The Island

Bay’s attempt at making a different type of movie than he usually does stopped somewhere half-way along the route. In the end, the initially intriguingly developing screenplay proves to be the weakest aspect of this movie. Despite the fact that something is always going on in this picture and despite the frantic editing, paradoxically this seems to lack pace. But even so, thanks to an excellent McGregor and the precise technical aspects, this is an above-average picture which is definitely more endearing than Bay’s previous movies, but unfortunately it isn’t one of his best. (05.09.2005)

The first film of the repulsive megalomaniac after The Rock, which I again enjoyed with all the icing on the cake. I really don't know why I would want to talk about a more serious idea in the case of The Island, which may be interesting at the embryonic stage, but fortunately Bay is obviously afraid of deeper topics - he reduces the island's ant base into crumbly but tolerable dialogues, and after a while the whole plot is reduced to "from whom it is necessary to escape / who needs to be defeated and what needs to be destroyed". No loops, but on the contrary great action fire from all cannons, fast editing, excellent background music, breathtaking effects (especially the scene with train wheels is breathtaking). The island is dominated by a clinically pure image style, a crystal clear and uncomplicated futuristic aesthetic that is as clear and legible as the story of the film. It slides down the neck and does not burden the stomach. I do not mean that in a bad way. Michael Bay is good at all the cliché slow motion, camera flights, etc., and he can do them cleanly and precisely like few others, and The Island operates with the expression of an action film with absolute bravura. The result is two hours, my brain was sweetly turned off and I rode only on a wave of adrenaline, which is not muffled by anything. A great relaxation experience - I of course understand that whoever was waiting for intelligent sci-fi must have been disappointed. But wanting it from Michael is like wanting a circumcision at St. Vitus. Have I ever written that Scarlett Johansson is absolutely GORGEOUS??? (10.01.2007)

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. (25.09.2005)

For someone who has seen Logan's Run, The Island is a completely pointless affair. Even though the story does go in a different direction in the second half and the whole thing seems to be just a bastardized take on Equilibrium. But I realize that it may not be that much of a big deal for fans of McGregor, Johansson, or Bay. (06.11.2011)

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)