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The Island

1980, Movie, R, 114 mins

The Island: Review

Michael Caine stars as British journalist Maynard, who sets out to investigate the disappearance of a ship in the Bermuda Triangle and is forced to crash-land on a remote island with his son, Justin (Jeffrey Frank). They discover the place is inhabited by a gang of pirates who, for the last 300 years, have been robbing and killing anyone who ventures near their territory. The pirates take the pair prisoner with the intention of preparing Justin to be their new leader. The waterlogged script from Peter Benchley gives evidence that his success with JAWS was a pure fluke, and the picture offers nothing but a seemingly endless barrage of graphic violence. Of course, they didn't leave out sex--Maynard is seduced/raped in a stupid subplot concerning the pirates' infertility. This was a $22 million investment on which the producers deserved to take a bath--and did. The only thing that rises above the cinematic depths is the score by Ennio Morricone. leave a comment