Ewan McGregor in "The Island"
courtesy of Warner Home Video
"The Island Is Surrounded By Mediocrity"

When it comes to action movies Director Michael Bay can generally do no wrong. After all he is the guy who brought us "Pearl Harbor," "Armageddon," and "The Rock." So odds were that his new movie (now on DVD) "The Island" was going to carry on that tradition. Word of warning - it didn't.

This adventure movie (and I use that term loosely) stars Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson as two people living in an underground laboratory. The outside world has been contaminated and only one spot, a paradise called the Island, is suitable for living things. There is a lottery held every so often and the winners get a visit to the Island.

Ah but things are not as they seem and the trip to "the Island" is a one way ticket only. There the organs of the inhabitants will be taken and given to persons living in the real world. McGregor and Johansson's characters get wind of this and escape. The chase takes up the rest of this hokey movie.

It's not that the acting is bad, it is just that the film is so over the top that it defies any entertainment value. It is so bad that even the action becomes boring. This was a major flop and you shouldn't waste your time or your money on it.

Heath Ledger is getting all kinds of awards for his role in "Brokeback Mountain." This young Australian actor also stars in "Casanova" at Christmastime. On DVD you can catch him in a little known Australian film titled "Two Hands."

In this movie Ledger co-stars with Bryan Brown in a tale about crime and corruption in Australia. Ledger plays a young man in debt to the mob and the way he must wheel and deal in order to come up with the funds. If he doesn't get it, well the mob will get him.

This is a gritty drama and Ledger is the best thing in it. So if you like Ledger then you will want to see this film.

Another drama on DVD this week is "Four Minutes." This film concerns Sir Roger Bannister and his race to break the four-minute mile. This was considered one of the greatest moments in sports history and you can see it happen in real life and in the film on this DVD.

Jamie MacLachlan plays Bannister and the recreation of events is almost perfect. You will thrill to his rising to the challenge and forcing his body to make this supreme effort. If you are a sports fan or if you just like the emotional impact of a man who did his best and passed the test, then watch "Four Minutes."

The girls in your family will want the new "American Girl" story. The first DVD concerned a young girl named Samantha. Now there is "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure." This film tells the story of Felicity an American girl living during colonial times.

The movie stars Shailene Woodley as "Felicity." Her co-stars in the film are John Schneider and Marcia Gay Harden. Some of the extras on the DVD include an interview with Woodley and a tour of Williamsburg, Virginia where the story is set.

There will be more movies in this series and your daughter will want to have them all. SO make sure you don't miss out on getting "Felicity: An American Girl Adventure." And get the doll too.

Other DVD's for the kids this week include: (1) Walt Disney's Treasure Wave (2) Gargoyles Season Two Volume 1: We Live Again (3) Power Rangers Boom (Volume 4) and Zapped (Volume 5) (4) The Proud Family Movie (5) That's So Raven: Raven's House Party.

All of these are Disney DVD's and are kid friendly. You can provide hours and hours of entertainment with these titles.

 

 

 

 

 

©2005 Jackie K. Cooper

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