Despite bombing over 20 years ago,The Islandremains one of Michael Bay’s most underappreciated movies.Michael Bay moviesquickly became known for their bombastic action and slick camerawork, but after makingBad Boys 2in 2003, the director wanted to try something different.
That’s why he followed up withThe Island, a sci-fi adventure where two friends living in an isolated bunker discover they are really clones about to be harvested for their body parts.The movie still had Bay’s signature style and action, but it was a more patient, thoughtful blockbusterfrom the action auteur.
Still, reviews were mixed, withThe Islandcurrently ranked at 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, while it only grossed $163 million worldwide (viaBox Office Mojo). Considering it cost $126 million, this was not good news, andThe Islandmarked Bay’s first real flop.
The Island Flopped But Is A Hidden Gem
The Island still delivers on the Bayhem
Various factors were blamed forThe Island’sperformance, with Bay blaming the confused marketing campaign.Producers Walter Parkes and Laurie MacDonald pointed to stars Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor as a key reason audiences didn’t come out, claiming they weren’t real movie stars (viaThe Guardian).
I think within the industry, we think they are bigger stars, particularly Scarlett - both of them, we know Ewan’s not a star, but he’s such a good actor. [Scarlett] is not owned by this sort of young generation at all. Even lesser television actresses, quite honestly, would have more connection to that audience.
Those who actually sawthe Scarlett Johansson filmhad a blast with it, though, with Bay staging setpieces with his usual but also giving audiences something to chew over.The filmlooks at the ethics behind cloning, the nature of identity, what makes somebody a human beingand the importance of questioning authority.
These are heavy themes for a Bay movie, whose previous film featured a scene where Will Smith’s cop character had to hide the fact his partner (Martin Lawrence) was high on ecstasy from their boss.The Islandisn’t a lost sci-fi classic, but it was much better than critics gave it credit forat the time.
The Island Has The Perfect Amount Of Michael Bay
There is shockingly little action in The Island’s first half
The Islandis very much a movie of two halves. The first explores the strange, insula world that Johansson and McGregor’s characters exist in. They believe they’re in a post-apocalyptic world where only one island remains habitable, with “winners” among their community being selected to go live there every week.
Bay gives viewers time to settle into this strange community, which feels like an updating of dystopian 1970s sci-fi outings likeLogan’s Run. Needless to say that despite the lack of explosions, Bay still makes this section look incredible.It’s only once the two clones escape that the guns, cars and explosions come outto play.
Bay has some bad habits as a filmmaker, from comic relief that can be real obnoxious to hyperactive action.The Islandstill has those elements, but they are held in a nice balance with the rest of the story.It delivers on the expectations of a Bay blockbuster whilst testing out a different genre.
Where The Island Ranks Among Michael Bay’s Movies
With apologies to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen
The Rockis considered Bay’s best movie, nearly 30 years after its arrived. It’s hard to argue with that assessment either, since the director was armed with a great cast, script, and allowed to wreak all kinds of mayhem (AKA bayhem). Movies likeThe RockorAmbulancemix his signature, high-intensity style with interesting characters.
Michael Bay’s next movie is reportedly a return to theTransformersfranchise.
Bay’s worst movies, likeTransformers: Revenge of the Fallenor6 Undergroundare overloaded with his bad habits, from annoying comedy to numbing action.The Islandwould be in Bay’s top five; not perfect by any means, but the kind of visually impactful action flick only he could deliver only this one has a brain to it too.
