The Island (1980)

Powerful

Excellent but underrated film

Awesome Movie

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

By all means, read Peter Benchley's novel. It's a shame what he had to do to his story in order to get it filmed into this odd Michael Caine swashbuckler. Caine (terribly miscast, but still entertaining) plays an investigative journalist who travels with his son to the Bermuda Triangle in hopes to figure out why so many yachts have been vanishing in the region. They aren't there long before the two of them are taken prisoner by a colony of pirates who have been undiscovered for centuries! Yes! They are descendants of Long John Silver or Jack Sparrow, even. They have some modern weapons, but anything new they have is just what they've stolen from local pleasure craft. The mysteries behind how they've remained undetected by the authorities for so many years are not explained by the film, nor is the structure of it consistent in any way. There are some memorable scenes, and some decent action (the finale is a terrific burst of rage and mass-murder), but it looks like the editing room ruined what could have been a better movie. Bits of plot and possibly helpful exposition seem to be missing. Caine's relationship with a female pirate is much more detailed in the book. She is allowed to keep him alive until he can impregnate her with a healthy baby. Caine actually killed her husband while the pirates were taking he and his son hostage. Caine's boy is taken under pirate leader David Warner's wing and groomed to be an eventual leader, himself. So many of these details are not thoroughly explored by this script. Benchley likely had to grin and bear it and hopefully cashed a nice check. There are some performances that elicit chuckles, and some scenes do, as well. But this film is awfully gory at times, and that seems to offset any humorous tone that so many good action films sustain. There is one particularly ludicrous scene in which one victim on a yacht the pirates have just taken uses some odd kung fu moves to hold them at bay before being gutted. The finale takes place aboard a Coast Guard ship which ventures too close to their dreaded island colony. And yes, these pirates have what it takes to take an entire coast guard ship, killing the crew, but then a few moments later are wiped out by only Caine! Its a fun scene, impossible though it may be. Youtube has it. Just type in Michael Caine the Island 1980 and you can see him mow these scuzzy guys down. Even though logistically it does not appear likely that a .50 cal machine gun mounted in that position could hit anyone on the deck immediately below it! Overall, the Island coulda and shoulda Been done better. Michael Ritchie had much better films that this. I love Michael Caine and David Warner though so I'll be generous and give it 6 of 10 stars. The Hound.

One thought kept occurring in my mind frequently while watching this movie. What the f****k was Michael Caine thinking? I've read this has developed a cult following over the years, and I have one thing to say to you. Stay away from me! I cannot fathom as to why anyone could garner enjoyment from this movie. As soon as David Warner appears in the Pirate get-up, I knew it was all downhill from there. There are so many questions I have. How could a kid get so easily brainwashed by these blithering idiots? It happened way too fast for my liking; not to mention that the kid is incredibly irritating. I also have a problem with the direction of Michael Caine's character itself. He is supposed to be the hero in this movie, but he is perhaps the most unlikable of all. Caine looks thoroughly ashamed to be in this movie, and gives a rare, one-note performance. I don't blame him a bit for phoning it in here, the man has bills to pay like all of us, but he was absolutely awful. The pained expressions on his face told the whole story. David Warner is good at playing eccentric roles, but he is laughably bad here. I think he knew what a piece of crap he was starring in, and decides to ham it up like no tomorrow. Are you convinced yet? Wait until you see the chaotic finale that involves a Machine Gun! Final Thoughts: I have one suggestion for all of the people involved in this atrocity. "Walk the plank matey and never return" OK. That's a bit harsh, but I couldn't resist throwing in a lame pirate reference. David Warner is a good character actor, and Michael Caine is a legend, but this movie is legendarily awful. Michael Caine regrets it, and so will you. 2.5/10

My recollections of this movie weren't favorable. The movie was really good until Caine, a journalist, investigating so called abductions on the high seas, and his annoying gun nut son, end up on this island, after such a smooth landing (saracastic note there) by a nonchalant old buzzard of a pilot, who Caine goes off at. A worthy moment. After that it really sucks, where his theory becomes shockingly true, where this band of modern day pirates, hijack and rob unsuspecting boat folk, and keep them hostage, where they eventually submit, to the inescapable. Here they corrupt the mind of Caine's son, turning him against him. And too we have Angela Punch Mcgregor in this, for god's sake. For an Aussie actress, out of all the American films, would you really want to be remembered for starring in a crappy vehicle like this. Again, this film is an adaption of a Peter Benchley novel, who like Jaws and The Deep, has a fondness for the ocean. This film adaption was obviously like a one off for him, where his novel would surely be better. The son was fun like in the gun shop, and he's not a bad aim. On the island, this film becomes a dull bore, with some weird sex, it's only interesting attraction. It's a shame in one side, where from the start, the film showed promise, but on the island, it's just became utterly pointless, fruitless viewing if you will. I can just say, I'm glad I didn't see this at the cinema, but there is worse floating about, but not much. What a stinker.

I watched this movie many, many years ago, and like all good movies it left an impression on me. I think about this movie from time to time and remember it bringing out many emotions in me, mostly fear. I would love to watch it again if I can ever find it available. I don't remember to much about it, but loved Michael Caine and felt he did an excellent job in his role. This is a modern day pirate story, that seems to be probably fairly close to reality. I did not read the book so I can't compare the two. I figure that the fact that the movie has left such an impact on me all these years later, gives the movie a positive rating. I wonder if I watched it now if I would still enjoy it?