A Look in The Island (2005)
There are some films that just really make you think deeply, and The Island is one of them. A bit of an old film but it's hard to get over it. I was even shocked when I googled the movie and the release date I saw was 2005 (really, that old?). It's an action-packed sci-fi thriller, but it's kind of a tale of two halves. You've got Ewan McGregor playing Lincoln Six Echo and Scarlett Johansson as Jordan Two Delta, and their story kicks off in what seems like a picture-perfect, sterile compound somewhere in the middle of the 21st century.
What's It All About?
In the beginning of the film we meet Lincoln, living this super-structured life with a bunch of others. They all believe the outside world is ruined, and their one big hope is to "win" a lottery ticket to "The Island," supposedly the last untouched place on Earth. The setup of the film makes it mysterious. The character Lincoln usually has these weird dreams and spotting little things that just don't add up, hinting at something much darker beneath their seemingly perfect lives.
As Lincoln digs deeper, he stumbles upon a chilling truth: they're not survivors at all. Nope, they're actually clones, specifically grown to provide organs and even act as surrogates for super-rich sponsors outside. The Island is just a cruel, elaborate charade, a cover-up for harvesting their bodies. So, when Jordan gets selected for this supposed lottery – which is really a death sentence – Lincoln risks everything to save her. Their desperate escape into the real world is where the movie totally shifts gears, going from a thoughtful sci-fi puzzle to an all-out, relentless chase, with the cold, calculating Dr. Merrick (Sean Bean) alongside with his mercenaries.
My thoughts
I really liked the initial premise of the film, regarding cloning. McGregor and Johansson really delivered strong performances, especially in that earlier, more suspenseful part of the film. The whole atmosphere at the start was also widely appreciated for its unsettling vibe.
However, where it went sideways for many me was when Lincoln and Jordan broke free, we see nothing more than car chases, massive explosions, and just endless gunfire. I think all the action, while visually impressive, completely overshadowed the film's deeper themes. While both parts of the movie might work on their own, they just don't quite gel.
All in all, The Island is a fascinating watch in Michael Bay's filmography. It shows he's capable of exploring really significant ethical ideas and building an engaging world, but ultimately, it leans too heavily into his signature style of big and loud identity. While it probably won't go down in history as a sci-fi masterpiece, it's definitely an interesting example of how a director's particular flair can both help and hinder a potentially compelling story.
That is quite an interesting plot! Reminds me of the anime 'Promised Neverland'. I will save this to my watchlist. Movies like this are always worth the watch.