The Island (2005)

REVIEW
In his first feature film without producer buddy Jerry Bruckheimer backing him up, Michael Bay has created what is more or less a bigger, shinier (though hardly better) version of the no-budget sci-fi film Clonus. The basis for the story — in which a pair of clones destined for termination become aware that they are - in fact - clones, run for their lives as big brother hunts them down — is by all means, an enticing one. Where it fails, of course, is in the delivery. Don’t misunderstand: as an action film or as a vehicle for attractive actors, it performs as well as almost anything out there. But it more or less wastes a loaded storyline on trite explosions and meaningless chase scenes. As far as the two primaries (Scarlett Johansson as Jordan Two-Delta and Ewan McGregor as Lincoln Six-Echo), well…they do their best with what they're given, and they look good doing it. If what sounds interesting to you about this film is, in fact, the topic matter, you’d be better served to take in Logan’s Run, which is far more stylistic and triumphant in its handling of a similar theme.