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A trinity of ISLAND reviews agree. The movie is really...
SPOILER ALERT !!
GOOD!
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with some enthusiastic reviews for Michael Bay's THE ISLAND. Without fail, the call of Plant! will go out, but these reviews aren't the exception to the reviews we've been getting for the last couple months. So, either this movie is actually really good or Dreamworks is undertaking the biggest, most dishonest marketing ploy of all time.
Anyone in the US can see THE ISLAND this Saturday at a nation wide sneak (check your local listings!), so we'll all know soon. In the meantime here are 3 reviews to go over... the first and last being the most spoilerific. Enjoy!
The Bowler is back once again with a sneak peek at another summer
blockbuster, Michael Bay's "The Island". After my review of Charlie & The
Chocolate Factory a few months ago was quickly labeled a "plant" a fellow
gets a bit weary of sending in another one. But I have to tell ya, I've seen
myself a great action picture tonight.
The Island opens with very little pizzazz or craziness except a title of
"the Island"...no Bruckheimer here folks. Onto a little dream sequence
opening with McGregor and Johansson on a boat. This will be very important
later, but it brings us into the introduction of the Lincoln Six Echo
character's daily routine as he awakes from "night terror" and goes about
getting ready. You see all these people living in a "utopia" were saved by
this governmental sort of body with their leader played by the evil Sean
Bean. The people are all here and told that they were survivors of some kind
of disease or catastrophe that wiped out everyone and everything. When a new
clone is brought in the people are told that they were saved from the evil
outside world that is now too harsh to inhabit and they will live here, in
peace and tranquility with everyone else. Funny thing that no one seems to
question (except of course our hero) is how they magically keep "finding"
survivors when new people appear there.
See, the thing that keeps these people going, keeps them in line, and gets
them to all do their job is a seemingly random drawing to go to somewhere,
as the title would suggest, called "the Island". What this "island" is is
the last untouched paradise where people will go to continue the human race
and thrive to survive for everyone else. So, seeing that this is what the
people are told of course they would all want to fight to win their spot to
get to the island. Here is where the movie takes it's time though, which I
liked a lot, to actually let the audience and thus the characters know there
really is no island. McGregor's character gets curious after chatting w/
Steve Buscemi (who has a decent sized part and actually helps get them going
on the outside) about what is beyond their sector. Well, he conveniently
gets past an unguarded ladder and when he follows it up, boom! he's smack
dab in the middle of the government labs where they are all being hidden
(the clones). It is here where we see that the latest person chosen (Michael
Clark Duncan's character) is actually being harvested for his organs. You
see, he is the insurance policy for a famous football player in the real
world that got badly banged up. As the trailer has all let us know, this
surgery does not go so well and thus he tries to escape. In the process
McGregor sees this and realizes: THERE IS NO ISLAND.
From here the movie finally gets moving past the introductions to the
characters and their world into the questions. Finally, someone is
questioning their existence (bad for the people running the place). Now they
become aware of McGregor's awareness and try to stop him. Conveniently
Johansson's character (a supermodel no less) is now in a coma and needs
organs so she is chosen to go to the 'island'. McGregor alerts her to the
reality, they escape, and are on the run.
On the outside is the best part of the movie. The action scenes are
completely Bay at his finest including the amazing car chase scene where the
vehicles are literally torn in half by some giant dumbbell looking things
that are pushed off the back of the truck. Once they get into the flying
motorcycle it gets very out of hand and chaotic, but the direction keeps it
flowing very well and of course Bay does what he does oh so well...he blows
shit up.
I'm trying not to give anything away because for once there is a plot for a
Michael Bay film (which I could say the same for Armageddon), and it is
really quite good and elaborate. If I had to nitpick I would say the only
thing that really bothered me was the fact that the ending is completely
given away in the trailer and that you would think they'd have tighter
security on the people escaping from the main area into the upper parts.
Beyond little problems though, the action scenes were amazing, the dialogue
had none of the standard "you just shot up my car" type of things you'd
expect during the action scenes as one-liners, and the cast really played
the whole innocent thing well. Overall, I would say this was a home run for
everyone involved.
Bowler out.
Here's the least spoiler-ish of the three!
Hey all, over at AICN! J-Man here, just back from a workprint screening of Michael Bay's latest migraine headache waiting to happen, called THE ISLAND. We were told beforehand that this was an unfinished version, and that weeks of work had yet to be done before the 7/22 release. I can't imagine what would be left to work *on*.
Anyway. I'm not the biggest admirer of Michael Bay as a producer, and especially not as a director. In fact, I can't stand the man's work: BAD BOYS 2 was one of the worst movies of its year, imho, and PEARL HARBOR was just... awful. As examples. That said, THE ISLAND is terrific. An epic bit of entertainment that somehow doesn't lose that Michael Bay flash I can't hardly stomach, and somehow I didn't mind it so much this time around.
Ewan McGregor is Lincoln Six-Echo, a clone who's beginning to figure out that the world outside may not be as contaminated as he's been lead to believe, and that The Island in question may not be "nature's last remaining pathogen-free zone". And that The Island may not even exist, at all. In other words, he's too inquisitive; asks too many questions. Gets the people in charge of running his Sector nervous. Lincoln wakes up one day missing a shoe (forget it, doesn't pay off), with sodium excess detected in his piss (again, no pay off there), and finds a butterfly -- the first sign of life to enter his world.
Scarlett Johansson (never ever hotter-looking) is Jordan Two-Delta, Lincoln's best friend who has just won the lottery, and is about to leave for The Island. This is right when Six-Echo sees a woman give birth and be poisoned immediately after, and then a big black dude (Michael Clarke Duncan overacts like you wouldn't believe in a very short timespan) with his chest cut open, being pulled across the floor back to the o.r. to his own death. They were lotto winners, too, and being secretly in love with Two-Delta as he is, Lincoln hatches an escape for them both.
All of this is great. Highly, highly entertaining stuff. The initial running escape scene is sprinkled with ouchy moments; watch out for that wrench, dude. Then, when our two escapees wind up in L.A. tracking down their "sponsors" hoping to spread word about what they have discovered to the rest of the known world. This stuff is even better. Bay outdoes himself with explosions and major motor vehicle damage: the dumbells flying out into the street, flipping cars; the Black Wasps flying around sky trains (some right into them), and through office buildings; Jordan and Lincoln winding up on a huge letter 'R' 70 stories above the city. Man... I couldn't get enough.
In fact, there's a little too much of it going on. I wanted more private moments between our leads. Not just because they're extremely attractive (Johansson gets yummier by the scene), but because there's some intriguing stuff going on with them. They know they're clones, now they do anyway, and what their purprose for being is: Jordan wonders why nobody gives a shit about her being killed for parts, but what about now that she's free and a life she could save probably isn't going to live? I wanted more moments of introspection like that. And for sure, more scenes like the one in the bar -- a fish-out-of-water moment that's just plain funny.
Mostly, Bay is too busy having people run and chase and drive and fly to slow down so they can talk. Don't get me wrong, there's a story, here. Just buried beneath a ton of bluster. But, that's more than I've been able to say about any other Michael Bay flick to date.
THE ISLAND borrows from other movies like GATTACA, THE MATRIX, and hell even TRUMAN SHOW, at will. It's not perfect; how Lincoln Six-Echo is able to have dreams about a particular boat is never explained, and Djimon Hounsou's about-face near the end may be script-necessary but isn't really believable. Even still, I enjoyed myself. A lot!
And here is the super spoiler review! Beware, but enjoy!
Famous Knights of the Roundtable -
(I am not a professional writer, this is the first
time I have ever done this. fyi!)
Yo, Yo... Hello all. Forgive me, I am a first time
writer to you all about a movie coming out, but I was
able to see an advanced screening of "The Island" and
I thought I would drop a line to you all. I wasn't
sure who would be interested in this, so I just went
ahead and sent it out to all ya'll. I will give the
best recollection of the movie as I can remember,
because even though they did the whole "this is still
a work in progress, and it will be bigger, louder and
longer..." it was still pretty friggin sweet.
I went into this movie knowing pretty much nothing. I
didn't do any research as to the characters or too
much of the plot line. Just the normal, "whats it
about and who's in it" was fine for me.
Ewan McGregor plays Lincoln Six-Echo, the movie starts
with him waking from a dream, a dream that you see in
pretty much every trailer out there right now. He is
on a boat with a woman (Scarlett Johansson as Jordan
Two-Delta). Attempting to get to her, he gets pulled
off the boat and drowns... waking up.
I don't want to put too many spoilers in this, so I am
just going to skim over some parts, good and bad.
To explain the overview of the story, all of the
"Clones" (yes they are clones, but are referred to as
"Insurance" in the movie) live in an old abandoned
missile silo refitted with a sweet holographic emitter
that surrounds 3 large tower/buildings. These are
used to breed and raise "Clones". They are raised to
believe that the world was contaminated years ago and
they are the only survivors left, and they must
re-populate the world. Unfortunately the only place
left "clean" is an island, and the only way on the
island is winning your way on from "The Lottery". The
main point of The Lottery is just a way to get the
people they need away, to use them for their
purpose... which in the case for Michael Clark Duncans
character, his "Purchaser" is a football player
needing a new liver. SO what do they do? Raise a new
Michael, when he is ready, send him to "The Island"
(which is just a different level of the towers) and
removes his liver. Basically, you have your own
little clone in case something happens to you and you
need a new spleen or your heart implodes from seeing
Bio-Dome by accident.
(McGregor) starts to ask questions. Wanting to know
more about why they do things the way they do. Why
can't everyone go to the island at the same time? Why
can't men and women become more then friends?
(Side note: When the clones are born, they have the
mental capacity of an infant. They are physically the
age of their purchaser, but are only educated to the
level of a 15 year-old. They are also never taught
about sex.)
(McGregor) and (Johansson) start to like each other.
They are best friends. (McGregor) finds out what
really is going on right about the same time that they
call (Johansson) to The Island.
(Side Note 2: If you want to know about the names.
The first name is the Purchasers last name...
Tom Lincoln...
The middle number is the reference number where the
purchaser lives...
Six, being in L. A.
The Last being the Generation of the Clone...
Alpha - Year one
Beta - Year two
Echo - year three
Delta - year four...
SO we get... all together now... Lincoln Six-Echo)
From this point til about mid way trough the movie is
them running. Running from everyone and everything
trying to either kill them or bring them back to be
harvested. Some pretty cool parts....
- Steve Buscemi plays a Tech Lead Agent that is kinda
like a High Tech Computer Repair Man. Character is
pretty cool, the normal Buscemi part, but he does it
well.
- There are some pretty sweet hover-cycles called
"Black Hornets" (I believe) and they aren't in the
movie too long, but its like a flash back to Star Wars
and the whole Speeder chase scene when they are going
through the streets of a futuristic L.A..
- ALOT of sweet action scenes. I really thought that
this was going to be just a love story and a little
action here and there, but it wasn't. I was impressed
with the "wholeness" of everything. Love. Action.
Story. Total.
- When you go and see this, there is alot of little
things. For example, there is a clone that is always
bugging McGregor and it turns out to be the
President's clone. Pretty funny I thought.
- Its all pretty much straight forward. Alot of
people get the shit beat out of them, and alot of
people die (like McGregors Purchaser.. pretty cool
scene). I was amazed at how much they showed during
fight scenes. The chase scenes were also pretty
amazing. Half the time when something blew up or ran
into something/someone, you weren't expecting it.
Very cool.
Its all baised in pretty much the 2010-2030. They
talk about the law of 2005 banning raising clones for
this purpose, so they lie and tell everyone they they
keep them in a vegetative state until harvested. The
ending is pretty straight forward, they all escape and
go on boat rides and eat White Castles and all that
crap.
The Character relations worked really well I thought,
and the directing felt like The Rock mixed with
Armageddon. Overall though I liked it. The acting
was surprising well, you get to watch them learn as
they go. Using nail guns and not evening knowing was
a nail is.
I don't want to put too much more, because there is
some things that your can't describe. At least not
someone as low as I who has never done one of these
before. I leave that for you big timers. I simply
give you all the point of view from a guy that likes
movies.
Overall, I give it a 8 of 10. Batman Begins is
currently leading with a 9 of 10, tied with Dumb and
Dumber. LoL. By putting that I am pretty sure I will
get banned. If however you use this guys, the name is
Albino Warlock. Thanks!
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+ Expand All
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...that first one sounded like a press release.
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...and I never will. Even if he turns in a Citizen Kane. My hatred of Bay started simply with seeing a full page add for him in The Hollywood Reporter that read: "For Your Consideration. Best Director for The Rock." They actually tried to get him nominated for an Oscar. Yeah, that's not much to hate the guy for, but I also don't know anyone who actually likes a Michael Bay movie.
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I don't know but what I've seen so far looks pretty good...BTW its nice to see people talking about movies on a talkback instead of flaming about politics...I was getting a little sick of that.
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that kills my interest there....
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Seeing it on Saturday in LA. Two great actors in Ewan and Scarlett+Michael Bay action (I wonder how he'll do without Jerry Bruckheimer?) should be a very fun time. Sometimes it's good to have a straightforward, unapologetic action flick with no pretensions.
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Michael Clarke Duncan and Djimon Hounsou in the same film, you say? Hand me a straight razor, ma -- my throat needs a curin'! This movie is pure plant food. Being a discerning moviegoer, I learned my Bay lesson after watching "Bad Boys II." Awful storyteller, terrorist to the epileptic.
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http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078062/
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had enough
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Is Michael Bay a spoilt child or what? Although I've only seen the 45 minute preview of the film I can tell that it looks like a big budget film that could have been made for a quarter of the budget. The car chase is exactly like the one in BAD BOYS II and has no skill or suspense. Just cars having heavy objects thrown at them. Where's the fun in that. Michael Bay sucks!
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Personally I have been excited for this film from the very first preview. and I love watching Bay tear stuff up. While he's never been a performance driven director he normally casts well (except with Pearl Harbour). And he really has action down pat. It's always evisceral and he normally does things that make my head spin thinking about how they did that (even if he does venture into pretentiousness). It'll be interesting watching how he handles performers through the quiet period starting this film...though to be fair McGregor just came from working with a director who is possibly THE least interested in ACTUALLY working with actors (Lucas) and Scarlett...well she's amazingly skillful and great to watch (and to look at, wattabelter!) not to mention Sean Bean and Buscemi. It's all about Casting, casting, casting!
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Jul 08, 2005 5:03:01 AM CDT
So Michael Bay finally makes a good film, but only by stealing b
by some dude
What an asshole.
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Come on, it's a Bay film! "Good" and "Bay" are antonyms.
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Done by MST3k - http://crow-t-robot.home.mindspring.com/reviews_s08_ep811.html.
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Michael Bay is one of the most talented filmmakers working in the industry today. Not many other directors understand the medium like he does. There will be a time when he will grow tired of only big explosions and throwing cars from trucks at full speed. This is the time when he will give us his "True Romance"...by the way: Bad Boys 2 rules!
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Jul 08, 2005 6:52:59 AM CDT
Michael Bay may get a lot of grief, but I give him credit. He kn
by mr. profit
I have never really loved a Michael Bay film, but his whiz bang antics dont annoy me. He has been doing that for years, before people started copying him (ahem McG) At least he isn't to stuck up to know what works for him. Making action movies. Maybe with the Island he has finally put all his talents together and made a good movie? The trailer, look, and effects all look to me like they have the makings for a sleeper summer hit.
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Why do they use the same Font on the posters for all his films? I still think The Island may rule. It's not a sequel, it's not a comic adaptation, it's not a remake, it's a slick looking Sci-Fi movie with two attractive leads, a good trailer, and a good visual look. Again, sleeper hit.
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Bamf!!, shouldn't that be "I'll believe an entertaining Michael Bay movie when I see it."?
Movie looks cool. Damn, now I know what happens I'm not in so much of a rush to see it. -
no one else found Bad Boys II even a little bit fun? Or the Rock? Michael Bay's not exactly Academy Award material but he can throw together a shiny, entertaining piece of schlock once a year and people will still pay to see it.
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Anyone else reminded of Logan's Run in the new trailer?
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The first time I saw the trailer for this - with Batman Begins, I think - at first I thought to myself "whoa! A remake of 'Logan's Run?'" Then I went to see WotW with a friend and we saw the same trailer and I heard him say under his breath "Whoa! A remake of 'Logan's Run?'"
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Bay has made one truly great film, "The Rock", and a whole bunch of guilty pleasures. Eye candy with a sense of humor (save the dour, dull Pearl Harbor). "Armageddon" is actually my favorite guilty pleasure. Yeah, it's cornball and full of plot holes, but it's FUN! I like it. I don't care whatanone says. Bad Boys II did kinda suck, though.
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Equals loud, annoying, trivial, shit-dun-blowed-up, Aerosmith power ballad. So it better be all of those things or I'm gonna want my money back. Also, I'll want my money back if it IS all of those things. Basically, give me my money back for every other Michael Bau film and I may see this one.
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Except for The Rock and Pearl Harbor. But he is one of the best action directors right now, so stop pretending to be smart. Actionfilms are all about action! Yes, sometimes there's a Terminator 2, with great action and a great script, but come on! You can't tell me that you don't wanna see hundreds of cars srashing into each other, big explosions and long and loud shootouts in an actionfilm. And this is, what bay gives you.
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His films are nothing more then thoughless, loud and bloated tripe. Sure he can blow up stuff real gud but so can other directors like Jan de Bont, and none of them get nearly as much fan-fare. On a personal level, he's got a severe yelling problem and likes to grind into crew members for doing nothing less then their jobs. Hey that would be fine if these little temper tantrums didn't seem like the pouty outbursts of a little rich-kid being inconvenienced. The man has zero class and it shows in his style and execution.
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This movie is a ripoff of
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Thanks for the reviews. Maybe I'll actually enjoy seeing a Michael Bay film. As a science fiction fan, it's nice to see Bay crossing over into a new genre. If anything is going to save "The Island," in my opinion, it'll be the script written by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, two top writers for tv's "Alias" and "Lost." I'm glad Bay decided to use these guys, because it indicates a maturation of his style. I'm sure fans of Michael Bay will always love the Will Smith one-liners, hundreds of cars blowing up, and the lack of anything -- plot or action-wise -- based in reality, but I'm glad to see Bay trying something new, something more inspired and less lowbrow. I'll go see it.
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Jul 08, 2005 10:19:46 AM CDT
The PERFECT reason to go see The Island...right here.
by sydbarretsmydad
http://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hv&cf=pg&photoid=578148&id=1808607940
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Perhaps I should have added that. Even Bay's harshest critics like The Rock. Except for Presidnet Evil, apparently.
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Bay makes terrible movies. No other way around it. He makes the best previews I've ever seen, but his movies all suck. The Rock is NOT good in any sense of the word. The chases are hackneyed crap, and the performances are awful. Nic Cage and Sean Connery were terrible. This movie will be another in a long line of overfinanced, well attended shit fests
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Has anybody else seen that really long ISLAND trailer on MTV? The one where they show behind-the-scenes footage of some of the action sequences, then they show like three minutes of footage of a big car chase sequence? Number one: that car chase did look pretty intense, despite the fact that Bay already did the exact same thing in BAD BOYS II. And number two: I've never seen a trailer like that before. Very cool marketing idea. By the way, due to the wording of the above reviews I'm not convinced any of them aren't plants.
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of scenes for this movie literally right under my office window in Detroit. Blocked off the street I take into work, which sucked, but the movie crew was awesome - Ewan especially. He even laughed when, during a break, I screamed "Obi Wan - you suck" at him. FYI - Scarlett is AMAZING. Jaw dropping hot.
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Jul 08, 2005 11:50:45 AM CDT
Me thinks Dreamworks is trying to build buzz with an at best, la
by johnnytremaine
Hey, good marketing is no crime and Dreamworks and Bay are free to spin away. Doesn't mean I have to buy into it, which I don't. Verdict: rental.
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Are you sorry? Say you're sorry. Anyway, this feels like a high concept sci-fi premise with a hour long chase scene, ala Total Recall, Logan's Run, Minority Report, Paycheck, Blade Runner, The Sixth Day, etc.
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But I may actually go see this now. I'm no Bay fan, but Logan's Run was cool and I actually think a remake with McGregor might work. Then again, maybe not. My interest is piqued though...Damn you marketing (and plants)!!
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mmmmm....
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Jul 08, 2005 12:53:30 PM CDT
There is NO ISLAND?!?! OH MY GOD!!! I will be on the edge of my
by ar42
Seriously, I've never seen a preview that made seeing the actual movie any more pointless. WHAT?! There is no island?? WHAT?!?! They're just using us as cloned body parts? I can't imagine anything more annoying than sitting in the theater waiting for the characters to figure out something everyone in the audience ALREADY KNOWS. Jesus.
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Does this I mean I have to watch this now? I loved Logan's Run.
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Logan's Run was a PG movie with boobies. How far we have regressed culturally.
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Catchy tune.
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Overall.... I was entertained. I saw it at a free screening so I can't complain about "wasted money" but I wouldn't have felt my $8 was wasted if I had paid. Ewan McGregor is always great in whatever he does and this movie is no exception. He does an American accent for his Lincoln Six-Echo character which was distracting at first as you picked out the little words that were still tinged with a Scottish Accent! Later, however, when he meets up with his outside-world clone-daddy (Tom), we get a wonderful dialogue going about a Scottish accent as Lincoln tries to imitate Tom. This is important later as Lincoln is acting as an imposter Tom and this is where Ewan's brilliance comes out... you can tell he's TRYING to fake an accent and slipping up with some of words, giving them an American accent! If that doesn't confuse you, you're smart.
Moving on.
Scarlett Johansen was adequate. I didn't feel a whole lot for her character most of the way through. The setup of her character was more meaty as she kicks Ewan's ass in a virtual boxing game. But that ass-kicking never pans out to anything real on the outside world. She becomes too demure, letting Ewan do most of the fighting himself. After the ass-kicking, I don't think she'd just step back and watch him do all the fighting without offering to help, especially if she could kick his ass, really. I also don't buy that she'd go with him so easily and without more questions.
Still. At least they tried to flesh out her character with a subplot about her counterpart's son, but this was left a big unresolved at the end. No real biggie, I just think they could have taken that a few steps further.
Sean Bean was pretty good, Steve Buscemi was great (as usual!), and Michael Clarke Duncan's small part was effective.
The action was really fun, though I felt some editing was in order (the "dumbell off the back of the truck" big seemed to go on a few car-smashing-crashes too long, for example).
In the end, the movie was pretty predictable. I'm not sure if that's the movie's fault, or if it's because I've SEEN this movie before in the form of Mystery Science Theatre 3000's episode of PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR. Now it's been a few years since I've seen that but from what I remember, it's the same movie. I guess if you're going to do a remake, you might as well take something old and shitty, and turn it into something more watchable and entertaining.
Some final gripes: There were some pretty tacky lines ("My name is LINCOLN!") and the short sex scene didn't really have enough build to it. Why would people who knew nothing about sex and didn't even seem interested suddenly jump down each others throats and play tongue-hockey? That could have used some more explanation. Oh yes, and the plot device of Lincoln remembering Tom's memories was kind of a cock-up. So what, Tom's memories seep into his DNA or something? Finally, I KNOW this is nit-picky but if the clones are exact DNA replicas (including the age-factor) of people on the outside, wouldn't the chronic diseases in the organs that these clones are being bred for also be replicated? I try not to be too picky about these things but come on. Plot hole. At least make an attempt to fill it!!
Still, as I said before, I was entertained, despite all the flaws. In the end, isn't that what it's about? Maybe, maybe not. I was still caught up in the action and cared about most of the characters. I'd give it 3/5 stars. -
Oh yes, the announcer on the "inside" reminds me of Apollonia James in another MST3K classic: Overdrawn at the Memory Bank.
"Apollonia, you don't need all this pizzaz! You were enough." HAHAHAHAHHAHAA!!! -
stretchiest. talkback. ever.
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"The Island" smells fishy to a lot of people, so much so there's a website
http://www.agonybooth.com/parts/island.asp
Text reproduced here:
Ever get tired of the big guys trampling on the little guys? Ever want to poke the eye out of some smarmy bastard with billions and an army of lawyers who thinks they make the rules?
This is your chance!
On July 22nd, DreamWorks is releasing the film "The Island," directed by
Michael ("Armageddon") Bay and starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson.
Anyone who has seen the trailer or a sneak preview and has also seen the
film "Clonus" (also known as "Parts: The Clonus Horror") -- which appeared
on CBS twice, the SciFi Channel, and even Mystery Science Theater 2000 --
knows that the plots are waaaay too similar to be mere coincidence.
"Clonus" tells the story of Richard, a resident of a contained utopian
facility. Like all of the inhabitants of this carefully controlled environment, Richard hopes to be chosen to go to "America," where everyone is happy. But Richard soon discovers that everything about his existence is a lie. He and all his friends are actually clones whose only purpose is to provide "spare parts" for their original human counterparts. Realizing it is only a matter of time before he is "harvested," he and a beautiful fellow resident named Lena plot an escape to the outside world they've never known. Relentlessly pursued by the forces of the sinister institute that once housed him, Richard engages in a race for his life to literally meet his makers.
Compare that with the summary for "The Island" on imdb.com!
It seems the main difference is the budget: "The Island" exceeded $100 million! That is 400 times the final budget of Clonus!! Of course, the big-budget film will have lots of chases and a happy ending tacked on -- you don't gamble that much money on a downer -- but that doesn't disguise its true origins. And many many others have made note of this; at this writing, if you Google "Clonus" and "The Island" together, you get around 10,800 hits, most commenting on the extraordinary similarity!
imdb.com is considered the definitive source for information about films;
on the imbd.com page for "The Island," if you click "Movie Connections"
over to the left, it even says "Remake of 'Clonus' (1979)," and if you
click on "Movie Connections" for "Clonus" it says "Remade as 'The Island'
(2005)."
Yet, amazingly, the original makers of "Clonus" (Director Robert S.
Fiveson, Producer Myrl A. Schreibman and screenwriters Bob Sullivan and Ron Smith) have been completely SHUT OUT, receiving no credit, no compensation, no anything including not being asked if it could be remade --
If one could trace the history of Clonus one would find that at the time it was made, many in the industry, including possibly some of the principles of DreamWorks, knew and saw the film. How do you think the Clonus filmmakers feel right now?
Adding lots of chases and a happy ending doesn't make the idea original!
How can you help? How can you stick a fistful of money up the arrogant noses of overpaid -
...the stretch talkback here looks better than Mr. Fantastic (and at a way lower budget!)
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I, among others will be there to see it. I cant fucking wait.
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Jul 08, 2005 7:52:32 PM CDT
Someone Break this Story for me - PARTS THE CLONUS HORROR RIPOFF
by ahiller
I sure hope there is a credit at the end of this movie to the film starring that A&E voice guy - Peter . . . something - called "Parts: The Clonus Horror." http://www.mst3kinfo.com/aceg/8/811/ep811.html
The storyline is EXACTLY the same, except instead of getting to go to "The Island" the clones get called up to "America." A clone and his girlfriend escape and try to break the story, but of course the politicians who rely on these clones try to stop them.
Where did I see this ? A little show called Mystery Science Theatre 3000! ! ! (Sci Fi Series). The movie was pretty funny thanks to the bots.
HARRY ! please give this story some gas. I can't believe anyone has called them on it - how this action thriller is really a remake of a LAME MST3k film.
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She's so plain... and flat. I can walk through Century City Mall and find 10 girls that look like her and 10 more better looking than her within 20 minutes. Why are you guys falling for the hype. She's not hot.
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I've seen several of the actors in television interviews saying a lot of the stuff they filmed was definately NOT PG13 material (organ harvesting+lots of blood=R). That means the studio cut the fuck out of this movie. So sorry, I'm not interested - I don't do censored movies. When the uncut DVD comes out I might care enough to give it a rent. Maybe.
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THE ROCK- AWESOME
ARMAGEDDON- STOOOOPID BUT EFFECTIVE IN ITS OWN LITTLE WAY. AWESOME CAST YET EVERYTHING ELSE IS JUST SO RIDICULOUSLY RETARDED U CANT HELP BUT GO WHAT THE FUCK
PEARL HARBOR- I CAN SEE WHERE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLE BUT ULTIMATELY IT'S JUST AN ABOMINATION. HEY WE GOT ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENTS IN U.S. HISTORY...BEN AFFLECK LOVE TRIANGLE FUCK YA THAT'S WHAT I WANNA SEE ARGGGG IT'S NOT GOOD WHEN I CARE NOTHING FOR PEOPLE DYING IN MASSIVE NUMBERS IN AN EVENT THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED WHEN IT TAKES PLACE IN SUCH A POORLY EXECUTED MOVIE.
BAD BOYS- WILL SMITH AND MARTIN LAWRENCE ARE THE BANE OF MY EXISTENCE. WILL SMITH USED TO BE COOL. FRESH PRINCE I MEAN CMON... BUT NOW FRESH PRINCE IS IN EVERYTHING CHANGE YOUR FUCKING CHARACTER!
BAD BOYS 2- SAME BUT WORSE THAN THE FIRST
THE ISLAND- NO HISTORY...NO WILL SMITH... NO ASTEROIDS... LOOKS FUCKING AWESOME TO ME! -
Hey all.
I just wanted to let you all know that I am not a plant.
Putting this, I know that some of you now think in your minds
"well he HAS to be a plant"... I am not.
FYI, you don't get to see any Johansen boobies. Sorry.
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After all the director of Logan's Run and 1984, Michael Anderson, is also the same guy that directed Orca... that's got to prove anything is possible. Peace.
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Hell yeah baby.
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Steve Buscemi was hilarious, one of the best parts of the movie in my opinion. Scarlett and Ewan did a great job of pretending to be children trapped in adult bodies. The futuristic technology shown in the movie, from the maglev trains to the fighting video game, was cool. The costume design was spiffy--I have a sudden urge to buy a white tracksuit.
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i like how the 3rd guy says he doesnt want to be real spoiler-y then proceeds to give away every single part of the movie.... but anyway, i love bays first 3 films, they were getting better and better, but then PH and BB2 sucked, more or less. this redeemed him in a big way. the action isnt up to par with Rock (a LOT of the money shots are in the trailer) but still a blast. he allows the plot to unfold slowly (well, slowly for him) and the camera to be still when theres not a lot going on (oddly, there are 2 or 3 bay-esque scenes of nothing happening, the camera freaking out, with a big score early on, and as soon as the music stops, the camera slows down too. its like he snuck into the editing room and threw in some stuff for his fans). the clonus comparisons are just, but no more than chainsaw/1000 corpses or fletch/harry crumb ones would be. and fuck ANYONE who cant at least partially enjoy a movie that has KIM COATES (unbilled as a PR guy for the bad guys)!
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Sorry to say I was a little disappointed. Great cast and a great idea, but once the action sequences kick in you lose the curiosity the movie gave you during the first 45 minutes. Ewan's great in two roles but he still hasn't nailed the American accent. Scarlett's never looked better. If a different sort of director had done this film (Spielberg, Nolan, e.g.), it might have been a lot more interesting. As it is, the film's basically an awesome 45 minute sustained action sequence bookended by a great sci-fi premise.
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Just saw The Island last night at the nation-wide screener. Yes, Bad Boys 2 SUCKED and I'd rather be hit in the side of the head with a torpedo than see Pearl Harbor again, but this movie is completely worth seeing. The subwoofers did the nut-vibe dance throughout and it's visually stunning. The CG work is top notch, although the a for mentioned scene atop the 'R' logo takes it all a step to far... I like to feel that survival is plausible, not impossible... BUT NOW FOR THE REAL GRIPE WITH THIS FILM!!!!!! (And I can't believe no one has brought this up) The product placement is ridiculous!! Every time a company logo graced the screen I was immediately ripped from the grasp of any given scene. Here are just a few of the fucking culprits (The names have been changed to protect the innocent! LOL) : XBUX, Machelob Light, Aguafina, Aguafina and Aguafina and more Aguafina... Please, I am calling out to the film industry, we don't pay $9.25 to see a fucking commercial, let alone several commercials in a row! The can of Machelob Light has complete screen time at one point. If the can were an actor, it would now be eligible for it's SAG membership! Anyway, good movie with exception of the commercials...... sigh! I might go back just for another nut buzz with Johansson on the screen! ;) Oh, and they're not barbells, they're train wheels...
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You didn't think Michael Bay thought up this idea on his own now? Here's his source:
The brilliant(smirk), late 70's smash hit, Parts: The Clonus Horror
http://www.agonybooth.com/parts/
It's too bad peter graves wasn't available for this one. Enjoy! -
My bad.
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If I hear about Parts and MST3K one more time, I might just yawn... And we have President Evil to thank for the TB stretch.
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The product placement is totally ridiculous, totally takes you out of the movie. Does anyone know how much money these companies typically pay to have their stuff in movies? Is it really worth it to the filmmakers to use them?
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I forgot MSN Search, Cisco Systems and Cadillac.....
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