The opening dream sequence with tidbits of beautiful seaside scenery, an amazing speedboat, and a beautiful woman induces a sense of serenity.  However, the brief pleasure suddenly submerges into a nightmarish hell where the main character Lincoln Six Echo, performed by Ewan McGregor, finds himself drowning in the dream.  Urgently, Lincoln tries to save himself, but there are others pulling him down, as the nightmare continues.  Flashes of a various symbols such as an island, biohazard, speedy motorcycles, stop signs, and many others explode before his cerebral visual cortex leaving the audience with a powerful and vaguely familiar warning.  While the last words, “The Island awaits you”, echo in the mind of Lincoln.

Imagine waking up every day with skin sensors providing information about every single biochemical imbalance generated within the body to maintain homeostasis.  This includes detailed measurements of REM sleep affected by nightmarish episodes, efficient urine tests that plan the daily meals to sustain perfect health, and wearing white Puma sports outfits as uniforms.  Most would consider this an unhealthy obsession with health and fitness, as life’s many irregularities and pleasures are erased on the expense of homeostasis.  However, having this notion tossed with the idea of living in a tightly secured mega complex that contains a deadly contamination outside, might have many reconsider the notion of obsessive approach towards a healthy lifestyle.  The only hope of something better only exists in the residents’ draw of the luck to win a permanent trip to the Island.  The mythical rumors about the Island are constantly boosted by news briefings on the jumbotrons, as it encourages the only lasting hope among the people.

The dream sequence, the constant advice of the Island’s greatness, and obsession with health begin to stir thoughts in the direction of something threatening.  In addition, the white Puma uniforms bring the atmosphere from THX 1138 (1971) by George Lucas, as do the dark uniforms of the law enforcement in the story.  Lincoln is one of the first to question the information provided to him by the leaders within the complex.  He is also begins to question the meaning of his existence.  Lincoln share some of these thoughts with his friend Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) who breaks some of the minute rules within the complex such as giving away some of her bacon to Lincoln.  They also entertain each through a future version of the Xbox console.

The discovery of a bug and Jordan’s emerging departure, as she won her trip to the island, augments Lincoln’s curiosity to his existential purpose and the purpose of artificial home.  The inquisitiveness has also been feed by the hardware wiz McCord (Steve Buscemi) who Lincoln has developed a friendship with over his three years at the complex.  His investigation leads him to a part of the enormous building he did not know existed, and to his dismay uncovers a truth far more macabre than he could ever comprehend.  The discovery of the truth speeds up the film’s second portion, as it develops into a festival in fireworks and extraordinary vehicles clashing in rapid succession.  The increase in the story’s tempo has to do with Lincoln and Jordan’s desire to stay alive, as their knowledge has deadly consequences for them.

The Island has the potential to be a very extraordinary film, as it deals with several contemporary and intriguing issues such as ethics of medicine, memory capability of genetics, stem cell research, and cloning.  Science fiction stories often offer cerebral assessments of the potential dangers of current times in the near and distant future.  Unfortunately, the Island does not allow much room for pondering these concepts, as it enters hyper-drive mode through spectacular action sequences where bullets scrape the consciousness.  The action forces the mind to focus on survival, which puts the different themes in a rather one-sided light while it leaves the audience scholarly traits in the dust.

Another troubling issue with the Island emerges through the strong resemblance the film has with other sci-fi films such as Fahrenheit 451 (1966), THX 1138 (1971), and Fortress (1993).  However, the use of the ideas from other stories does not make it awkward, but it removes much of the films uniqueness.  There are also a couple of scenes where some awkwardness emerges such as the culmination, which seems very Darth Vaderesque.  Nonetheless, the overall cinematic experience will present a rather crude journey with some truly amazing action scenes that in the end leaves a reality escaping audience satisfied and happy.

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COUNTRY

USA

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