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The Island (2005)
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Movie Review by Matthew 
July 25th, 2005
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One of the best things about watching a good science fiction film is the opportunity to see interesting interpretations of what the future might look like. If "The Island", the new film by Michael Bay, is to be believed, the year 2019 is dominated by Aquafina Water, Michelob Light, Cadillac, Adidas and Microsoft. Everyone uses these brands, and only these brands. And when they use them, we get a long, loving look at the logos. When exactly did the extent of creating a futuristic universe become product placement? "I, Robot" also fell victim to this (over)using Audi and Adidas. In one scene, Will Smith's character gushes over his new Adidas. Filmmakers! Use your imagination. The future is more than product placement lines.
Michael Bay's "The Island", starring Ewan McGregor ("Star Wars: Episode III") as Lincoln Six Echo and Scarlett Johansson ("Lost In Translation") as Jordan Two Delta, is about a select group of people who have escaped the widespread contamination of the planet. They currently live in a safe holding facility, segregated by sex, working, exercising, waiting for their chance to win a trip to live on the Island, the last uncontaminated bit of land on the planet. But Lincoln Six Echo begins to ask questions of Merrick (Sean Bean), the leader of the facility. And he finds some answers, alarming answers.
"The Island" is all ‘too'; too long, two separate films, and filled with too many product placements.
The first part of the film tells the story of Lincoln and Jordan, establishing their life in the facility, after the widespread contamination, giving us an alarming look at the future. Surprisingly, a fair bit of humor is interspersed, enlivening the story. All of the inhabitants have their every step monitored and if something is noticed, everything is changed accordingly. One morning, after Lincoln awakens, he has a pee and his urine is instantly monitored and an abnormal sodium level is detected. At breakfast, the server knows this and refuses him his customary bacon. Just as Jordan is called to leave for the Island, Lincoln learns some secrets and tries to convince her not to leave.
This part of the film works fairly well. Bay has abandoned the frenzied editing style he used to excess in films like "Armageddon" and "Pearl Harbor" in favor of actually telling a story, developing characters, building a time and place. From the moment we are introduced to Lincoln and Jordan, we get a sense that something is wrong with them, with their society. Everyone rescued from the contaminated areas is very naïve and childlike. What happened to them before they were rescued? Bay handles this well and uses his budget to create glossy, well-rendered settings which are, unfortunately, marred by excessive product placements.
At one point, Lincoln complains that all they have to wear is white. "It's impossible to keep clean." I almost expected a hand to reach in from off screen and hand him some Tide or All. Because Product Placements have become so standard in film and television, the next step is to make them prominent. We are so used to seeing a Coke can pop up in a film, we might overlook it. Filmmakers now have to make sure the product gets noticed. Science Fiction seems to be the vehicle of choice for this type of advertising. In films like "I, Robot" and "The Island", the filmmakers have taken already recognizable brands or concepts for future products and use them as "The Future" in their films. Because Cadillac allowed the use of their concept cars, the camera seems obligated to linger on the logo on each cars grill, lovingly, for long periods of time. A ‘futuristic' bottle of Michelob Light sits in front of Steve Buscemi's character. They need to leave the bar immediately, but he still has time to pick up the bottle, logo front and center, take a drink, and put the bottle back on the bar, the camera holding on the bottle after Buscemi has left. Enough with the product placements already.
This bit of the story fills the first 45 minutes or so. Then Bay seems to get bored. The second part of the film becomes a more traditional action film. Lincoln and Jordan are chased through one situation after another. As this is a Michael Bay film, the chase scenes are big, loud and impressive, but they just don't fit with the first half of the film. First of all, the two characters are so naïve and childlike, how are they able to escape a band of hired mercenaries lead by Djimon Hounsou for so long? Lincoln and Jordan know nothing beyond the containment facility, yet they are able to allude this team of men in helicopters, motorcycles and souped up Cadillacs for almost an hour of screen time. How exactly do they know that the information booths emblazoned with the MSN logos will be able to help them?
It won't fit. Please read the full review at thornhillatthemovies.com
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