Despite bombing over 20 years ago, The Island remains one of Michael Bay’s most underappreciated movies. Michael Bay movies quickly became known for their bombastic action and slick camerawork, but after making Bad Boys 2 in 2003, the director wanted to try something different.

That’s why he followed up with The 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 blockbuster from the action auteur.

Still, reviews were mixed, with The Island currently ranked at 39% on Rotten Tomatoes, while it only grossed $163 million worldwide (via Box Office Mojo). Considering it cost $126 million, this was not good news, and The Island marked Bay’s first real flop.

The Island Flopped But Is A Hidden Gem

The Island still delivers on the Bayhem

Various factors were blamed for The Island’s performance, 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 (via The 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 saw the Scarlett Johansson film had a blast with it, though, with Bay staging setpieces with his usual but also giving audiences something to chew over. The film looks at the ethics behind cloning, the nature of idenтιтy, what makes somebody a human being and 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 Island isn’t a lost sci-fi classic, but it was much better than critics gave it credit for at the time.

The Island Has The Perfect Amount Of Michael Bay

There is shockingly little action in The Island’s first half

The Island is 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 like Logan’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 out to play.

Bay has some bad habits as a filmmaker, from comic relief that can be real obnoxious to hyperactive action. The Island still 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 Rock is considered Bay’s best movie, nearly 30 years after its arrived. It’s hard to argue with that ᴀssessment either, since the director was armed with a great cast, script, and allowed to wreak all kinds of mayhem (AKA bayhem). Movies like The Rock or Ambulance mix his signature, high-intensity style with interesting characters.

Bay’s worst movies, like Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen or 6 Underground are overloaded with his bad habits, from annoying comedy to numbing action. The Island would 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.

Source: The Guardian