire Untied States armed forces behind them?

CRITIQUE

The cinematography and special effects are what make this film that much more exciting to watch. The colors are eye-popping and the digital effects astounding. One sequence that had me in awe was when McGregor dreamed of drowning and being held down in the ocean on the way to the island. You see him on a raft, tumbling off and the ocean swallowing him whole. Next we see ocean water fill a room and then everything morphs back into his room. It’s quite effective at showing fear and panic in the waking and sleeping world.

Director Michael Bay has done some fine casting here. The story hinges on Steve Buscemi being perfectly cast as the one man who went unnoticed by his superiors and nobody would think would know vital secrets which were absorbed like a sponge.

To the viewers the actor is the fly on the wall and a lens sharply focused on evil. The character knows the truth and sets in motion in a few short moments. If it were left to any other actor they could not convey the truth and how much danger waits as Buscemi did in a short cameo appearance. This is fine piece of casting and direction from Bay.

Another fine casting selection is Michael Clarke Duncan. While on screen for less than ten minutes his ability to come across as someone we care for is achieved instantly. His ability to covey sheer terror, foreboding, and a sense of danger leading to McGregor’s plans with close-ups of his face contorting is quite something to see. It makes what the viewer envisions take over so that the audience is far more scared of anything that does present itself on screen.

Johansson and McGregor give fair performances here. They do not have a lot to deal with beyond running from those chasing them and trying to adapt as fugitives. They are meant to come across as childlike and we take an interest in their exploration of the world and discovery of one another. Aside from the standard action sequences and defying death the characters are not given much to do. The film is entertaining and has the right blend of action and Sci-fi to captivate audiences.

THE VIDEO 

The video is presented in 2.40:1 Theatrical aspect ratio. Nothing here has been lost in transfer from the big screen to the small screen. The video has been enhanced for widescreen televisions. The presentation is clear, crisp with eye-popping visuals and special effects. There are closed captions for the hearing impaired in English. Subtitle options also come for English and Spanish.

THE AUDIO

Audiences have two options for audio. The audio tracks are in English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround and French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. Both tracks are crisp. One feels as though they are being pursued here and not the main characters. Action sequences and the film’s score come close to knocking you out of your seat with the volume turned high.

THE EXTRAS

The Future in Action: This 15 minute feature shows audiences the work involved in setting up one special effects/stunt shot for the film. The scene involves a helicopter and a building that is intended to implode. It took ten days to rig the scene and even longer to combine actors with CGI and a blue screen. Some of what was attempted had never been done before. Audiences quite literally see the future of filmmaking in action.

Audio Commentary: Director Michael Bay offers his thoughts, anecdotes, insights on the film he crafted in a full-length audio track.  

FINAL THOUGHT

Will lambasted by critics for being mindless entertainment this film is a suspenseful Sci-fi action movie sure to thrill audiences. I recommend renting it.