Just saw it and I thought it was very good. Mcgregor definetely carries the movie, but I just can't stand how many bad reviews it is getting just because the critics have a bone to pick with Michael Bay. Yes the action is a little over the top, but should that ruin the rest of the movie? No. The story itself is great, along with a great cast, and the action only enhances it. Only negative would be the kind of weak ending in my opinion.
$12 million for the opening weekend? Wow. I didn't think it would do great, but this is unbelievable and very dissapointing for the movie. This movie is totally being ignored by the public, which can partially be blamed on the poor advertising for the movie and ruining the "surprise" about their being no island in the trailers. Here's hoping it does good on dvd, which I expect it will judging from the example of The Chronicle of Riddick.
Originally posted by WolfieExactly. It would've been much better if they just showed them in the complex and saying how Lincoln knows something is wrong but doesn't know what and just have the whole trailer about what the secret of the Island is. I like what Ebert said in his review about how the first half is a psychological thriller and the second half is a summer action flick and and both are good, but they aren't good together.
The theatrical trailers made it look a lot better than the televised ones. When I saw the car chase stuff, I was immediately turned off.
I think it looks like a fantastic movie. i was going to have invite a bunch of friends to it and have a "movie party" (we did the same thing with house of wax which was SSSOO horrible btw) but being the procrastinator that i am, i didn't call anyone until the day of the party so i had to postpone it so people could actually make it.....
bottom line: it looks good enough to take a large group of people to
Originally posted by Kumar
I think it looks like a fantastic movie. i was going to have invite a bunch of friends to it and have a "movie party" (we did the same thing with house of wax which was SSSOO horrible btw) but being the procrastinator that i am, i didn't call anyone until the day of the party so i had to postpone it so people could actually make it.....bottom line: it looks good enough to take a large group of people to
Then again you thought the same thing about House of Wax.
My review/rant:
Probably the best way to look at this film is by looking at the two halves seperately. The first is a nice and intriguing introduction to the world on 2019 and to the themes of the film, namely the effects of human cloning. The second act is the Michael Bay act. Need I say more? The two acts are very dissimilar and it is in this the viewers may be put off. You may like of half, but hate the other. I, myself, thought they both worked well. Whether they worked well together, though is another story... one which doesn't have a happy ending.
Here's why: the first half I found very intriguing, not always original, and sometimes clever. There is much story that takes place here. Pretty much as soon as the second act begins (you'll know when) it turns somewhat injto a generic chase film. Albeit a good one, and one that works on its own merits. But as soon as this happens its as if all sense of story and plot comes to a halt - which isn't exactly true, but after so much story in the first half, the lack of it in the second is very noticable.
Spoiler:
In fact when our heroes survive a 100 story fall off a building, all sense of realism is thrown out the window (quite literally).
When the second act kicks in we suddenly realise we're watching a Michael Bay film which means running, cars and explosions. Here, I must say, that the first act is very unlike Bay in how it is quite actionless - that is, there are no explosions - and I think it's a job well done and a refreshing change from what we have come to expect from him.
I have a personal quibble with the shakey-camera tactic used in the film. While I think it can be done right - and very wll in some cases - here I'm not too sure about it. I think it may be a little too much. And I'm calling this a personal issue because it's one I have with many films. Most recently Batman Begins - while I understand the intent behind using the technique, to make Batman appear as if he's striking from within the shadows, I think even here it is too much and too distracting. The Bourne Supremacy is a film which I think uses this technique very effectively, giving a sense of closeness and frenzy yet maintaining control and not becoming too disruptive. I prefer the still, controlled camera movements (Kill Bill, Star Wars). Back to The Island - while Bay does create the needed effect of being frantic, I think in some instances, it is a little over the top. [/ramble]
One thing about the cinematography that I did like was the way the shots inside the facility juxtaposed those in the real world. That is, the use of smooth shots in the facility against the jerky ones outside. The tranquility of the inside and the turbulence outside.
The VFX in the are top notch and the integration of CG is superb. Bay has a good grasp on how and when to use CG and practical elements. Though he proved his ability with special FX in Pearl Harbour - pretty much the only thing he did in that film. The interaction between Ewan and Ewan is also done impeccably. Not once did it not look absolutely convincing.
The film is cast exceptionally well. Ewan does great - in fact it is him that prevents this film from becoming totally cliched. Johansson is just gorgeous (though, unfortunately she did not get her wish to do the sex scene bra-less... wtf?), and Michael Clarke Duncan is great in his small role (but was that ever a question). Sean Bean plays the Sean Bean part (and he does great yet again) and Steve Buscemi plays a part not unlike some of his others.
This film is not without its scientific (and otherwise) plotholes. My major gripe was that
Spoiler:
you simply cannot clone memories. And the film's answer to this is that "no, it cannot happen... but it did"... okay, thanks for that.
This is a film that has a great idea but not pulled off as well as it should have been. Sure, it is intriguing, and sure, it does kinda use the future to critique the present (which is what all great science fiction films do)... but it is in this regard that the ending is unsatisfying. It doesn't really answer anything, it doesn't really... end. It's a good ending to the second act, but not a great ending to the story as a whole.
Spoiler:
One thing about the ending that really annoyed me is something that is present in many generic action films. That is the completely unmotivated, irrational reversal in character undertaken by a bad guy, in this case Djimon Hounsou (who does an ok job for what his character is). The way it's done in this film just really bugs me and makes the film even more corny and cliched than it already is. It is something that really brings the film down and might kill the film for some people.
The thing is, this film could have been a great, thoughtful, though-provoking science fiction film... Like a Phillip K. Dick story. But in the end it kind of came across as an attempt to mix films like The Truman Show and The Matrix and THX-1138... and then add a couple more car chases. But basically it kinda felt like a waste of a good idea (like The Final Cut, if anyone's seen it). It thinks it's smarter than it really is.
But when it comes down to it, I did enjoy much of the film and would recommend it. The first half is interesting and the second is fun. Put together they make for a poorly thought out yet enjoyable film. But I'm in no hurry to see it again...
3/5
I really enjoyed this film. I have heard several people totally trash it and would like to encourage others to just go see it for yourself.
Spoiler:
Several people have stated that they did not like the dialog choice of the main two clone characters. That they sounded stupid at times ie: scarlett saying "Good Job" after the axle/car crashing scene. Id did come off a little bland/simplistic but, it fits the story. The 2 were only educated to a 15 year old level and you remimber the simplistic books they had to read.Also, to the guy above trashing about the memories being copied. I did not take it the same way you did. The way I understood it was that they had some of the same thoughts/dreams/ideas. That they thought alike, not that the thoughts were copied per say. Let me know if I missed something but thats the way I took it.
anyway, this is one of my favorite movies of the year