The Island

I don't like Michael Bay and after watching the film "The Island", that hasn't changed much. I've always liked "The Incredibles", but that's about it. "The Island" has an interesting concept and that's about it. Bay tried to make something that could be called utopian sci-fi, where the social criticism should work primarily. It mainly works on the action level because that's what Bay enjoys. It's noticeable. Everything else is just a big bubble to make the film longer than two hours. A good idea fragmented into an unbelievably long boredom. (01/04/2014)

When I thought, after the second Miserables, that Michael had permanently drowned in his action-comedy mannerisms, I couldn't have been more wrong. Orci and Kurtzman wrote him a script that suited him perfectly and although it's a timid prequel compared to Transformers, the futuristic romance is worth it. Ewan McGregor excels in a role that could finally elevate him to the absolute top class (but due to the mentioned box office failures, we didn't get to see it this time either), the rest of the actors support him at a distance, but skillfully. Perhaps it could have spent a little less time before burning the point, but the action in the second half lifts the film completely somewhere else. (14/02/2006)

For someone who has seen Logan's Run, The Island is a completely pointless affair. Even though the story does go in a different direction in the second half and the whole thing seems to be just a bastardized take on Equilibrium. But I realize that it may not be that much of a big deal for fans of McGregor, Johansson, or Bay. (06/11/2011)

Gorgeous Bruckheimer-style camera filters, swooping shots, and overhead views – basically everything that Michael Bay can offer us. The Island is visually stunning, full of gloss, light, and thrilling action. At the same time, it is philosophically and narratively the most sophisticated film by this creator. (02/09/2005)

In terms of content (screenwriting), The Island is Michael Bay’s most riveting film yet. It’s serious subject matter (with several depressing scenes) is skilfully made into a brisk Hollywood blockbuster that fulfils all of the required parameters. The central duo of actors was a bad commercial (producer) decision, but it was a perfect dramaturgical (directorial) move. Their characters needed the greatest possible realism and they played the biggest character roles as they were being familiarised with the “new world”. My favourite passage of the film is the encounter with the children at the station... Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson did not disappoint. The action scenes are peak Bay; the one with the “wasp” and its flight over a skyscraper is a real eye-candy highlight. The visual and musical concepts are kitschier than in Minority Report, for example, but still maintain a certain dignity, are believable and manage to captivate the viewer. And composer Steve Jablonsky steps out from under his own shadow. There are a few holes in the logic and the film has two endings, but it never becomes boring. I was glad it wasn’t ending yet and I could be kept in suspense for a while longer… This is the first Michael Bay movie that interested and entertained me with more than just nice visuals. The Island is a more interesting and daring sci-fi popcorn flick than last year's I, Robot. (24/09/2005)