The Island

Scarlett is so hot in this movie alot of future stuff and wow Scarlett is hot in this

Life underground is controlled. Everyone wears the same uniform and everyone has a specific job although they don't know the purpose of their jobs. There is a lottery to go to an island get away and all members look forward to this. What do they don't know is that the lottery winners coincide with policy holders needing a body part and that they are the prize.

We both liked this futuristic action about a society of clones who live under ground without knowing who they are. Two of them learn that they are being grown for their body parts for the original host (who thinks they are vegetables) and escape into the outside world to let the real world know what's going on underground.

Beautifully choreographed actions scenes, a good script and a great team of actors help pull off this movie that is somewhat reminiscent to the 70s cult classic Logan's Run. The Island raises the obvious question about how far we should go in cloning research and whether a line must be drawn, where, and just who gets to pick up the pen. I highly recommend this film for its entertainment value and thought provoking innuendo. Reviewed by M. E. Wood.

The concept behind `The Island' is one that, despite claims of forgery, is quite impressive. In fact, with the initial concept the script could really have gone one of three ways. It could have been worked into a thinking man's film, ala `Children of Men' and really been at the head of the Oscar race. It could have become a strategically executed action film in the vein of, well just about every other Michael Bay film or it could have fallen flat of expectations and really dissolved all potential. `The Island' decided to take the middle road, and while I would have loved to see this concept taken a little more seriously I can't complain about the outcome. `The Island' may very well be Michael Bay's best film, although `Armageddon' is still stupendous in my opinion. Aside from a brilliant synopsis, `The Island' also sports some mind-blowing special effects and some sincere and unexpected performances, especially when you take the genre into account. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson are two brilliant actors and so casting them in this brand of action film was a smart idea. This film is more than just your typical `blow stuff up' action film for it has heart and moral and emotions and getting two actors who are capable of pulling that off was essential. I really don't care what others may say, Scarlett Johansson is above and beyond our finest young actress working today. Anyone who disagrees is just jealous in my opinion.

So I'm ranting and raving about this concept and still I've really said nothing about it. Well here it goes. The Island itself is the last livable surface upon the Earth, a beautiful and serene garden where only a select few have the chance of dwelling. In fact, all of Earth's remaining survivors of the `contamination' are dwelling within a facility completely sealed off from the outside world. Here they await their selection (via lottery) to leave the facility for life on the island. The truth behind this though is that these so-called survivors are not even human. No, the place in which they dwell is not holding grounds for human survivors but a breeding ground for human clones, clones contained and harvested for spare parts. The lottery selecting the `survivor' heading to `the island' is really sending the selected clone to his or her deathbed as they're essentially murdered and dissected so their human sponsors can live on.

The clones are oblivious to the real goings on of the facility, but they have their speculations and questions that continue to go unanswered. There is one clone in particular though that has more than a few questions and theories. Lincoln Six Echo is suffering from strange dreams of a past he can't quite remember. When he oversees an act of violence that raises a few flags and explains a few concerns he quickly puts the pieces together to realize that this island is not the promised paradise but a reward not worth attaining. When the lovely Jordan Two Delta is selected to leave he has to work fast to save her life, putting his own in danger. With the help of an employee to the facility, McCord, both Lincoln and Jordan escape and enter the real world, a world which they know nothing of. They are soon pursued by bounty hunters while they struggle to find their sponsors in an effort to attain their freedom. They journey is harrowing, exciting and intense.

The action sequences are astonishing and beautiful to watch and the chemistry between McGregor and Johansson is phenomenal. The rest of the cast is also well rounded. Steve Buscemi is fine as McCord. He has this way about him that makes him almost an essential actor, like any other actor wouldn't do. My wife hates him but I think he's greatly unappreciated. Sean Bean is fantastic as the villain Merrick. He plays a good brand of evil. Djimon Hounsou is one of my favorite new actors (well, not really `new' but `newer') and here he does a fine job. In fact his performance as bounty hunter Albert Laurent effortlessly portrays the emotions needed for the pivotal role. I really want to see this actor shine in years to come. He's displayed the ability to (in films like `Gladiator' and `In America') but he's also been embraced for less impressive performances (ala `Blood Diamond') so hopefully he'll settle down on perfection and move forward from there.

One performance I wanted to mention was Michael Clarke Duncan's only because it's so short yet so brilliant. The act of violence Lincoln Six Echo sees involves the murder of Duncan's character Starkweather, and his performance therein is phenomenal.

So, there is a lot of good to look forward to when watching `The Island'. It's a brilliantly orchestrated science fiction action film that lives up to Michael Bay's name, but it also features some warm and textured performances that help aid in the emotional relevancy of the material. Sure, it could have gone another route and maybe have been technically a `better' film, but it surely excels in the route is takes and for that we can all be thankful.

The Island is an incredible sci-fi movie about the struggle to survive and the fight for freedom. It stars Ewan McGregor as Lincoln 6-Echo, who is part of a community of people in 2019, living an existence where every aspect of their lives is monitored and controlled. They have been told that the Earth has suffered a catastrophe, making the outside world poisonous and that they are the only survivors. They lead a boring life where their only hope is that they'll win the lottery and be taken to live on the 'Island', the last uncontaminated place on Earth. Lincoln has a very big problem. He's just discovered that everything he's been told is a lie. Everyone who wins the lottery dies so their organs can be removed. He needs to save his best friend, the dazzlingly beautiful Jordan 2-Delta (Scarlett Johansson), escape the complex, discover the truth about his existence and figure out a way to save everyone else from certain death.

As many people have pointed out there's plenty of action in the movie, especially car chases. But this does not detract from the movie at all. On the contrary it adds to the suspense and really makes the viewer sympathise with Lincoln and Jordan. All they want is to live a normal life but everyone is trying to kill them and the lives of all their friends rests on their survival.

The world of 2019 hasn't changed much from ours. Computers are better, cars look a bit sleeker and there's the occasional jetbike or hovertrain. But the best thing is that you can extend your lifespan by having cloned organ transplants as long as you're rich enough.

But the movie isn't all bleak. The clones are very child-like when it comes to their thoughts and language. Their goofy smiles and confused, naive reactions to various situations provides much comic relief. Steve Buscemi also contributes to the fun. All of the cast give a good performance and there are plenty of interesting characters aside from the main ones. Jones 3-Echo is charmingly naive and Dr. Merrick is a force of pure evil. The Island is definitely a must-have.

One of the great untold tragedies of the 20th century was the prevalence of medical testing on unwitting subjects. Some Americans have probably heard of the Tuskegee airmen, black American servicemen who became unwitting test subjects for medical experiments. But how many people are aware of the medical testing performed on ignorant prisoners, on poor people on various Caribbean islands, or the large-scale testing of vaccines on African villagers throughout the latter half of the 20th century. The latter tragedy was the background for the movie "The Constant Gardener" but it was kept in the background. This movie takes medical experimentation and puts it front and center in the middle of America.

The plot is simple; two clones discover that they were created to have their organs harvested. They then fight to escape, and then to help others like them escape. The story takes on the issues of cloning, genetic engineering, mind control, and even the power of corporations operating in the medical sphere. Yes the story has the requisite action scenes and love scene needed for any Hollywood flick, but it also has enough scenes to explore the medical and moral issues involved. We have Lincoln's real counterpart, a rich, spoiled yuppie who needs replacement organs because his are suffering from STD's he has picked up from various women. Then there is the scene when Scarlett Johansson's character sees the son of her real counterpart. And then there is the scene where Djimon Hounsou's character parallels the medical cloning with the atrocities he witnessed in his homeland in Africa. All in all, this was a great action movie with heart and a meaning. A great watch.