The Island
- Thread starter Policar
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ExtremeSleuth
Veteran
i liked this film... on its own it's good but it's my least favorite michael bay film... i'm a huge ewan mcgregor fan but this wasn't the greatest role of his.
It seemed pretty derivative. It was pretty looking but there was nothing to really care about in this film.
NO CA$H said:
That is where I think it fell down. Bay tried to turn an interesting idea into a blockbuster with uber-appeal. If Tom Cruise was the lead, he could have probably gotten away with it.
Still, really liked the film though. One of my favourites of the year. IMO Bay's 2nd best after The Rock. :thumbsup:
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Watched it
So; strangely the film does only $35,000,000 domestic ($124,000,000 Overseas). How is this possible? To flop? I remember when The 13th Warrior flopped; I love that film to this day.
I enjoyed it; purely from a SATURDAY NIGHT DVD RENTAL kind of way. It was'nt the FLOP I set out to view. But It was'nt great at any stretch.
I think one of the problems with this film (Bay) is the lack of intimacy in the filmmaking. Every shot is an AT&T commercial and I always find it hardpressed to get into the film with any release.
Armegeddon and Pearl Harbor had a few moments where the choke money showed up and started tugging on my apple; but this film just felt very removed. Too slick, too glossy, too much like a Rap Video with it's grading and style.
Will Bay ever make a serious movie? It's as if he has never been able to let-go of his roots; Fincher matured, Jonze matured while although bringing style to their work kept it within the bounds of narrative filmmaking.
Scarlett and Ewan are fine in this and I confused as to the production company trying to blame their acting on this when it clearly is just a story falling apart. The film starts by raising some interesting questions and shows us a future that resembles a sorta utopian logans run vibe, but never does anythign with it.
I wonder if Bay can ever slow down for a bit? Can he simply lock the camera down one time so we can catch our breath? I found many scenes being ruined by his inability to sit still. He is like the 'ADHD Filmmaker' with every scene.
And his shots never seem to support nor validate the subject matter; they all seem too random with choice. Even the action sequences are ruined with his manic camera movement. Does'nt he realize the actrion is serving the motivation? We don't need some absurd flying camera shot everytime.
Anyway; I can;t see how it flopped but also see why it did flop.
2 of 5 Hudson Stars
So; strangely the film does only $35,000,000 domestic ($124,000,000 Overseas). How is this possible? To flop? I remember when The 13th Warrior flopped; I love that film to this day.
I enjoyed it; purely from a SATURDAY NIGHT DVD RENTAL kind of way. It was'nt the FLOP I set out to view. But It was'nt great at any stretch.
I think one of the problems with this film (Bay) is the lack of intimacy in the filmmaking. Every shot is an AT&T commercial and I always find it hardpressed to get into the film with any release.
Armegeddon and Pearl Harbor had a few moments where the choke money showed up and started tugging on my apple; but this film just felt very removed. Too slick, too glossy, too much like a Rap Video with it's grading and style.
Will Bay ever make a serious movie? It's as if he has never been able to let-go of his roots; Fincher matured, Jonze matured while although bringing style to their work kept it within the bounds of narrative filmmaking.
Scarlett and Ewan are fine in this and I confused as to the production company trying to blame their acting on this when it clearly is just a story falling apart. The film starts by raising some interesting questions and shows us a future that resembles a sorta utopian logans run vibe, but never does anythign with it.
I wonder if Bay can ever slow down for a bit? Can he simply lock the camera down one time so we can catch our breath? I found many scenes being ruined by his inability to sit still. He is like the 'ADHD Filmmaker' with every scene.
And his shots never seem to support nor validate the subject matter; they all seem too random with choice. Even the action sequences are ruined with his manic camera movement. Does'nt he realize the actrion is serving the motivation? We don't need some absurd flying camera shot everytime.
Anyway; I can;t see how it flopped but also see why it did flop.
2 of 5 Hudson Stars
Filmjunkie677
Master of Horror
Haven't seen it yet, but, I'm not a big Michael Bay fan. But, nonethless, whatever people have to say about him and his filmmaking style, I think "The Rock" is one of the greatest action films of the 1990's. Superb cast and a superb story. Ed Harris just rules that film.
PS- Im a huge Buscemi fan, is his part small, in "The Island"?
PS- Im a huge Buscemi fan, is his part small, in "The Island"?
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
I hear that a ton and never found the ROCK all that great. The only thing it did for me was put Cage in his first mainstream action role.
But I always found the film 'Eh'
But I always found the film 'Eh'
xl70e3
Skywalker
I agree about The Island, John, but more importantly... about 13th Warrior. What an awesome freakin movie noone knows about! Sooo brutal and real. And the score... mmm love it.
And I also agree with Filmjunkie. I've said it before - one of the best action movies EVER. Connery, Cage, Harris, Zimmer... Plus, just to remind you how stunning it was visually: watch this.
And I also agree with Filmjunkie. I've said it before - one of the best action movies EVER. Connery, Cage, Harris, Zimmer... Plus, just to remind you how stunning it was visually: watch this.
J.R. Hudson
Spirit Animal
Yes!
The 13th Warrior was great; totally underrated and mysteriously a flop. ONe of the cool adventures of the 90's.
The score is wonderful!
The 13th Warrior was great; totally underrated and mysteriously a flop. ONe of the cool adventures of the 90's.
The score is wonderful!
Yeah I have to admit there are a number of reasons I'm biased towards loving Michael Bay movies so I'm probably not harsh enough on the lack of narrative cohesiveness in his movies.
But seriously, The Rock was amazing. He kind of got worse as his career went on (Bad Boys was also fun), although The Island was pretty solid. I have high hopes for transformers--assuming he's still on the project.
But seriously, The Rock was amazing. He kind of got worse as his career went on (Bad Boys was also fun), although The Island was pretty solid. I have high hopes for transformers--assuming he's still on the project.
Just watched it. The ending is very "Logan's Run." Of course, the whole THING was very "Logan's Run."
Scarlett Johansson is . . . whew.
But one of the things which really bugs me about certain movies is when they set a year and then make too much of a leap in technology. Perhaps they were referencing "Blade Runner" with the year, but still.
Scarlett Johansson is . . . whew.
But one of the things which really bugs me about certain movies is when they set a year and then make too much of a leap in technology. Perhaps they were referencing "Blade Runner" with the year, but still.
Blaine
Mr. Hollywood
This was two movies. The first one wasn't too bad, if overly derivitive (Logan's Run, THX 1138, Blade Runner, Total Recall) But then BOOM! It's time to blow up LA and see how many different ways we can do it.
I read a great review of the movie on IMDb by Vulcan91. It was a riot. I had to bookmark the page.
http://yoursay.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/usercomments?start=10
His review is titled: Just Make Sure You Don't Think While You Are Watching It.
I read a great review of the movie on IMDb by Vulcan91. It was a riot. I had to bookmark the page.
http://yoursay.imdb.com/title/tt0399201/usercomments?start=10
His review is titled: Just Make Sure You Don't Think While You Are Watching It.