On The Island
I am surprised by how many opinions about this film are turning up here… here are my spoiler-free comments from THButton
May 3, 2024
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It shows how out of it I was in trying to be in it, acknowledging that I was out of it to myself, and then thinking, “Okay, how do I stop being out of it? Well, I get some legitimate illogical narrative ideas” — some novel, you know?
So I decided on three writers that I might be able to option their material and get some producer, or myself as producer, and then get some writer to do a screenplay on it, and maybe make a movie.
And so the three projects were “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep,” “Naked Lunch” and a collection of Bukowski. Which, in 1975, forget it — I mean, that was nuts. Hollywood would not touch any of that, but I was looking for something commercial, and I thought that all of these things were coming.
There would be no Blade Runner if there was no Ray Bradbury. I couldn’t find Philip K. Dick. His agent didn’t even know where he was. And so I gave up.
I was walking down the street and I ran into Bradbury — he directed a play that I was going to do as an actor, so we know each other, but he yelled “hi” — and I’d forgot who he was.
So at my girlfriend Barbara Hershey’s urging — I was with her at that moment — she said, “Talk to him! That guy really wants to talk to you,” and I said “No, fuck him,” and keep walking.
But then I did, and then I realized who it was, and I thought, “Wait, he’s in that realm, maybe he knows Philip K. Dick.” I said, “You know a guy named—” “Yeah, sure — you want his phone number?”
My friend paid my rent for a year while I wrote, because it turned out we couldn’t get a writer. My friends kept on me about, well, if you can’t get a writer, then you write.”
~ Hampton Fancher
“That was the most disappointing thing to me in how this thing was played. Is that I’m on the phone with you now, after all that’s been said, and the fundamental distinction between what James is dealing with in these other cases is not actually brought to the fore. The fundamental difference is that James Franco didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone. There’s not a case of that. He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on. We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show. Because then it would have been the same as Harvey Weinstein, or Les Moonves, or any of these cases that are fundamental to this new paradigm. Did you not notice that? Why did you not notice that? Is that not something notable to say, journalistically? Because nobody could find the voice to say it. I’m not just being rhetorical. Why is it that you and the other critics, none of you could find the voice to say, “You know, it’s not this, it’s that”? Because — let me go on and speak further to this. If you go back to the L.A. Times piece, that’s what it lacked. That’s what they were not able to deliver. The one example in the five that involved an issue of a sexual act was between James and a woman he was dating, who he was not working with. There was no professional dynamic in any capacity.
~ David Simon
I am taking it as a very good sign that they keep showing early previews to the general public. I am keeping an eye out for this.
most oft comment i am hearing is that the Trailer in many senses ruined the potential suspense element of the movie, not a great move for those fans who like some mystery.
They have to give that away. It is like promoting War of the Worlds and not saying we get attacked by aliens. The key question is not what happens. But how it happens.
i don’t agree. they could have had featured the can’t-wait-to-get-to-The Island stuff and never effectively showed any other action. If they kept a lid on the Sixth Sense happenings surely they didn’t need to show what they did in this trailor.
I mean everybody knows Bay blows stuff up, and does slow mo, so by saying who the director was and what films he did they didn’t have to show anything else for chrissakes.
surely thats not the big surprise in this movie now is it? see it before u bash what they give away and what don’t they.
Ugh. I am destined to hate this film. I haven’t liked a single Bay movie ever. But I like Ewan and Scarlett so we’ll see.
The only thing that bothers me about this film is it’s resemblence to Parts the Clonus Horror. That’s a film that didn’t need to be remade. However as much as Bay’s films are completely devoid of substance they are usually good popcorn flicks. That being said there are several other films on my list before I get to this one.
You know The Village last year had really bad reviews up front too, and no stars to really champion the movie either.
But it still opened huge, mainly due to the Director’s repuation. I think The Island will be the big action movie of the summer, but I don’t want to see it.
Umm.. isn’t this movie just Logan’s Run, done with a more talented Jenny Agutter?
Actually I think it looks like a more expensive rip off of THX:1138. the costumes are the same and the image of the people running in the sihlouette of the setting sun is directly from THX. But there’s more action and the potential of sex, so what’s the harm?
well you guys mentioned all the flicks that peeps are mentioning in comparisons, however, a Parts remake IS a good idea simply because it wasn’t very good/appealing the way it was made at the time. However, if it is a remake, it should have been in the credits. someone told me a lawsuit was filed re. same, Friday(?) don’t know if that is true.
A lot of Bay haters here. Granted he hasn’t done a lot to give anyone a lot of faith.
I don’t hate Bay, he’s just dull on story and some times common sense engineering stuff.
anyway…correction, maybe not lawsuit filed but lawyer filed papers/letter to Dreamworks.
I actually liked Parts:the clonus horror as a story as messy as it was made (a MS3K subject), so I’ll see it Friday and see. I wonder if in the rewrites it got more that way or less?
Bay makes the ultimate in mindless fun. But he shoots them really well.
I thought the pitch for THE ISLAND sounded like LOGANS RUN meets THE TRUMAN SHOW. That in and of itself doesn’t sound all that great, but I’m looking forward to the film. It looks exciting and Scarlett looks hot-t-t.
Ewan doesn’t look too shabby himself.
The Island. 2 hours of fun that you will totally forget 5 seconds after leaving the theatre. Welcome to a Bay movie.
That is not a bad pitch for a summer movie.
If the Fantastic Four can open to almost 60mill, than I have no trouble seeing a superior movie like the ISland open up to at least that and maybe more.
I wouldn’t be surprised if there wasn’t some sort of legal action the plots are very close a idealistic society where fitness is encouraged and a couple of residents find out they’re just spare parts for some rich person on the outside. A chase, cover ups it looks the same to me.
one of the best things about THE ISLAND is that if Bay and Co. had removed the amazing car/flying motorcycle chase and some of the other action bits, the movie would still work as a low budget sci-fi thriller…now, i havent seen this Clonus movie that everyone keeps mentioning…but from what I’ve read on other sites, it’s laughably put together…in this day and age, how many big, high-concept movies AREN’T derivative of other movies…something else that was refreshing about the island is that it’s not a sequel or a remake or a re-imagining or an old tv show…it stands on its own…and no matter how much $ it makes, there wouldnt (and shouldnt be) a sequel. can’t wait to watch it again.
Having seen the trailer a million times because I still go to the theaters for the movies, I am not thrilled. I can’t see how it is different from other movies. A waste of Ewan’s and Scarlett’s talents.
I think Bay is easily one of the worst directors alive. I am an unabashed Bay hater.
I like Scarlett on the one-sheet. Me-ow!
Uwe Boll
Renny Harlin
Adam Shankman
Peter Segal
Paul WS Anderson
now those are some bad directors
And I would add Michael Bay to that list nick. Just my opinion.
of course the irony of The Island is that it is selling itself as the intelligent sci-fi flick of the summer. Haven’t read DP’s review yet, but that is the general perception right now. A bright, colorful, futuristic summer movie with a head on its shoulders. Of course trailers tend to lie on occasion, so this perception may simply be total BS.
and that’s what it is Martin…a smart, exciting, colorful sci-fi thrill ride with some of the most seamless FX work in any recent big-budget blockbuster…it probably could be even smarter, but it’s certainly Bay’s most complete film, and it definitley has something to say in it’s head (in between the explosions and chases of course).
Why would Bay fall on the crap director list? He at least makes watchable and enjoyable films. What bad things can you really say about The Rock and Bad Boys? Even Armageddon was worth the time. Pearl Harbor is a different story. But that doesn’t put him in the crappy section.
It ain’t smart, folks. No matter what the plant says. It’s not dumb for an hour or so — then it becomes increasingly dumb by the minute. The third act is flat-out retarded.
Is anyone expecting Citizen Kane? Anyone?
The key question is not what happens. But how it happens.
Yeah, because there’s some deep mystery about how stuff happens in Michael Bay movies.
I remember seeing Bad Boys when it was first out and enjoying it, primarily for the Smith/Lawrence reparteee and because Tea Leoni was capital-H Hot. But having seen it since then on TV, I was sitting there next to my wife, and said, “You know what makes a chase scene really unexciting? Slow frigging motion. It defeats the entire point of a chase scene.”
Notably, Bad Boys was also the last Michael Bay film I saw. Didn’t see The Rock, refused to see Pearl Harbor, haven’t seen any of them.
Bad Boys and The Rock are pretty bad. Armageddon is in a league of its own in terms of how bad it is. One of the worst movies I have ever seen.
The Rock changed the way action films were made–and marketed–when it was released in 1996…people have been copying the style of that movie over and over again…still has one of the best straight-up car chases…
Nick, did your dad name you when he was shaving?
Forgive Stella. He only likes indie movies about gay cowboys eating pudding. The only action movie he’ll admit to even liking a little is probably The Bourney Identity because it has “indie cred”. To watch The Rock and not even be slightly enjoyable? Suspect.
If you haven’t seen any of his movies you really shouldn’t be commenting on all of them huh? Makes sense right? Make love. Not war.
Martin:
What do you mean? What does Nick Clement have to do with shaving? Just curious…
I was named after a relative, fyi
Nick, you can’t pay attention to some of these clowns. Relax.
Bay is always a lightning rod of film buffs. Whether to defend him or to ridicule him or to admit that we find his film numbingly enjoyable.
I think Steven Sommers is the deplorable FX director, not Bay. Bay’s movies are to stupid to ignite this much hatred.
First off, no one insults to the goddess of 70s British cinema, Jenny Agutter, are unwarranted. Fun times. Fun times. That aside, Im glad joe’s assuming that the Island will be a better film than the FF. Of course, to the folks around here, that wont be that hard. At least, around the net, the film has a fanbase. The critics missing the point again on a genre film, and film fans liking the bashed film? Wow. That doesnt happen but 2 to 4 times a year. If only Ben Grimm could have come in contact with, wait for it, THE STOOL OF PARAPLEGIA, this film might have been loved by critics. Or, Johnny and Reed going on a trip to the wine regions of No Cal. The LOVE it would have garnered when Johnny had that sex scene with the large woman, and accidentally sat the house on fire. When running outside to avoid her angry husband! The Oscars! THINK ABOUT THE OSCARS!
I am calm…i just want to know why someone would reference one of my family members in a movie blog…i hope Martin is just trying to funny…am I not getting an obvious joke about my name and shaving? and yes, Stephen Sommers is the kind of director who gives action films a bad name…he has absolutely no restraint when it comes to effects…and most of the effects he employs look like SHIT.
Nick, it seems this blog, brings the “insulting parents” thing out of people. Dont try to figure it out, because some people will get angry at you. When you get angry at people insulting your parents. Youve got to love that.
But remember, according to Lester, this blog and it’s posters ARE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE ON THE BLOG! Uh, no one ever insulted my parents in a Talkback. DO YOU FEEL ME?
Not, ‘BLOG’, but ON THE NET! Hell, the Mystery Douchebags dont even insult people’s parents. I mean, come on.
You are unfunny.
While I understand the animosity the movie freaks harbor for Michael Bay, I freely admit that “The Rock” is a damn good time. I also dig “Armageddon,” but it’s (in every way) a full-bore Guilty Pleasure movie.
I couldn’t have hated “Pearl Harbor” and “Bad Boys 2” any more venomously, but as a lifelong sci-fi geek, I walked into “The Island” with some enthusiasm.
And I think the movie is good. DAMN good. DP makes some solid points about Act III, and I agree with most of ’em, but they don’t mar the flick as a whole. Not for me, anyway.
Frankly I thought the thing was a breath of fresh air. Lots of lofty sci-fi concepts, slick visuals, high-end action, and very strong performances.
Plus it’s got two Ewans, a Bean, a Buscemi, and one seriously sexy Scarlett. No idea how the box office will be (and honestly: I barely even care), but I’d call this my biggest surprise of the summer.
Scott Weinberg is Bruckheimers personal assistant.
Island got a great review from Hollywood reporter, and lots of good reviews now on AICN (though they may be plants). If it gets away with a fresh at Rottentomatoes, that’s a major score for Bay, even if it doesn’t spectacular #’s.
If I were Bruckheimer’s assistant, I’d probably be in here fluffing a movie that Bruckheimer, y’know, actually produced. The guy has no connection to “The Island.”
In actuality, I’m Ewan McGregor’s assistant.
I liked the Rock a lot. Fun stuff. Even thought Armageddon was pretty entertaining. I prefer both to the Island, which isn’t entertaining enough or smart enough — it just kinda lays in the middle. I give Bay credit for at least trying to do something smart, but he gave up on that about halfway through and shot a chase film without one interesting character.
Doubt it will be a disaster. But it won’t be a hit either.
I don’t trust any review on any website from screenings. Even if they’re not plants I really could care less what some fan boy thinks. I’ll wait for the Polands and the Eberts of the world. But reviews don’t really effect my movie going.
martin–i’m still waiting to find out what shaving and my name have to do with one another…
I would say Bay also lacks restraint, just in a different form than Sommers. His lies more in the editing department. I don’t enjoy the way he endlessly pummels the viewer.
I saw it over the weekend and really enjoyed it. I’m a Michael Bay fan that was completely disappointed by how Armageddon and Pearl Harbor turned out. PH had one of best trailers ever, but ended up been a movie with a horrible script and unconvincing acting. Affleck, Hartnett, and Beckinsale just seemed to be day dreaming through their roles and the movie just seemed like it wanted to be Titanic but took place during 1941. Armageddon is something that I haven
You AICN goon! Just imagine the geek behind that one. Like a zombie movie filled with geeks. I don’t want to give McWeeny any ideas before he makes Mortal Kombat 4.
Panda, and you are just a Mystery Douchebag in disguise. Dont go knocking Drew. He and McSwan came up with one of the greatest lines of comedy; “Then, the President of African speaks.” Of course, if I dont float your boat, then that sort irreverance might make you pee blood.
This movie should have been released by now; I’m getting tired of waiting for it.
Don’t make fun of McWeeney. Bet you Didn’t you know his name Moriarty comes from the Sherlock Holmes novels. Clearly he is a very learned man, and therefore the perfect choice to delve into the intellectual complexity of the Mortal Kombat movies (fight fight! bang bang! kill kill!).
Nick: you cut yourself shaving and that’s what you have. A nick.
I really like (or, used to, haven’t seen it in a few years) Bad Boys. Hate Armageddon and Pearl Harbour. The Rock was steady entertainment. Love the Texas Chainsaw remake he produced. Think The Island looks pretty good too.
And, yes, Stephen Sommers is the FX Summer Man we should be cursing and screaming at.
I also find it slightly strange that the very last reply on here is what I was just going to say…
But, yeah, that joke was incredibly bad.
This is a big, big letdown of a flick. Definitely won’t help put an end to all the slump stories, that’s for sure. The movie isn’t as smart as it thinks — it’s actually pretty damn dumb — and not as entertaining as it should be — I miss the Bay who made the Rock.
Wait a second. A Bay movie isn’t as smart as it thinks? Why isn’t this the lead story in Variety today?
I must admit, I laughed at the thought of The Island when I first heard about it, but there’s always something alluring about trailers to Michael Bay films that call to me until I can’t at least be a bit anxious about them. Even in his most illogical, style-WAY-over substance junk, there are entertaining moments (save for Bad Boys II and Pearl Harbor, though, did anyone notice Spielberg ripped off Bay’s “Guy with film/video camera gets killed” bit from Pearl Harbor in War of the Worlds? It was probably used ten times over elsewhere and Bay ripped it off, I’m sure, but it’s still interesting to note).
There are at least a few good characters that have good lines, and even some of the most ludicrous action moments are entertaining (Yeah, Sean Connery’s character has been in prison for decades, and probably wouldn’t have anywhere near the stunt driving skills he shows off, but hey, the car chase in the Rock is damn cool). Bay’s got that over all the Kaos and McGs in the world. I’ll approach The Island with the sense of curious fun in comparing it Parts: A Clonus Horror (I’ll keep thinking “America” whenever they say “The Island”), but hey, the hero’s not a lump of dough with his crotch on fire, and if the movie’s actually good, even better.
I’ll just say this. It is much better than you would think a Bay film would be. That is all good people.
i’m giving it a shot. i don’t expect to see an oscar winner here. its the summer after all.
Michael Bay movies have won Oscars before haven’t they? In the tech side, but nevertheless.
I know they at least get nominated a bunch.
Since when have Oscars = good movies?
I think a Tony Award holds more weight than a tech Oscar.
IF the clones in this flick are created merely as a source for spare parts (a big assumption on my part at this point), then why would their creators go to the immense technological expense of giving them the memories of the original?
If this is the case, I can’t help but think that “Clonus” did this story much more sensibly a whopping 26 years ago–keep the clones young, healthy, and stupid, and you shouldn’t have too many problems with ’em.
Now that I think about other movies of the time featuring pretty young dipsticks living in a supposed utopia, maybe Bay should’ve done a remake of “Logan’s Run”–however, he would need to come up with a better ending than one that condemns all the newly “free” citizens to death from dehydration, starvation and exposure.