Support NeoGAF

[heavy liquid]

So did anyone else see it? I'm curious what you thought of it. I Just got back a little while ago from the sneak peak. Don't think it opens until 7/22. And... it was actually pretty good! I'm not a fan of Michael Bay at all, but I enjoyed the flick a lot. I guess I'd rate it a solid B+.

Reviews are popping up, and this one from AICN echoes my feelings quite well (CAUTION: SPOILERS OVER THERE):

Anyway. I'm not the biggest admirer of Michael Bay as a producer, and especially not as a director. In fact, I can't stand the man's work: BAD BOYS 2 was one of the worst movies of its year, imho, and PEARL HARBOR was just... awful. As examples. That said, THE ISLAND is terrific. An epic bit of entertainment that somehow doesn't lose that Michael Bay flash I can't hardly stomach, and somehow I didn't mind it so much this time around.

I suppose it helped that he was working with some really good actors, like Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. And while I may not Michael Bay that much, he can really frame a shot and there are more than a few awesome action scenes. As well as a couple laugh out loud moments, too:

Spoiler

Jesus must LOVE you! :lol

Another thing that I really enjoyed about the movie, was that the future of the movie was believable. I was able to buy into that existance in the same way I was able to buy into the future of Minority Report. I thought it was very well done. It was refreshing to see that some people in 2050 were still wearing flanel shirts and drinking Budweiser, as I'm sure they will be.

 

[Substance]

Yeah, I've kept a more open eye on this one than previous Bay efforts probably because of the great cast on board, and the more amitious exterior seen in the trailers. Though it still seems coloured up and super shaky like a Bay film...
I don't know your history heavy liquid but your positive thoughts are encouraging nonetheless.

 

[heavy liquid]

:lol Yeah, like I said, I'm no Bay fan. I will admit that The Rock is a guilty pleasure for me, but that's about it. So I'm not trying to rave and rant about how great The Island is. It was just unexpectedly better than I thought, which was refreshing. There are some genuinely cool scenes, as well as the usual cheese, but the cheese seems to be kept to a minimum, thankfully.

It also obviously borrows some ideas and themes from other movies, which I don't want to name, for fear of spoilers (although the trailer gives way too much away). I'm not sure if I noticed many "coloured up" scenes, but there was the shaky cam going on in some of the action scenes. But it didn't really bother me, and I thought some of the action scenes were great. Edge of my seat great. Overall, I guess what I'm saying is that if you go expecting to be entertained and not to see an oscar winning movie, you might get your moneys worth. It's definitely not Ben Affleck/Pearl Harbor bad.

 

[ManaByte]

Even though it's a remake of a MST3K episode, I still want to see it.

 

[daegan]

I'm seeing this purely because it was filmed in Detroit, and because of Ewan McGregor + Scarlett Johansson.

I honestly don't even expect it to be good, if it is then cool; I just want to watch shit blow up on I-75.

 

[SpeedingUptoStop]

I'm seeing this purely because it was filmed in Detroit, and because of Ewan McGregor + Scarlett Johansson.

I honestly don't even expect it to be good, if it is then cool; I just want to watch shit blow up on I-75.

Whoa, it was?! Damn, I want to see this now!

 

[Prince of Space]

I saw it when it was called...

 

[Ninja Scooter]

i'll probably see it. Not a big fan of Bruckheimer, but McGregor's a good actor, and i like the look of the film. Reminds me of Minority Report, which i also liked.

 

[Dan]

Whoa, it was?! Damn, I want to see this now!

Only for a week.

 

[Zeo]

Yeah, I noticed it was playing tonight when I got to the theater to see FF. I hate Michael Bay for the most part, but this looks good.

 

[Substance]

I'm not sure if I noticed many "coloured up" scenes, but there was the shaky cam going on in some of the action scenes. But it didn't really bother me, and I thought some of the action scenes were great.

Gah, sorry, by 'coloured up' I just meant the tint, or grading, of the picture and cinematography and stuff. Just the look of the film... its recognizably Bay.

 

[XMonkey]

I caught it today. For reasons out of my control (read: having to get tickets for a friend and waiting for him...) we sat in like the 2nd row so everything looked gigantic...

Anyways, it was enjoyable. There are a few plot holes, some major, some not. All I could think of during the explanation of the whole "Island" thing and what happens at the facility is the Matrix. There are some obvious similarities visually and sort of plot-wise, but if those scenes were in the old movie linked earlier (which I haven't seen) and it was an influence, then I can't knock it.

There are the obvious Bay influences with some of the action parts if you've seen his other movies and I didn't really like that, but it wasn't enough to ruin the movie or anything. Mcgregor and Johansson both do a great job acting, and besides some corny dialog in the first half the movie is pretty solid in that respect. Overall, The Island did things right and didn't do some things right. The acting and action was good, but it faultered with some rather odd plot holes. I probably would have preferred maybe a more cerebral look at the movie, but coming from Bay I guess it's great that we got a movie that isn't all out action. I would give it a B and say that it is worth the price of admission simply because you will be entertained. It won't be making any classics list, but it's a solid film and i'll probably see it when it opens so I can get some better seats.

Oh, and Scarlett is gorgeous in the movie

 

[DrForester]

TIME TO BRING ON THE ULTIMATE REMAKE

Currently #2 on IMDB's worse filsm of all time (Though it has 10x more votes than the #1 worst film)

 

[Grizzlyjin]

I really don't have much of a problem with Micheal Bay films, but I guess that is because I don't go into one of his movies expecting some thought inducing cinema. You order the extra large popcorn, turn your brain off, and watch the explosions.

I'll end up seeing this...hopefully it isn't 30 fucking minutes too long like Bad Boys 2 was.

 

[heavy liquid]

Gah, sorry, by 'coloured up' I just meant the tint, or grading, of the picture and cinematography and stuff. Just the look of the film... its recognizably Bay.

Ah, I see. Yeah, they definitely did that in the film. The facility where the people were kept and the outside world were tinted differently to show the contrast between the two worlds, one controlled and one not, for instance. I notice Steven Speilberg does this in most of his films too, and it seems to be a pretty common cinematic practice. I guess you don't want it overused, like anything else. All I know is it didn't bother me.

Anyways, it was enjoyable. There are a few plot holes, some major, some not. All I could think of during the explanation of the whole "Island" thing and what happens at the facility is the Matrix. There are some obvious similarities visually and sort of plot-wise, but if those scenes were in the old movie linked earlier (which I haven't seen) and it was an influence, then I can't knock it.

There are the obvious Bay influences with some of the action parts if you've seen his other movies and I didn't really like that, but it wasn't enough to ruin the movie or anything. Mcgregor and Johansson both do a great job acting, and besides some corny dialog in the first half the movie is pretty solid in that respect. Overall, The Island did things right and didn't do some things right. The acting and action was good, but it faultered with some rather odd plot holes. I probably would have preferred maybe a more cerebral look at the movie, but coming from Bay I guess it's great that we got a movie that isn't all out action. I would give it a B and say that it is worth the price of admission simply because you will be entertained. It won't be making any classics list, but it's a solid film and i'll probably see it when it opens so I can get some better seats.

Pretty much how I felt about it. Like you said, I also would've liked it if the movie had more cerebral moments, where Johansson and McGregor questioned and explored things when they reached the outside. There were a few moments like that, such as when

Spoiler

McGregor met his original. I thought there were some nice parts in that, and he did a great job with the two characters.

But for the most part it was all action, but still entertaining.

I really don't have much of a problem with Micheal Bay films, but I guess that is because I don't go into one of his movies expecting some thought inducing cinema. You order the extra large popcorn, turn your brain off, and watch the explosions.

Exactly. Except with this, you don't have to have a lobotomy like you did with Pearl Harbor.

 

[Solo]

I hate the cliche "turn your brain off" and "leave your brain at the door" remarks. Is it really too much to ask to have a film that satisfies ones need for action/explosions, yet doesnt insult the viewer with its "summer popcorn movie" paper thin plot?

 

[MIMIC]

I decided to see it last week (despite the horrible ratings) and I was pleasantly surprised...maybe because my expectations were lowered from what I heard. I checked out the trailer before I went to see it (because I knew very little about the film, other than catching a tv spot here and there) and I wasn't turned off, so I don't think I was expecting a horrible movie to begin with.

I enjoyed it. My only complaint is that the movie seemed to lose itself when all those action scenes came out of fucking NO WHERE. It seemed so forced, because I was really into the story then all of a sudden, action, action, ACTION!! (good action, mind you)

I don't see why it's bombing so bad.