The Film
If you look up "Michael Bay" in the Urban Dictionary, you'll find such gems as, "A person who is incapable of complex and/or abstract thought, and focuses on pure visual and tactile stimulation." That's the nice definition.
In other words, the director isn't really known for his thought-provoking material. That's just fine, however. The world needs mindless action, and no one does it better (and with a bigger budget) than Bay. He's sort of like James Cameron, without the awards, the accolades, and the passion for 3D.
Bay desperately tried to elevate his usual subject matter with 2005's The Island. Now don't get crazy; this film doesn't require a thinking cap. It just disguises itself as a smart movie very well, by cherry-picking from sci-fi favorites such as Logan's Run, THX 1138, The Matrix, and even A Clockwork Orange.
In the future, the world is a contaminated cesspool. Only the chosen few win the lottery and are picked to go to the last safe place on Earth, The Island. At least that's what the people living in this underground compound are brainwashed into believing. However (spoiler alert!), it turns out that they are just clones, whose sole purpose is to provide back-up parts for the rich and/or famous. Time for a new liver? Send in the clone. Want to have a baby without losing that girlish figure? Knock up a clone. And dispose of the host when you're done, of course. Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) figures out the scam and makes a break for it, with recent lottery "winner" Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) in tow.
The Island is sort of a stupid movie. However, that's not really the problem. It's that Bay tries to use faux science to make this film seem smarter than it actually is. Since The Island, Bay has been all Transformers all the time, so you can imagine how well it worked out. The Island completely sank at the box office. Even Bay should know that it's all about the action. This film certainly delivers on that. Like most of Bay's films, The Island is about 30 minutes too long, but it's also surprisingly fun, pretty to look at, and should fill your "cool explosions" quota. If you can check your brain at the door and ignore the film's many lingering questions, it's sort of a fun ride.
We didn't try to clone Joe Lozito's review. Check out some of the harsh words he had for the theatrical release of The Island.
The Picture
The Island features quite a bit of shaky cam, but that doesn't make it any less pretty. This 2.40:1 transfer is very easy on the eyes, in more ways than one. First, the main actors are incredibly attractive and look absolutely wonderful here. Facial details, hair and clothing all look incredibly detailed. Also, the scenery is almost as gorgeous as the film's two leads. If we're going to be picky, the colors can be a little oversaturated in some spots, but that appears to be intentional.
The Sound
Every inch of The Island is an immersive experience. This is a Michael Bay film, so audiences shouldn't expect any less. The DTS-HD Master Audio track starts out with some nice thumping bass, only to go into a full-blown audio melee. There's water dripping, machines, helicopters, bullets, giant barbells, flying motorcycles, and a slew of other awesome noises zipping throughout the soundfield. Even in the boring moments, there's a lot going on here. It's an unbelievably entertaining track.
The Extras
Paramount has picked up all of the extras from the DVD release, which are fairly decent. The real gem is Michael Bay's audio commentary. The guy loves to talk, and has plenty to say about the budget, the locations, action scenes, the cast, and even some of the things that didn't work all that well.
There are also three featurettes included. The action gets its own short -- and rightfully so, since that's basically the entire movie. There's also a piece on the use of computers in the film, as well as a making-of short, which provides a wider look at the film. All are your basic promo pieces, but offer a nice peek into some of the film's production.
Final Thoughts
When you sign on for a Michael Bay film, you should pretty much know what you're getting into. The Island will not disappoint his fans, and may even entice a few others. It's a little long, but this is a stellar Blu-ray with a ton of eye and ear candy. If nothing else, it makes a great home theater demo disc.
Product Details
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