THE ISLAND

REVIEWED BY JARED KRAFT

Our rating: 3 out of 5

Because of: language, violence, sensuality, thematic elements

Rated:

The Island is yet another thriller/action blockbuster from master of destruction, Michael Bay, and yet something sets this film apart from all the others he has done. The tone is definitely perfect for a sci-fi film. It is reminiscent of The Matrix and Minority Report, with a good dose of A.I. The cast is stellar, and the action scenes are nothing short of breathtaking.

The film begins in a surreal, underground, world of white and grey, where computers see your every move, and every inhabitant wears the exact same thing: white and grey uniforms. Each member of this society is taught to live peaceably, and even a small rise in blood pressure can lead to arrest. They are all told the same thing: the island is waiting. What is the island? Earth’s last pure segment of land "since the contamination." A tropical paradise filled with lush plant life, golden sand, and surrounded by the purest, blue water. Every day, one lucky winner is chosen, and is shipped off to their new life on, the island. The system is perfect. No questions were ever asked, until now.

Lincoln Six Echo, (Ewan MacGregor) is one among many waiting for his spot on the island. From a distance, he is the same as all the others, dressed in white and grey, fit, and mild mannered, but in actuality he is starting to doubt the system. He is sick of wearing the same colors every day, and living by the same rules as everybody else. Doubts of the island have begun to creep into his head, brought on by a repetitive sequence of nightmarish dreams he experiences every night. Dreams of a boat bound for the island, and a journey cut short by a host of fearsome opposition, pulling him into the water and drowning him. A turn of horrifying events reveals the truth about the island. Worse yet, Lincoln’s closest friend, Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson), is scheduled to go there. He knows what he must do and in a desperate attempt, escapes the underground society to the outside world--a world that is not contaminated.

Thus begins an intense game of cat-and-mouse. Every possible action sequence is created, from car chases to fist fights to falling off of buildings. Lincoln and Jordan are stopped at every turn, barely escaping numerous death traps. The latter half of this film defines action in general. I enjoyed it on many levels. I thought the direction was superb and the camera work was actually very good for this type of film. The special effects were definitely some of the best I have seen in a while and the story was extremely intriguing. The musical score could have been better overall, but for what it was, "percussive techno" it was good. The content is run of the mill for the rating. Sensuality is minor but involves a very short love scene without nudity. There is some mildly suggestive dialogue. Language is scattered throughout, and results in maybe ten profanities. Most are mild, except for one use of the f-word. Violence is very intense but mostly bloodless. Every type of fighting is shown here. Anything from nail guns to metal pipes are used as weapons. If you are strongly offended by violence in films, I would not recommend this. However, if you are used to sci-fi style action, you will not be shocked.

Overall, this is a film that many will enjoy. It wasn’t too problematic for me as a Christian, and the time flew as I was watching it. If you are looking for a fun flick to watch with the guys, or an intelligent sci-fi thriller, this will satisfy you.