DVD Reviews

The Island

• Rating:
• Director:
• Starring: Ewan McGregor
• Details: US, 136 mins, 12A.

Lincoln Six Echo (McGregor) is a survivor of 'the contamination' living in a sterile and controlled environment where emotions are discouraged and men and women are separated. Along with the other survivors, Lincoln is waiting for his lotto numbers to come up so he can head to the fabled island - a new Eden and a haven from the dangers of the outside world. However, when Lincoln Six Echo begins to display emotions, have the occasional outburst and questions the need to eat tofu on a Tuesday - not to mention his tingly feelings for Jordan Two Delta (Johansson) - he decides to do some investigating. Without much trouble he discovers 'there is no island' and that they are all merely clones harvested to help 'real' people outwit death. Knowing that he and Jordan are to be terminated once they've served their purpose, the pair go on a mad dash, full on chase in this big budget pursuit film.
After a fairly engaging start and a playful look at the sheltered clones' adaptation to life outside the factory, The Island becomes more of an extended advert (with some choice product placements) and tiresomely predicable. While director Bay touches on some of the bigger philosophical issues - ethics of cloning, theories of inherited memories, survival of the fittest, and even the belief that the discovery of one's creator results in the creator's destruction - this is all an incidental (and probably accidental) aside. What the film lacks, amongst other things, is an intricate examination of abstruse issues. There really are no surprises here, so if you are looking for mindless entertainment with a capable cast, who are clearly enjoying themselves, you've got it. Which is probably a step in the right direction for the man who brought us Bad Boys, Bad Boys II and Pearl Harbor. Everyone else, just do your utmost to pretend 'there is no The Island'.

Review by Elaine Reilly