The Island

When I thought, after the Bad Boys II, that Michael Bay had permanently drowned in his action-comedy affectations, I couldn't have been more wrong. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman wrote him a script that suited him perfectly and although it's a timid prelude 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 failure, 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 the reveal, but the action in the second half lifts the film completely someplace else. (14/02/2006)

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)

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)

For me, Michael Bay's best film, which is just short of perfection. It's a great blend of sci-fi, drama and action, all spiced up with a touch of romance. It's all accompanied by an incredible soundtrack, composed by the until recently unknown to me Steve Jablonsky. The plot was absolutely meticulously thought out and I didn't get lost at all. The visual effects were carefully done and convincing. In short, this a very good film with an original and unorthodox theme, it could have benefited from a shorter running time, but even that was bearable. (22/08/2010)

A weaker 4 stars. Definitely not because Bay made a swashbuckling actioner out of stuff someone else would have made Blade Runner out of -). More because I kind of got lost in it at times, and if the camera had stayed still for a moment I wouldn't have minded at all. Otherwise, probably the most logical lapses I've seen recently. (01/10/2009)