FanUnity B(uzz)log

“The Island” is a fusion of the 1970s sci-fi classic “Logan’s Run” with the 1990s sci-fi classic “The Matrix.” The result isn’t at all a classic, but simply a half way decent film.

Held together by two very likable leads, Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, “The Island” tells the story of Lincoln (McGregor) and Jordan (Johansson), a pair of innocent young people who are raised in what they believe to be a sanctuary from a world contiminated by a nuclear disaster. Raised and provided for by a team of scientists, Lincoln and Jordan existing alongside many similar humans. Each one goes about their daily duldrums awaiting the day when they will win the lottery and get sent off to the ideallic place known as “the island”, a paradise left untouched by the alleged nuclear disaster. Every once in a while one of the residents of Lincoln and Jordan’s community is selected to move to the island.

Of course that lottery ends up being a Shirley Jackson style affair, as Lincoln, being the curious type, discovers when he tracks what happens to a person recently selected to go to the island. His inspiration for the snooping is that Jordan, who he’s crushing on, was just selected to go herself. After seeing the fate of the person picked for the island immediately before Jordan, Lincoln freaks out, finds her, and the bust their way out of the place in a desperate race for survival.

There’s nothing remarkable about the story of “The Island.” We’ve seen it all before. There’s nothing remarkable about the special effects in it either. Same deal. The only thing the film really has going for it is that they did an excellent job picking their actors. McGregor is as entertaining as always, and Johansson is a captivating visual presence and likable to boot. Sean Bean turns in a nice performance as the unethical doctor behind the whole sham. Good supporting performances are turned in by “Star Trek: Voyager”’s Ethan Phillips, Steve Buscemi and Djimon Hounsou as well.

It’s not on the caliber of “The Matrix” or even “Logan’s Run”, and it rates as McGregor’s second best sci-fi film of 2005 behind “Revenge Of The Sith.” But if you have already seen those three films, you like sci-fi or just like looking at Scarlett Johansson, you could do worse than watching “The Island.”

2.5/5 Stars.