The Island (2005)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Michael M

  
  Not really suited to Ewan McGregor or Johannson. The Island is a typical Michael Bay film with a bad script and too many un exciting explosions.

• Sophie B

  
  No matter what the critics say, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would watch it again and again. A clever premise that unfolds into this brilliant character film (ruined by slightly too many action shots and stuff getting blown up courtesy of Mr. Bay). It had the right amount of… More
  No matter what the critics say, I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would watch it again and again. A clever premise that unfolds into this brilliant character film (ruined by slightly too many action shots and stuff getting blown up courtesy of Mr. Bay). It had the right amount of romance, sci-fi, comedy and drama with a bit too much action. I love the way the characters are formulated to live more or less like children. McGregor and Johansson are perfect as these two clones who despite not being taught about love and romance manage to break the indoctrination and fall in love and escape the institution they are trapped in. Although I do feel bad for the people who paid all that money to have a clone just incase they fall ill, as we're shown the clones story these are the people we root for. It would be interesting to see the story from the other side. Overall a brilliant film with a fantastic cast which is let down by a little too much Bay.

• Raymond W

  
  Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson try their best to get us to care for their characters, but it all gets lost amidst the bombastic, loud although fantastic action sequences, and the plot has some major holes. Overall, The Island is visually fantastic, and the action sequences are… More
  Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson try their best to get us to care for their characters, but it all gets lost amidst the bombastic, loud although fantastic action sequences, and the plot has some major holes. Overall, The Island is visually fantastic, and the action sequences are jaw-dropping, but the characters are boring and bland.

• Unknown H

  
  I must say for the reviews this movie gets I didn't think it was half bad. An original concept with some stunning twists, even McGregor's terrible American accent was not enough to stop me enjoying this movie. One to see for yourself I think.

• Conner R

  
  This is a movie that was unfairly judged as being corny and unintelligent, but truly had a great concept and execution. While there are undoubtedly weak moments, they are nowhere near strong enough to dampen the effectiveness of the movie. Michael Bay's look is always a flawless… More
  This is a movie that was unfairly judged as being corny and unintelligent, but truly had a great concept and execution. While there are undoubtedly weak moments, they are nowhere near strong enough to dampen the effectiveness of the movie. Michael Bay's look is always a flawless component of his movies and this is no exception; this is one beautiful looking sci-fi adventure. While destruction is tamed in the first hour, it lurks in every corner once the escape takes place. The idea to have a clone colony is so bizarre and interesting to play around with and the fact that they're all functioning with fifteen year old brain capacity is even more intense. This causes some moments of cheese, but luckily the cast is good enough to make it work. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson work great together and the teenage attraction is their strongest suit. The supporting cast is insanely talented as per usual with Michael Bay. Special effects and stunts are hard to beat here as are the toned down futuristic elements and usual approach to a science fiction topic. This has remnants of Logan's Run and 1984, but in the best ways possible.

• Brad W

  
  The Island has an amazing concept, but does it live up to it in a movie, not really. The acting was good in this movie, im a huge Ewan McGregor fan. The plot was great, one of the VERY few Micheal Bay plots that don't suck. The effects were great, but we expect that from… More
  The Island has an amazing concept, but does it live up to it in a movie, not really. The acting was good in this movie, im a huge Ewan McGregor fan. The plot was great, one of the VERY few Micheal Bay plots that don't suck. The effects were great, but we expect that from Micheal Bay, because thats all he knows how to do. They call it an action movie, but all I saw was running, running, and more running. This movie was very good, but I would hardly say it was action.

• Shawn E

  
  This film being directed by Michael Bay, you can expect a lot of explosions and car chases. There is also a very interesting concept prediction of future life, even if it's not the most original idea. If Bay could focus more on the characters and plot a bit more than the effects,… More
  This film being directed by Michael Bay, you can expect a lot of explosions and car chases. There is also a very interesting concept prediction of future life, even if it's not the most original idea. If Bay could focus more on the characters and plot a bit more than the effects, this film could have been a lot better.

• Martin S

  
  This movie...I like. It's a good plot. First it's a very interesting story...and then it turnes out that it's not what you think....but then there's another very interesting story. Once again...good action scenes by Michael Bay. Ewan McGregor does a good job with… More
  This movie...I like. It's a good plot. First it's a very interesting story...and then it turnes out that it's not what you think....but then there's another very interesting story. Once again...good action scenes by Michael Bay. Ewan McGregor does a good job with both his parts. And Scarlett...Nothing wrong with that. It makes you think what the future may look like. Cause if we don't take action now...We'll settle for nothing later. See you on The Island...

• Mike S

  
  Better than I thought it would be. Didn't like the ending that much, but overall a movie worth the time.

• Albert K

  
  Michael Bay is gay. Apparently in Michael Bay's book, 2 people that are running away have the ability to wipe out an entire skyscraper

• xGary X

  
  Ewan McGregor plays the inhabitant of a Big Brother style society who starts to question the status quo only to find that their lives are all based upon a lie. Harking back to the distopian concept sci-fi movies of the 70s, The Island is a very, very pretty film to look at (even when… More
  Ewan McGregor plays the inhabitant of a Big Brother style society who starts to question the status quo only to find that their lives are all based upon a lie. Harking back to the distopian concept sci-fi movies of the 70s, The Island is a very, very pretty film to look at (even when Scarlett Johansson isn't beautifying the screen with her presence). It has lovely photography, attractive visual effects and production design and as Ewan investigates his too-good-to-be-true surroundings it is initially very intriguing. Unfortunately my interest only survived as long as Steve Buscemi's trademark off-beat supporting character did, for as soon as he is killed off it turned into the usual Bay wankathon that was just a long winded chase sequence through his formula of slo-mo explosions and lead riddled, pirouetting automobiles. It's a bit of a shame because while it was ripping off Logan's Run it was quite good, but ironically as more and more is happening on screen it gets less and less interesting.

• Richard C

  
  B

• Josh L

  
  An entertaining mix of sci-fi parables and explosive action. The first half of the film is the stronger half with creepy and astounding visuals accompanied by a decent story that eventually loses its way in the second half when everything degenerates into Michael Bay's typically… More
  An entertaining mix of sci-fi parables and explosive action. The first half of the film is the stronger half with creepy and astounding visuals accompanied by a decent story that eventually loses its way in the second half when everything degenerates into Michael Bay's typically bombastic, but energetic, action extravaganza. It's a little disheartening that the smart half gets undercut by all the action in the second half, although you kind of expect it just looking at the director. The ending is a little anti-climatic considering everything that came before it, and it's a little implausible as well, but the movie never lost my interest and despite not being as good as it could have been, I still enjoyed myself quite a bit. If it carried through on its initial promise it would have been a strong sci-fi film, but what we have here isn't so bad.

• Dean M

  
  Director Michael Bay fails to sustain the initial smart ideas of his futuristic thriller. Instead, the second half of the fugitive clone tale devolves to routine confrontations. The film cramps the director's highly buffed images and highlights Scarlett Johansson's… More
  Director Michael Bay fails to sustain the initial smart ideas of his futuristic thriller. Instead, the second half of the fugitive clone tale devolves to routine confrontations. The film cramps the director's highly buffed images and highlights Scarlett Johansson's Barbie-doll performance. Luckily, Ewan McGregor has personality-plus as the survivor who discovers that his life is not what it seems. An excellent support cast includes Steve Buscemi, who plays a nice guy for once. And there is a spectacular freeway chase.

• Lewis C

  
  The Island is a big, noisy, empty movie. It perfectly fits the bill of the summer popcorn flick. You won't learn anything, you won't leave with any lasting impressions, and if you don't see it on the big-screen, then you're missing half the point.  This movie… More
  The Island is a big, noisy, empty movie. It perfectly fits the bill of the summer popcorn flick. You won't learn anything, you won't leave with any lasting impressions, and if you don't see it on the big-screen, then you're missing half the point.  This movie never tries to be anything more than it is, and I can appreciate that. After the relatively quiet beginning, the viewer is never forced to go very long without gunshots, explosion, or car chases. Some of the action scenes are actually pretty epic, and if you end up remembering anything about the movie after, I'm willing to bet that it will be a few of those.  So as an average, disposable summer movie, The Island is a success. There's little reason to see it again after the first time, though. That's like watching the same exact kind of fireworks twice in a row. Sure, they're still pretty, but the novelty has worn off, and you're ready to see one of the other countless kinds of pretty explosives. 

• Jeremy S

  
  Sci-Fiction Thriller Turned Action Flick. Fascinating story with interesting concepts. Should have focused more on the philosophical implications rather than action. Could have been a good sci-fiction thriller yet ends up being a pure Hollywood action flick.

• KJ P

  
  One of Michael bay's best films, if not the best one! This is well thought out, and the entire film delivers on many levels!

• Megan S

  
  I really enjoyed this movie. It was a fun ride with all the action sequences and it really kept my attention. It makes you think...

• Dan S

  
  Probably the second best thing Michael Bay has done besides "The Rock". I'm not a big Bay fan, as it's probably known, I view his style of filmmaking to be overall destructive to what a good movie is. Like every Bay movie, its juiced beyond extreme. It grows tiring… More
  Probably the second best thing Michael Bay has done besides "The Rock". I'm not a big Bay fan, as it's probably known, I view his style of filmmaking to be overall destructive to what a good movie is. Like every Bay movie, its juiced beyond extreme. It grows tiring after a while, and with the cast this movie has, it should've been a smash hit. Bay's overjuiced style keeps it from being this in the long run.

• Anthony L

  
  Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Djimon Hounsou and Steve Buscemi. How did this film go so wrong? Michael Bay, that?s what! Watch Logan's Run instead or THX 1138 or the news or read a book, have a bath?

Read all 20 featured audience ratings