... Given my limited DVD collection, I had only 2 options so I read up reviews of both and plumped for The Island, an action packed thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. The DVD case promised an all-star cast and an action-packed ride so I climbed into bed and hit the play button. ... Read review
They don't want you to know what you are. Lincoln Six-Echo (McGregor) is a resident of a ... more
seemingly utopian but contained facility in the mid 21st Century. Like all the inhabitants of this carefully controlled environment Lincoln hopes to be chosen to go to 'The Island' - reportedly the last uncontaminated spot on the planet - until he makes a terrible discovery that everything about his existence is a lie and that he is actually more valuable dead than alive. Together with a beautiful fellow resident named Jordan Two-Delta (Johansson) Lincoln makes a daring escape to the outside world he's never known. Now with the forces of the institute that once housed them relentlessly hunting them down Lincoln and Jordan engage in a desperate race for their lives.
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An intriguing action adventure set in the near future,The Islandfinds those who survived a ... more
mass global contamination living in a contained and highly controlled world. Their actions are controlled, their lives are routine, and the only hope is to win lottery and be sent to a mysterious island, the so-called last surviving, uncontaminated paradise on the planet.Naturally enough, things are quite what they initially seem, at least in the eyes of Ewan McGregrors Johnny Two Alpha. Along with Scarlet Johansens Jordan Two Delta, they soon find out what happens when you dont fully comply with the rules of this deeply controlled world, and the stage is thus set for some action-packed cinema.Given the films disappointing box office returns though, you could be forgiven for thinking that all is not well withThe Island, and truthfully, its a movie with problems. Its pacing feels a little off, and there are moments when the script does the film no favours at all.Yet takeThe Islandas a popcorn flick, and youll more than likely find yourself enjoying a good couple of hours of solid entertainment. Sure, ultimately they could have made more of the premise, and produced a tighter movie. But whats on screen usually works well enough, and the two stars dont do badly with the material at their disposal.--Simon Brew
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An intriguing action adventure set in the near future,The Islandfinds those who survived a ... more
mass global contamination living in a contained and highly controlled world. Their actions are controlled, their lives are routine, and the only hope is to win lottery and be sent to a mysterious island, the so-called last surviving, uncontaminated paradise on the planet.Naturally enough, things are quite what they initially seem, at least in the eyes of Ewan McGregrors Johnny Two Alpha. Along with Scarlet Johansens Jordan Two Delta, they soon find out what happens when you dont fully comply with the rules of this deeply controlled world, and the stage is thus set for some action-packed cinema.Given the films disappointing box office returns though, you could be forgiven for thinking that all is not well withThe Island, and truthfully, its a movie with problems. Its pacing feels a little off, and there are moments when the script does the film no favours at all.Yet takeThe Islandas a popcorn flick, and youll more than likely find yourself enjoying a good couple of hours of solid entertainment. Sure, ultimately they could have made more of the premise, and produced a tighter movie. But whats on screen usually works well enough, and the two stars dont do badly with the material at their disposal.--Simon Brew
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Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
Advantages: It could have been so good Disadvantages: But it wasn't.
...of both and plumped for The Island, an action packed thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. The DVD case promised an all-star cast and an action-packed ride so I climbed into bed and hit the play button. Incidentally, it wasn't quite as simple as that since the DVD requires you to select your language and United Kingdom doesn't get a look in until about the tenth page of language options.
Nevertheless, I finally got ... ...his optimum physical health in the hopes of becoming one of the lottery winners who earns a one way ticket to 'The Island' which is an idyllic sanctuary within the contaminated outside world.
Obviously, the addition of government type security officers brandishing guns and dressed in black gives us an inkling that things aren't all as they seem. Along with Echo, we soon learn that all the residents of the compound are in fact clones, ... more
Last night, after a de-stressing bath, I decided to settle down to watch a DVD. Given my limited DVD collection, I had only 2 options so I read up reviews of both and plumped for The Island, an action packed thriller starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. The DVD case promised an all-star cast and an action-packed ride so I climbed into bed and hit the play button. Incidentally, it wasn't quite as simple as that since the DVD requires you to select your language and United Kingdom doesn't get a look in until about the tenth page of language options.
Nevertheless, I finally got the DVD playing and we are introduced to Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor), who lives in a strange futuristic facility where everyone wears white jump suits and Pumas. Following an electronic urine test each morning, his daily diet is dictated to him. Along with thousands of other 'residents', including Jordan Two Delta (Johansson), Echo's days are spent maintaining his optimum physical health in the hopes of becoming one of the lottery winners who earns a one way ticket to 'The Island' which is an idyllic sanctuary within the contaminated outside world.
Obviously, the addition of government type security officers brandishing guns and dressed in black gives us an inkling that things aren't all as they seem. Along with Echo, we soon learn that all the residents of the compound are in fact clones, in case you hadn't already guessed that from reading the DVD cover. The remainder of the film brings in the action element as Echo and Delta escape from the compound and fight for their lives.
For some reason, I was actually quite looking forward to watching this film, despite the fact that is has remained in its shrink wrap since purchasing it a few months ago. Even though I'd read a couple of reviews, I didn't know entirely what to expect and although the film has been promoted as an action-packed thrill ride, I was hoping that the thrills and spills would be accompanied by an original and interesting story. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case and instead the film just seems like a poor mish-mash of more successful films. Even the special effects used to show the farming of clones could easily have been cut and pasted straight from The Matrix.
Yes, the special effects were impressive if you can suspend your belief long enough to believe that anyone, human or clone, can run faster than a lorry on a freeway. The chase scenes were good, if perhaps a little drawn out. But, for me, it takes more than a few impressive chase scenes to enjoy a movie and The Island didn't deliver. Some of the scenes and dialogue were cringe worthy but I can't detail them without giving away some spoilers. Not that there are many spoilers to be had since the film is so annoyingly predictable. It's filled with clichés and seems to assume that the viewer is a complete imbecile who is unable to follow even the simplest of plots. I appreciate I wanted to watch a film that wasn't too taxing, but this is simply patronising.
Another thing I found particularly irritating was the incessant flow of advertising and marketing throughout the film. Puma, Xbox, Calvin Klein and many more brand names are thrust in the viewers face. The camera lingers on the logos twice as long as required just to ensure the viewer doesn't miss out on this blatant promotion.
As for extras, the DVD features a 'Making of The Island Featurette' which I watched in its entirety. This made me rather irate and I began to hate the film even more when I saw how pompous the director, Michael Bay, really is. More extras are promised if you insert the DVD into your CDRom drive but, frankly, I don't have the inclination to watch any more of this dross.
So if, despite my scathing review, you still want to watch this, you can purchase the DVD relatively cheaply. I paid £3 in Tesco for mine which I personally don't think was worth it. If you're really keen to see it, I'd wait until Christmas when Channel 5 will probably premier it.
Advantages: Intriguing story Disadvantages: Over the top action scenes
...to pick films based on the name (if ive heard of it) and the actors starring and not a lot else. So I was not really sure what kind of film to expect. Suffice to say it was not this!
Ewan McGregor plays the leading role as 'Lincoln 6 Echo'. The film starts with a dream sequence involving McGregor and his female co star Scarlett Johansson who are travelling in a flashy boat to an island. They are then grabbed off the boat and McGregor's character ... ...having the dream in is situated in a pure white room. He gets up and as we see his surroundings and the technology around it is obvious that he is living in the future at some point. Over the next few scenes we learn that he is living in a controlled environment where everyone has their clothes chosen, their health permanently monitored and their food controlled accordingly. They all have similar strange names. Johansson's character is 'Jordan 2 ...
kirkytracy 14.12.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Island DVD
Advantages: great visuals Disadvantages: no original ideas
All the ideas of this film are taken from other places. The whole one story which we think is right and actually turns out to be the total opposite is taken from The Running Man. The whole being chased, once again The Running Man & Blade Runner, also Logan's Run. Establishing that there has been some sort of pollution and people can't go outside apart from one place on Earth known as The Island is the first 20 minutes or so of the film. We learn ... ...You get there by winning the lottery. Everyone dressing the same and looking the same and not knowing anything about sex? Directly lifted from George Lucas' THX 1138. The main character has weird dreams of drowning, being chased and killed or hurt. You totally know most of these things are going to happen or come close to happening which they do. Ewan McGregors character is lost in a sea of people who want to all live the same life and strive for ...
atytyut2434 14.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of The Island DVD
Advantages: Thought provoking and high octane chases! Disadvantages: A grim lok at one side of humanity
I think the Island is a highly underated film and deserves to get better recognition than it does. The premis is a time not too far away from our present where clones are developed secretly to repair our own damaged bodies or protect us from illness. Secret clones? Well yes they have to be ...the public believe that the parts are just made in a lab, they dont know that tehre is a huge underground city full of clones who live work and learn each day. ... ...the clones realsing that something huge is wrong (with one developing memories) and then escaping to find the people they have been developed to help. It is all good stuff! There is a chase you/catch me if you can element to this film and also again, it cleverly focusses upon what we would do if we found out just what was going on...how would you react if you knew that the parts you had ordered were just a little bit more than that? The answers are ...
excelsior81 31.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Island DVD
Advantages: fantastic plot, great acting, action scenes, Disadvantages: very long film - needed a toilet break - best to watch at home not in cinema?
From Michael Bay the director of Armegeddon and Pearl Harbour I had great expectations from this film to start with.
At 2.5hrs, this movie is very long and I normally struggle with those getting fidgety and losing the plot - but the story flowed smoothly and developed good twists naturally without losing me.
The story is basically about a community of several thousand people who are seemingly rescued from the outside contaminated world and brought ... ...- the only remaining free from contamination place on earth - they are on strict diets and live the ideal balanced life. Turns out they are bred as clones of celebs to become 'spare parts' if/when the celeb gets hurt/ill.
One of these clones (Ewan Mcgregor plays Lincoln Echo 6) finds out the truth of what he is and thinks outside his 'programming', with a view to confronting his celeb purchaser face to face - all to the apolectic actions of the ...
Treacle1983 15.08.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of The Island DVD
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Advantages: cute characters, good story, good songs too Disadvantages: is one in a series, ali isn't all that hot
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Some fantastic songs, although the graphics and cartoons are pretty much the same as the old style t.v. and video issues. It depends if you prefer this look, although I personally think they could have digitally remastered it a bit more. Of course not to the extent of finding nemo, but perhaps a nice intermediate.
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Advantages: Its a brilliant film Disadvantages: It could happen in the future
I bought this DVD in Germany for 21.99 euros which is about £15.60 which is quite good value for me. I only bought this because Ewan McGregor is in the starring role and I absolutely love his films. Anyway here's my review of The Island.
DVD Basics
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Running time - 130 minutes
Languages - English/German
Subtitles - English/German
For Hard of Hearing - English/German
Region 2
Rating - For people over the age of 16
Cast
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Ewan McGregor - Lincoln Six Echo
Scarlett Johansson - Jordan Two Delta
(Also stars Sean Bean, Michael Clark Duncan, Steve Buscemi)
The Film
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Set in the year 2100, this film starts by showing us that the earth's population (or the population of the United States) are now living underground in a sterile environment following a massive pollution of earth's atmosphere ...
Advantages: Classic Disney film, respectable adaptation of Books, Newton IS Long John Disadvantages: Some may find the old-style pirate jargon annoying and unintelligeble
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TITLE : Treasure Island
RATING: ****½
CAST: Bobby Driscoll, Robert Newton, Basil Sydney, Walter Fitzgerald, Denis O'Dea, Finlay Currie, Ralph Truman, Geoffrey Keen, Geoffrey Wilkinson, John Laurie, Francis De Wolff, David Davies, John Gregson, Andrew Blackett, William Devlin, John Gregson.
DIRECTOR: Byron Haskin
SCREENWRITER: Lawrence Edward Watkin
BASED ON NOVEL: "Treasure Island" by Robert Louis Stevenson
STUDIO: Walt Disney
RUNNING TIME: 96 min
RATED: PG (US) & U (UK); for some bloodless violence.
DVD AVAILABILITY: 5 GBP from Amazon; ASIN #B00004CZAC
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INTRODUCTION: THE DEFINITIVE PIRATE TALE ...
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