When Michael Bay's sci-fi action movie premiered in 2005, it received a lukewarm response from the public and critics alike. It bombed at the box office (for which Bay blames a poor marketing plan) despite the appeal of stars Scarlett Johansson and Ewan McGregor and its director, Michael Bay. However, the film found a supporter in the most unlikely of people — renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Well-known for being vocal about scientific inaccuracies he sees on screen, Tyson has become a figure that many sci-fi creators hope to impress. His reputation has even impacted how other professionals approach their work — just ask The Martian author Andy Weir, who claims he imagined Tyson over his shoulder as he wrote his book. Though Tyson respects the creative liberties that Hollywood productions require and appreciates a good story, he is nonetheless a tough critic. So, if he says The Island is a gem of the genre, it's worth taking another look at.
In the dystopian future of The Island, Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson star as Lincoln Six Echo and Jordan Two Delta, respectively. . Through the process of a weekly lottery, one citizen at a time is given the privilege of leaving the compound to live on the island. However, it's not long before Lincoln begins to question the story they've been fed, based on both finding evidence of life outside the walls of their community and the mysterious dreams he experiences.
After learning the nefarious truth about their existence — that — Lincoln teams up with Jordan to escape captivity and bring those responsible to justice. What follows is a war between two opposing sides: those hoping to destroy the clones and those trying to liberate them.
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. While agreeing that these two aspects of the film might not mesh together perfectly, famed film critic Roger Ebert was more flattering in his review, acknowledging the success of both halves and praising the actors. However, he wasn't the only expert to weigh in.
Though he didn't have much to say about the nitty-gritty science of The Island, Neil deGrasse Tyson is still a huge fan of the movie. In an article he penned for the LA Times about his favorite sci-fi flicks, he said, ". A rare study of science in the service of vanity, mixed with an exploration of corporate profits, human identity, and free will." He also likened the project to a higher-budget "cousin" of 1997's Gattaca with Ethan Hawke and Jude Law. That movie also explores questions of identity, focusing on genetic manipulation and how advanced scientific technology might affect humans' perception of themselves.
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With some of Tyson's favorite sci-fi movies, including classics like Back to the Future, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and The Matrix, . The project leans more heavily into ideas about technology's impact on society, human commodification, and ethics than straightforward sci-fi staples like aliens or time travel. However, it manages to check all the boxes for an emotionally compelling story, popular Hollywood action, and well-crafted science fiction. If Neil deGrasse Tyson says The Island gets it right, it's definitely a watch worth your time.
