The Island

This movie is 100% miss able. Within minutes I knew I was in for a raw deal. The only reason I stick it out was so I could say I saw it and have every right, therefore to trash the steaming pile. . .

Bad writing, bad acting, bad directing. It you took a nap while it was on, you got the best out of the deal. This is not a joke.

Now, an aside to the shillers that "reviewed" this mindnumbing hogwash, if you are gonna shill don't go over the top with your 10 star ratings and your raving review. It's waaaaay too obvious that "here be unalloyed, unashamed shilling". Those are red flags. A good shill is a 6-7 rating and some toned down texts that tries to show some balance in your dreck. Serve up some appreciaition for this and for that. Then mention one or two places that could have been better. Stuff like that.

Whatever you do, always remember that yes, a rose is still a rose even if you call it a venus fly trap.

Conversely, a full outhouse is still is still a full outhouse even if you call it the Waldorf Astoria.

Director Shaun Piccinino's latest film, "The Island," featuring the charismatic and formidable Michael Jai White, is a gripping return to classic action cinema. This action-packed thriller takes viewers on a suspenseful journey of revenge, set against a backdrop of a beautiful island paradise corrupted by a nefarious tycoon.

Michael Jai White delivers a powerhouse performance as LAPD officer Mark, whose life takes a tragic turn when his brother is brutally murdered. The loss of his loved one propels him on a relentless quest for answers and, ultimately, vengeance. White's portrayal of a man seeking justice is both emotionally charged and physically commanding, showcasing his impressive martial arts skills.

One of the film's standout elements is its lush cinematography. The Island setting, with its pristine beaches and lush jungles, starkly contrasts the violence that unfolds.

The cinematography expertly captures the beauty of the location, only to contrast it with the darkness that lurks beneath the surface.

Piccinino masterfully uses the island's natural beauty to intensify the action sequences' impact.

In conclusion, "The Island" is a captivating action thriller that allows Michael Jai White to shine in a role that showcases his acting and martial arts abilities. Shaun Piccinino's masterful direction, coupled with the film's picturesque setting and exhilarating action, makes it a must-see for fans of classic action cinema.

This B-movie action revenge drama opens on an unnamed Caribbean island. Wealthy Colombian Manuel is interviewing a singer; when the waiter who is serving them spills wine on her he murders the man! The waiter has a brother, Mark, who works for the LAPD; he returns to the island and doesn't believe what he is told about his brother getting mixed up with gangs that have troubled the island in recent years. As Mark starts investigating Manuel sends his thugs after him... inevitably this goes badly for them and Mark has Manuel in his sights. It won't be easy though; Manuel is a danger to anybody close to Mark and he has a lot of people working for him.

This is not a great film; the plot is fairly cliché and the outcome won't surprise anybody. That said no one would claim it aspired to greatness; it is just trying to be an entertaining action drama made on a relatively tight budget... at this is succeeds. The opening scenes effectively introduce the villain then our hero and the story is quickly under way. There are plenty of action scenes spread throughout the movie with just enough conversational scenes in between to advance the plot. The action is decent enough with martial arts and gun-play. Michael Jai White is solid as Mark; good enough to think he deserves better material in future. The rest of the cast are okay even if some are a bit hammy... the genre almost demands that. The setting, filmed in location in St Kitts and Nevis looks great. Overall I'd say this is fun enough; worth watching if you enjoy the lesser action films that were churned out in the '80s and '90s.

I'm a fan of MJW and he's fun in most B films, but even he deserves better than this nonsense. His action/fighting skills are barely seen in this mess, and when you do see them, they are terribly filmed and choreographed. Maybe a few kicks where decently viewable and impressive.

This film suffered amateur-hour filmmaking. The directing was in line with what you'd expect to see from a fifth grade drama class. Then it took two writers to come up with a predictable, generic, cliched and dull story that's been done many times before, and all much better. Even the normally comfortable 90 min runtime felt endless with the slow pacing, long dragged out and mostly unnecessary scenes. The score was your typical B-film fare, loud, overbearing and unfitting. Most of the actors were portrayed as cartoonish cliched characters to the point of cringe and eyerolls.

Even if you're a fan of MJW, don't waste your time with this nonsense, it barely classifies as a bad B-film, more like a bad C-film if such category existed. Aside from the similar pretty ariel scenic Hawaiian landscape shots, there's nothing redeemable or worth watching in this mess.

No pun intended - you have to have some love for B-movie action movies to say the least. Also being a fan of Michael Jai White does help. I am not sure if I heard him say this in an interview or not ... but there are some fight scenes in this that he would not suggest doing in real life. Anytime anyone is doing something with knives for example ... but this is a movie, so suspend your disbelief and go with the flow (of fighting).

The story is quite simple - the inciting incident is ... well it may feel bad and over the top at first ... but if you think about the character, it does make sense. The main bad guy may not feel like the best rival for our hero in the end ... but we circle back to the suspension and hopefully you just get with it ... seen worse movies ... and the action is quite decent ...