(non-spoiler review)

Thanks to a timely phone call to Jeff this afternoon I got invited to my second sneak preview of the week: The Island. I promise a no-spoiler review though it may be difficult. Cut from the same cloth as movies like Equilibrium, Gattaca, and Minority Report it is safe to say that if you enjoyed those movies you will enjoy The Island. In fact, as much as I enjoyed all three of those movies I would rate The Island a notch above them. Simply put, setting aside Star Wars: ROTS (it is in a category of its own) this is my second favorite movie of the summer behind Batman Begins.

I must admit to some initial concerns about this movie when I discovered it was directed by the infamous Michael Bay. With his penchant for blowing things up in lieu of any type of plot, The Island could have quickly become another Pearl Harbor. Surprisingly it did not. This is a first rate action/suspense film. I won’t discuss the story as to do so would ruin the fun. The bare-bones plot is this: a group of men and women live in a safe, sterile, not-unhappy environment in which they work and play and wait. They wait for the opportunity, via lottery, to be chosen to live on The Island, a veritable Garden of Eden and the only safe, non-contaminated area left on Earth. But as in any good suspense tale, all is not what meets the eye.

At a little over 2 hours The Island takes the time to let the story unfold. Suspicion is present from the outset but the gist of what is going on is revealed little by little, allowing the viewer time to absorb the details before the action kicks in. There are so many areas where this film could’ve gone wrong and it is a credit to Michael Bay and company that it managed to keep a balance between all the aspects of the film. Tension, suspense, mystery, paranoia, action, romance and explosions are all present. Yes, there are explosions, but for once they add to rather than distract from the film. There is a very situation specific humorous element (NO SPOILERS!!!) that could have easily grown tiresome yet they went away from it at the right time.

Just like War of the Worlds and the recently reviewed Stealth this movie is a big screen knockout thanks to top-notch effects. The special effects and camera angles are amazing, especially during a highway chase scene reminiscent of Matrix: Reloaded and Final Destination 2. The sound effects were incredible as well, especially in the new theatre where we saw the movie. Lucasfilm had a hand in the effects and if you listen closely you can hear the pod racer sounds from Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in the chase scene.

What kept this film from becoming a cliched action-film-set-in-the-future was the casting. Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson were terrific. It is interesting seeing the difference it makes when you take a movie like this and fill the roles with stars who can actually act. Ewan shows that he can play a believable man-on-the-run and Scarlett holds her own quite nicely in the action sequences. Sean Bean plays the facility director to absolute perfection and Djimon Hounsou is excellent as a Defense Department hired gun. Toss in roles filled by Michael Clark Duncan, Ethan Phillips, and Steve Buscemi and you find yourself with a cast that adds depth and character to The Island.

I can say no more without revealing details so I will tell you to take a trip to The Island and return to tell me how much you enjoyed it. I liked it so much that I called my wife upon leaving the theatre to tell her that I am taking her and the girls (Tori and her friend Alyssa) to see it Friday evening. It was fun and exciting…and I got cool mini posters (same as pic above) for the girls and myself as a bonus!

(non-spoiler review)

Some of you who have attended movies with me in the last few months may recall having me lean in during the Stealth trailer to mention just how much I thought this movie was going to suck. That, plain and simple, was my state of mind when my brother-in-law John called me this morning and told me he had free sneak preview tickets. Never one to turn down a free movie I agreed and sped off after work to meet him in Kansas to see Stealth.

I have to start by saying that the Stealth trailer is possibly the best movie trailer I’ve ever seen. Laugh if you want to…go ahead, I’ll wait……………………………… ……………………………………are you okay now? I enjoy movie trailers but frequently complain that they give away too much of the movie. I thought this to be the case with Stealth. Thus I was surprised to learn that the trailer not only covers only the first 1/3 of the movie but also is a bit deceptive in the editing. The twist that occurs and the subsequent events in the movie are completely unseen in the trailer. Kudos to the production team on that one.

Okay, so how was the movie already? Glad you asked. I enjoyed it. And although I’ve said this about a lot of movies lately the description applies here as well: It was fun. Purely a summer popcorn flick and yet another movie that can only be appreciated for what it is if seen on the big screen. The biggest draw and most lasting impression of this movie are the special effects and the inventive camera angles. From start to finish the director does his best to make you feel like you are flying right along with the other pilots. Driving home I was thinking that an accurate description of this movie would be The Fast and the Furious for fighter jets so I was amused upon arriving home to read that Rob Cohen also directed The Fast and the Furious and xXx.

At the risk of losing all credibility with my audience at this point I have a confession to make. I love the movie xXx. It is one of my truly guilty pleasures and against all rhyme or reason it is a movie that I saw twice in the theatre, rushed out on release day to buy on DVD, and have watched several times since. I would personally place Stealth just below xXx and above The Fast and the Furious. That statement alone probably tells you all you need to know and you can stop reading now, walk away, and shake your head while contemplating how far I’ve fallen.

As I was saying, the special effects are amazing and the explosive, adrenaline inducing editing and camera work added to seat-vibrating sound effects make this a rush to watch on the big screen. Although there are quiet moments within the film the majority of the viewing time is spent experiencing momentum and speed. This part of Stealth was very well done. It left me with a nearly overwhelming urge to drive recklessly fast on my trip home.

The story, while not new on any level, becomes entertaining once it moves past the trailer scenes and enters the second act. The actors did a nice job. This certainly was no Ray for Jamie Foxx but I couldn’t help thinking about Ray every time he donned a pair of sunglasses. Josh Lucas was entertaining as the leader of the group. Jessica Biel did a fine job in what appears to be a continuing effort to do action-oriented roles. During the obligatory bikini scene I was surprised to realize that the film makers actually may have had a deeper motive than just showing off Biel’s body. This is the only opportunity in the movie that you get to see just how physically strong she really is, a fact that is important to the character she plays. I’m not sure of Biel’s actual physical stats but that girl is cut! I could’nt believe the size of her leg and arm muscles and her back was ripped…in fact I was quite envious! After doing action oriented roles in Blade: Trinity and Stealth it will be interesting to see if she continues to pursue this type of physically demanding role.

Stealth is admittedly marketed towards males who still have an intimate relationship with their inner child. Those addicted to action and speed will enjoy this diversion from the summer heat. If you intend on seeing this at all I recommend that you read no other reviews. A large part of the fun for me was the unexpected twists in the plot that are better left unread. And if you do see it stay until the credits are over. It is definitely geared towards big screen enjoyment as opposed to a rental and is worth the price of a matinee admission if you can enjoy it for what it is. It won’t change your life, but if you see it please buckle up and watch out for cops as you make your way home.