"The Island" - Directed by Michael Bay

Of all the directors that I revere, I cannot honestly say Michael Bay is one of them. My opinion about him is varied--while I enjoyed "The Rock" (mainly because it has my favorite actor, Michael Biehn), his disaster epic, "Armageddon," gets worse each time I watch it (which, unfortunately, is quite often, considering they play it constantly on cable).

"The Island" has officially changed my view of Bay. It is stylish, imaginative, and one of the best science fiction films of the millennium, thus far.

Under the impression the world has been contaminated with disease, quarantined humans live controlled lives of structure and routine. They are given hope through a lottery, that when won, grants the recipient a one-way pass to a tropical paradise--known only as 'The Island'. Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor), and his best friend, Jordan Two Delta (Scarlet Johansson) escape their confines only to discover the world is not as it seems.

The look and feel of "The Island" has an unmistakable Bay quality. There are a lot of close-up shots, interesting uses of color, and well placed, slow motion sequences to increase the drama for certain scenes. And, I must say, these fit perfectly for the for this kind of story. Likewise, the musical score is fittingly epic--heartfelt, at times, heart pumping, at others.

The acting is acceptable, especially by the leading duo of McGregor and Johansson. My only quarrel lies with Steve Buscemi, whose portrayal of a helpful (if not sleazy) technician is often over-acted.

In summation, Michael Bay's, "The Island," is an enjoyable science fiction thriller with a great style, an equally stylish cast, and plenty of quality action sequences--sure to keep you at the edge of your seat. For fans of totalitarian, Orwellian fiction, "The Island" should not be missed.

Rating: 4/5