 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
The Island
- Review Date: December 11, 2005
- PG-13
- Genre: Action/Adventure
- 2005
Common Sense Media says
Explosive movie is best for teens and up.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that the movie features explosions, fights, and vehicle chases. Characters drink, smoke, fight, and kill one another. Several scenes show clones in various unfinished states (incubating in sacks and on tables); others show organs harvested (surgery) and a baby harvested (the mother is killed after giving birth). While the protagonists' social naiveté and first grade reading skills make them seem childish, they are definitely adult in their sexual interests and fighting abilities. Characters and background images make frequent references to commercial products (including MSN, Puma, XBox, Aquafina, Cadillac, Ben & Jerry's).
What's the story?
It's 2019, and Lincoln Six Echo (Ewan McGregor) is disturbed by nightmares that run counter to his conditioned belief that the "island" is a paradise, the last unscathed location in a post-apocalyptic world. He and his friend Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) live at a facility run by Dr. Merrick (Sean Bean), until they are "chosen" to leave for the island. Lincoln learns his dreams are "genetic memories," and that he and his community are all clones, paid for by wealthy people who plan to use the clones' organs, genes, and wombs in order to prolong or enhance their own, "original" lives. Helped by engineering, non-clone friend McCord (Steve Buscemi), Lincoln and Jordan learn the world has not been destroyed, escape the facility, and flee to Los Angeles. Merrick hires a mercenary crew to hunt them down, led by former Special Forces soldier Albert Laurent (Djimon Hounsou), who has a particular, historically motivated understanding of breeding people for money.
Is it any good?
Loud, fast, and fulsome, this action movie actually spends a few minutes pondering ethical questions. But just a few. For the most part, The Island is simplistic science fiction, pitting very athletic, very attractive heroes on the run against plainly despicable corporate villains.
Besides Hounsou's character, the other visible black man is a football star (Michael Clarke Duncan), or rather, his clone, whose vigorous resistance to harvesting surgery initially reveals the truth to an understandably horrified Lincoln. Most of the film, however, is given over to the pretty white clones' multi-faceted education -- in running, spending money, driving, and soft-focus kissing.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the film's important ethical and philosophical questions concerning clones and organ harvesting: When do clones become individuals? Who can afford to purchase clones or organs, and how does this create a hierarchy of health, longevity, and cultural power? Does the fact that technology exists justify or compel its use? Families might also talk about how the film reduces resolutions for such dilemmas by broadly outlining villains and heroes, stereotypical relationships, and high-powered, plainly expensive action sequences.
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AGE
awesome summer movie!
this movie, although a little bit freaky and violent, is probably the best futuristic movie i've seen in a while. it is slightly disguting (surgery, halfway "developed" humans, etc) and kids need to be mature enough to understand that they are "growing" human adults....and also killing the clones once they have done whatever they were created for. 13 and up.
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AGE
Best Movie in a lllloooonnngggg time!!!!!
ok guys if you haven't seen this movie, it is a must for action fanatics everywhere. It is soo good. Funny in parts, and interesting because it is a very realistic portrayal of the future (2019). There are some rather gross parts and some "harvests" of the clones, but that is quick and then the action takes over. Protagonists kill or injure lots of nameless bad guys, but it is really a good movie. Great actors too (Ewan McGregor does a great job!!!!)
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AGE
i have never seen so many brand names in a movie
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AGE
Exciting thinker
I was really impressed with this movie. I previously had no idea what it was about but it really intrigued me and kept me thinking for a long time after. The whole issue of cloning is real and relavant and sometimes scary. This explores one possibility and is entertaining at the same time. The acting was great, violent but not excessive.
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AGE
Awesome!
This was a great movie, and not too violent or full of language.
Great fun for everybody!
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April 9, 2008
AGE
Makes You Think
There's alot not to like about this movie; I recommend it because, in the end, it provides a strong message about using people for replacement "parts" and the dignity of people. Topical for cloning, fetal stem cell research.
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| Studio: | DreamWorks |
| Director: | Michael Bay |
| Cast: | Ewan McGregor, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Bean |
| Genre: | Action/Adventure |
| Run time: | 127 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 22, 2005 |
| DVD release date: | December 13, 2005 |
| MPAA rating: | PG-13 |
| MPAA explanation: | intense sequences of violence and action, some sexuality and language |
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