The Island, better known as the latest cinema extravaganza by director Micheal Bay
Well, to be honest I actually liked The Rock and Armageddon.
Those two movies weren't exactly high art but they didn't try passing themselves as high art either. They were action films for the sake of being action films. The Island is something else. A little thoughtful with the subjects they're dealing with, but when it comes to dealing with morals and ethics The Island is a featherweight.
So what? Remember though, this is a Micheal Bay film. Fuck being thoughtful, screw morals, and piss on ethics, Micheal Bay is going to deliver action.
Right?
Right?
Ehnnn.
Not really.
The one action scene I liked involves the late 21st century version of a Mack truck hauling train wheels and axles, with a quick release for the contraption holding it all together. You do not want to be the guy following that truck.
Everything else in the action department wasn't really note worthy, or interesting.
Probably the biggest thing that annoyed me though, was all the product placements. They were distracting and I hated how in some scenes, you would actually see the cars posed. I shit you not, the cars were posed in that standard advertisement pose with the car facing stage right, twisted 45 degrees clockwise. Though I will give some credit, one of the posed vehicles was destroyed. Probaby the most egregious example of product placement in the entire movie was the Scarlett Johansson character watching her own perfume commercial.
In the acting department, points go to Djimon Hounsou. He plays the large intimidating black guy very well, and reminded me of his role in Amistad. Namely the playing of undeniably tough character. Otherwise everyone else holds up their end with the acting duties, though Steve Buscemi makes the usual waves with his small, but crucial, role.
Overall just a flaky movie that isn't sunk by its flakiness but doesn't deliver in the action department.
2 stars out of 4.