The Island (2005)

Director:

Michael Bay

Writers (WGA):

Caspian Tredwell-Owen (screenplay) and
Alex Kurtzman (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

22 July 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Your time will come...

Plot:

A man goes on the run after he discovers that he is actually a "harvested being", and is being kept along with others in a utopian facility.

Plot Keywords:

Environment | Clone | Lottery | Escape | Shootout

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Lincoln Six Echo / Tom Lincoln
Scarlett Johansson	...	Jordan Two Delta / Sarah Jordan
Djimon Hounsou	...	Albert Laurent
Sean Bean	...	Dr. Merrick
Steve Buscemi	...	James McCord
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Starkweather Two Delta
Ethan Phillips	...	Jones Three Echo
Brian Stepanek	...	Gandu Three Echo
Noa Tishby	...	Community Announcer
Siobhan Flynn	...	Lima One Alpha
Troy Blendell	...	Laurent Team Member
Jamie McBride	...	Laurent Team Member
Kevin McCorkle	...	Laurent Team Member
Gary Nickens	...	Laurent Team Member
Kathleen Rose Perkins	...	Laurent Team Member

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of violence and action, some sexuality and language.

Runtime:

136 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Taiwan:PG-12 | Malaysia:18SG | Iceland:16 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | USA:PG-13 (certificate #41894) | France:U (with warning) | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Finland:K-15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Germany:16 | Canada:G (Quebec) | UK:12A | Ireland:12A | Norway:15 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Netherlands:12 | Sweden:11 | Denmark:11 | Brazil:14 | Argentina:16 | Peru:14 | Czech Republic:12

Filming Locations:

Ambassador Hotel - 3400 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

DreamWorks SKG

Trivia:

The turtle-shaped car in Tom Lincoln's display case is a model of John Cobb's "Railton-Mobil Special", which broke the World Land Speed Record three times in 1938, 1939 and 1947. The latter record stood for nearly 16 years, when it was broken by Craig Breedlove's "Spirit of America" jet car. Subsequent piston-engined cars have only pushed up the record by 11 m.p.h.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When Merrick's colleague gives him the results of Lincoln's brain scans, you can clearly see that the "panel" pictures are projected via static LCD beamers.

Quotes:

[first lines]
God-Like Man: You're special. You have a very special purpose in life. You've been chosen. The Island awaits you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Future in Action (2005) (V)

Soundtrack:

Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

A fun ride....

I liked "The Island" quite a bit due for two reasons: a depiction of the future which wasn't too "over the top", which was refreshing, coming from Bay, and that the leads were very effective at portraying their characters. McGregor, from his acting, and Johansson, from her open, fresh expression. There could have been a little more exploration of the cloning question, and I felt the action was, while visually beautiful, mundane. The score was outstanding, the theme beautifully matching the opening to the film. Pity there wasn't more of it. Sean Bean, to those used to his villainous work in "Patriot Games", and "Goldeneye", was a little weak, but due to writing, not his thespian skills. And what's a Micheal Bay or Cohen Brothers movie without Steve Buscemi? His character was relatively weak, with no real motivation behind his actions in the film. Djimon Hounsou has a pretty good part. Nice to see him carry a substantial role. One good reason to see the film: great visuals, good looking people with consistent positive ideals. Pretty to watch.