Peter Benchley was the Dan Brown of his day. He wrote shite, lowest common denominator paperbacks. He also made loads of money. Fair play to him. Cheers!
He's an easy read, Skip, but I don't necessarily disagree with your summation. Really, a one-hit-wonder - despite his post-Jaws novels continuing to rake in the moolah. T.
I love this film. In a world where many people accept Braveheart as believable and even historically accurate then I have no problem accepting 17th/18th century pirates in the 1980's. Ive always loved the scene where the Coastguard ship is attacked and where the drug smugglers are attacked. Amazing stuff for me back then.
I saw this on a night off in basic training. It was at the post theater with a double bill of Don’t Answer the Phone. The second movie was more popular because it had tons of nudity
Great review (as always, Tony!). The Island brings back so many (good) memories - let's not forget it was the golden summer of 1980, over 44 years ago.
You're dead right about Warner. Yet in the right casting he can ooze menace. Will always remember his portrayal of the time travelling Jack the Ripper in 'Time After Time'. Oh - and you're kidding no-one. The reason you have such fond memories of Prime Cut is Sissy Spacek 😁
hey there t, I'm a bit under the weather right now, have been since the 21st but I'm slowly recovering, glad to see you've uploaded again, I was just thinking about you yesterday :)
I NEVER understood the hatred for this movie... I've always LOVED it! It's a shocking and chilling thriller, and a worthy addition to the Peter Benchley trilogy of "sea" films, which includes Jaws and The Deep. It's also one of my favorite Michael Caine films, along with the Harry Palmer spy trilogy (The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, Billion Dollar Brain), and The Man Who Would Be King... There's so much to love in this modern day pirate tale... Caine is terrific as the "everyman" hero, and the film has some wildly crazy set pieces... And "Man", did it ever "creep me out" when I first saw it in 1980 when I was 13 years old! Now, if you want to talk about BAD Michael Caine films, just go watch The Swarm, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, and Jaws: The Revenge... Now THOSE are BAD films! The Island is NOT a bad movie AT ALL...Like I said... It's a tense action thriller... And... There are SO many COOL moments in it... Like this one ua-cam.com/video/cUtqKcEgE7s/v-deo.html Not to mention this one ua-cam.com/video/CGkvxQSq2II/v-deo.html And, COME ON... How can you NOT love THIS scene?!? ua-cam.com/video/-_kzNjK2Ox8/v-deo.html It was very well directed by Michael Ritchie, who made three other favorites of mine: 1972's crime thriller Prime Cut ua-cam.com/video/EBW3Rlw4mlw/v-deo.html, 1985's comedy Fletch ua-cam.com/video/VYsRIZsd2xI/v-deo.html. and 1989's comedy Fletch Lives ua-cam.com/video/cX78XXrtOZU/v-deo.html Plus, it has a great music score by Ennio Morricone ua-cam.com/video/TqF8w9Aym30/v-deo.html Here is the original trailer for 1980's The Island ua-cam.com/video/IfNI-f1NhCk/v-deo.html&pp=ygUidGhlIGlzbGFuZCAxOTgwIHRyYWlsZXIgd2lkZXNjcmVlbg%3D%3D If you have never seen it, try it out for yourself... I think you will be pleasantly surprised. In fact, make a night of it, along with 1975's Jaws ua-cam.com/video/4pxkU9GVAoA/v-deo.html and 1977's The Deep. ua-cam.com/video/Pic2cThP7mU/v-deo.html) Have a Peter Benchley Triple Feature! Anyway... I'm sorry to go on and on like this, but I will ALWAYS stick up for this movie... SOMEONE has to defend this unique and entertaining Michael Caine thriller! PS: Be sure to read the Benchley book, too... It's quite good!
Like all things it has its fans - people like what they like and that's fair enough. Meanwhile: The Deep: ua-cam.com/video/yoGlOwKEsZE/v-deo.html The Swarm: ua-cam.com/video/5OWovZPX3eg/v-deo.html Prime Cut: ua-cam.com/video/0eVPfvYCTbc/v-deo.html
Ah back home with a selection of soggy ferrets and trench foot to find Tony has treated us again, time for a coffee and a roll up. Cheers Tony from I and the militant furrys😉.
You know it’s bloody awful, but annoyingly it’s still entertaining, or maybe not entertaining but endearing. Takes me back to my vhs rental days around 1980 when if you took a film out it cost you a fiver and you were stuck with it for a whole week, which meant multiple viewings were the norm. Even the films were dogshit, by god I was going to get my five quid’s worth.
My local video rental emporium was called Janus Videos. The J dropped off the sign and was never replaced. It was that sort of venue. In fairness, though, they charged a quid per film for two nights - two quid if it was a new release or popular. Then they fined you three quid if you didn't bring it back on time. I watched a hell of a lot of videos back then. T.
Great stuff Tony. Read the book, have never seen the film except in bits. Looks like it could have been great but ended up being a bit silly. There was a family show from Australian TV in the sixties called 'Adventures of the Seaspray' about a widowed Dad and his kids sailing the Pacific in a yacht of the title. There was an episode called 'Forgotten Island' which dealt with a lost tribe of pirate descendants. No sex or violence of course but the makers did a better job.
The book was a better book than the film was a film - although that's not saying much. I have vague recollections of that Aussie series along with something I think was called Barrier Reef and another called Seaway - although Seaway might not have been an Oz show. I would look them up, but due to reviewing The Island I'm feeling a bit seasick and it may be a while before it lifts and I dip my toe in the briny again. Thanks, Peter. T.
as for the actual mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, I've always theorized that some sort of large creature lives there.. think about it, the sea is one of the most unexplored places on earth, there could very well be a mega-ton creature resting in a specific spot that swallows passersby whole.
Hey, my second favourite Bush after Kate is back! Been watching Dark Corners Reviews have we? They consider this film a massive dud, but it looks entertaining in a so bad it's good way. And with a few decent character actors (David Warner!) and a middling Morricone score it's worth a look. If only it was on TV, as it's too stinky to pay for. Cheers for another fun review.
George Dubya not in the running? The Island's got something - scurvy probably - but there are worse things out there. Probably. Many thanks for commenting. T.
I've heard of Ritchie before, coincidentally one of your own fans A.C. Marston recommended I should watch and review his film Downhill Racer (1969) a year ago
Movie gets a partial redeeming rating in light of what Hollywood spent the next 43 years wallowing in. By 1984 over the top, excess and unbalanced tone were the new wave in movies.
Caine wasn't coy about his financial motives and had enough humility to admit some of those films were rotters. So I don't think you're being overly cynical. Thanks for commenting. T.
Michael Ritchie tends to be a forgotten director from the New Hollywood era! He made some great 1970s movies including The Candidate, Prime Cut and Downhill Racer nut probably had his biggest commercial success with the Bad News Bears. His career nose dived after The Island and he was reduced to making the Fletch movies with Chevy Chase and The Golden Child with Eddie Murphy which made money but could have been helmed a television hack. When I interviewed Nat Segaloff he compared Ritchie's decline with William Friedkin's in the 1980s but made the point that WF managed to keep going while MR in the end threw in the towel due to the rubbish material he was presented with to direct. Its a real shame because Ritchie at his best was one the best in the 1970s, but had a decline akin to Hal Ashby in the corporate Don Simpson led high concept/formula films of the 1980s!
I will always rate him with gratitude for Prime Cut, wonderfully hard-boiled and a personal favourite. The rest of his output, not so much. Thanks for commenting, Mark. T.
Caine had poor taste to do jaws 4 and posiedon adventure 2 (although that Paul gallico ) his seafaring movies seemed to sink immediately. The island is a often contradictory film -the scene with cocaine is ruined by dialogue rather than letting the audience draw their own conclusions. The truly unfortunate scene on same of chuck Norris type got on my tits when I first saw the film and 35+ years hasnt improved it. Strangely I find myself in absolute agreement about the great late David Warner's role. He miscast , misdirected and badly written role -i have read that he and Caine would often sit and chat on location shooting wondering how the filmic premise blown in translation. Caine though does salvage the movie --his willingness to give what is essentially a silly story a grounded central character make the movie mostly work and it worth just watching for his "Long fucking John" line. As I seen this recently really pleased you reviewed as threatened. Take care keep up the great work
I try to make my threats promises, Graeme, as you know. Or is that promises threats? Anyway, one of the things I like about Caine as a person is his honesty. He's always been upfront about his monetary driven reasons for making some of the films he made. Which is a very unstarry thing to do, and I respect that. Doesn't make the films any better, unfortunately, but his self-insight is refreshing. Thanks for commenting, mate. T.
@tonybush555 ppl complainimg about jaws 4." Well I've never seen it but I've seen the extension it paid for on my house" really suspect he underpaid for years. Great stuff. Cheers T
I remember watching this on HTV's Night Club in 1990. It has a great first act. Horror elements. It is until Michael Caine meets The Pirates which feels like the rest of the film abruptly changes into a Monty Python film without the comedy. I understand why The Island works as a late night piece of entertainment. I wouldn't say its the worst film ever made. I feel that there is some great ideas there but it needed a co scriptwriter. The overall script looks like a jumbled mess. I understand why some audiences might like this film. This could of been a cult film but it lacks some quirky elements to be a cult film.
@@tonybush555 it is the script that is the problem. The cast isn't the problem even Michael Ritchie as director wasn't a problem. Even though he got typecast as a comedy director with like Fletch, he also directed gritty thrillers like Prime Cut. I wonder if The Island was a co British film to have the majority of British cast?
Michael caine was mostly like most people today - will do anything for money. He lived in Switzerland fgs. He was in some classic films though - fourth protocol, Zulu, man who would be king, and ipcress file. The whistle blower is good as well. The Italian job is ok. The rest I can happily never see again and won’t as I no longer watch the garbage tv channels
brilliant review! caine is on record as saying his bad movie choices were not intentional! he cites this movie and the swarm as both signing on to a sure thing and that hollywood knows nothing! as he explained i did all star massively budgeted the swarm made by irwin allen after the poseiden adventure earthquake and the towering inferno had been massive hits! disaster movies were surefire hits! it died the death of deaths bad script bad effects ludicrous premise and those effing bees! oh we got it wrong! i then get offered a peter benchley adaptation ! jaws and the deep were massive successes so the third would be even bigger! another disaster! the island! point is i also did poseiden adventure 2 and jaws 4 im not a hypocrite but i knew they were crap and i simply wanted the massive paycheck! the island and the swarm however were intended to be genuine quality pictures intended to make mega bucks! nobody at the very top in the business saw how crap they were so how was i supposed to know? classic example by mr caine of how the geniuses in the film business simply find a formula then throw money at films trying to repeat it! look how the present situation shows nothing has changed! super hero movies.joker 2 woke snow white endless star war flops all costing hundreds of millions of dollars all flushed down the toilet! as screenwriter william goldman said films are a business where no one knows anything!
I don't blame or judge Caine adversely for his choices or citing money as his motivation. He's always been refreshingly honest about it and openly admits that the films were bad. I do blame the studios and the New Hollywood for their dogmatic and willful attitude these days, their failure to learn, their refusal to admit they are getting it wrong, to just continue pumping out stuff that people don't want to see because they are convinced they are right and it's the audience that's wrong. If you don't like it, you're the one at fault. That doesn't fly. None of this is complicated stuff or difficult to grasp. If a restaurant serves rotten food that looks and tastes bad, people won't eat there. And they'd be right not to eat there. That's where it begins and ends. Thanks for commenting, Mike. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 also interestingly though tastes and audiences change the two biggest stars at the start of the sound era were not bronxed adonises or bathing beautys! they were george arliss and marie dressler both well into their 60s! now theyd be rejected by algorithm for not fitting the demographic! audiences change i know and a lot of pre war movie subjects are now covered by tv! however the old studio system did churn out a vast varied selection of different movies.warners dor example had paul muni for intellectual films .cagney and bogie raft and robinson for crime flicks ,errol flynn for swashbucklers.and bette davies for womens pictures . yet they were not typecast in specific roles,theyd try them in other parts or genres. theyd break it up .bogie for example played in various very different movies as a vampire and irish jockey and an irish stableboy along the way . flynn played soames forsythe in a drama about edwardian manners! cagney got an oscar for a hit musical! they made movies people wanted to see! theyd screen them and scrutinize the preview audiences reaction cards.they made the odd turkey muni in jaurez was jack warners bete noir! however they tried not to repeat them and listened to the fans! now we have the situation where boards of morons and computors tell us what we must watch! if you dont like it its not their fault! its the audience for being leftist rightist facist communist racist anti woke homophobes sexist anti electric car trump supporting morons who they dont want at their films anyway! the business is doomed!
@@mikekemp9877 Can't fault what you say here, Mike. The majority of "new" films are sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes of stuff that has gone before and really warrants no further manifestations. As you so rightly point out, the originality and the variety of thirties Hollywood movies was staggering. Coincidentally, I'm currently working on a review of one of my favourite films from that period. I saw it at a young age on TV and it's important to me personally because it was the first time I realised that cinema was a true art form with real world relevance and meaning. I mean, the set up alone is genius - an action/adventure/romance/drama about a rickety private airline in a fictional South American sea port flying perilous mail and cargo drops over the Andes. I've only sketched it out so far, but it's one I really want to do. And I will as soon as I get a handle on it. Many thanks. T.
@@tonybush555 cant wait! i think i know the movie! wont spoil it for the others! again the man who made it had a simple formula that he worked with .bunch of real guys an attractive intelligent girl in a dangerous location where their lives are at risk every day! snappy overlapping intelligent dialogue and plots that made sense .could use it as a war movie western safari picture even alien invasion! and a mail service that the operators know will eventually kill them.yet all his movies were different sucessful and classic entertainment .much copied by greats like john carpenter and although he hates to admit tarantino! made when movies were for the audience!
The best thing about this film is the poster, which is half decent, echoing the rising up from the ocean asper Jaws and The Deep. Terrible film, agree with everything you say, but for some reason your review compelled me to watchbit again. Probably a mistake, although I did manage to sleep through the middle section. Very poor book as well. A writer who had clearly run out of road, subsequent to his one good idea. But I will stand up for The Deep. Good book, arguably better written than Jaws, if lacking the former's compelling premise. Of course the film of it isn't a patch on Jaws, because Jaws is one of the half dozen or so greatest movies ever made, but judged on its own merits it's a pretty decent film.
As a big fan of movie poster art from back when it was a true art form, I agree about the various posters for the film. Many thanks for commenting, Richard. T.
Texan? More power to you! As such, I would imagine you're a different breed to Caine's son in The Island. I wouldn't trust that kid with a spud gun. Thank you for commenting. T.
@ I certainly hope so. Yeah this kid is “messed up” as we say. Giving him a firearm, probably not the greatest sign of parenting. I recall, walking out of this film back in ‘80’ (15 at the time) it was a true…dog of a film.
Such a B movie, but you have the entertaining gift of the gab. Great video. Subbed.
Hey, thank you. Appreciated. T.
Peter Benchley was the Dan Brown of his day. He wrote shite, lowest common denominator paperbacks. He also made loads of money. Fair play to him. Cheers!
He's an easy read, Skip, but I don't necessarily disagree with your summation. Really, a one-hit-wonder - despite his post-Jaws novels continuing to rake in the moolah. T.
I love this film. In a world where many people accept Braveheart as believable and even historically accurate then I have no problem accepting 17th/18th century pirates in the 1980's. Ive always loved the scene where the Coastguard ship is attacked and where the drug smugglers are attacked. Amazing stuff for me back then.
I saw this on a night off in basic training. It was at the post theater with a double bill of Don’t Answer the Phone.
The second movie was more popular because it had tons of nudity
Tons of nudity is often an advantage, Stanley. I can see how that would increase popularity in certain circumstances. Thanks for commenting. T.
Great review (as always, Tony!). The Island brings back so many (good) memories - let's not forget it was the golden summer of 1980, over 44 years ago.
Thank you, Ricardo. Appreciate the sentiments. T.
You're dead right about Warner. Yet in the right casting he can ooze menace. Will always remember his portrayal of the time travelling Jack the Ripper in 'Time After Time'. Oh - and you're kidding no-one. The reason you have such fond memories of Prime Cut is Sissy Spacek 😁
She's one reason. Or two. T. And Time After Time Review is here if you haven't found it: ua-cam.com/video/agKncna0iCc/v-deo.html
hey there t, I'm a bit under the weather right now, have been since the 21st but I'm slowly recovering, glad to see you've uploaded again, I was just thinking about you yesterday :)
Nice to know someone's thinking about me, Streed. Hey, sorry to hear you've been unwell. Hope you feel better soon, mate. Regards. T.
@@tonybush555 thanks man, it's only a cold, I'll be better in no time✌
'Get some stick for that!'...😀 Nice one, Tony.
Ah, someone picked up on that. Well done, Lee. 👍
It bomded but i always liked it since it first came out when i was 18 and saw it
It has a certain whacky uniqueness, I'll grant it that much, Wayne. many thanks. T.
@@tonybush555 A film that bombed that i loved was The 13th Warrior from 1999. Any chance of a vid on that one mate?
@@waynemcauliffe-fv5yf Coincidentally, it's a film I got a big kick out of also, Wayne, so a review at some point is a definite possibility. T.
@@tonybush555 Sweet mate
I NEVER understood the hatred for this movie... I've always LOVED it! It's a shocking and chilling thriller, and a worthy addition to the Peter Benchley trilogy of "sea" films, which includes Jaws and The Deep. It's also one of my favorite Michael Caine films, along with the Harry Palmer spy trilogy (The Ipcress File, Funeral in Berlin, Billion Dollar Brain), and The Man Who Would Be King... There's so much to love in this modern day pirate tale... Caine is terrific as the "everyman" hero, and the film has some wildly crazy set pieces... And "Man", did it ever "creep me out" when I first saw it in 1980 when I was 13 years old!
Now, if you want to talk about BAD Michael Caine films, just go watch The Swarm, Beyond the Poseidon Adventure, and Jaws: The Revenge... Now THOSE are BAD films!
The Island is NOT a bad movie AT ALL...Like I said... It's a tense action thriller...
And... There are SO many COOL moments in it...
Like this one ua-cam.com/video/cUtqKcEgE7s/v-deo.html
Not to mention this one ua-cam.com/video/CGkvxQSq2II/v-deo.html
And, COME ON... How can you NOT love THIS scene?!? ua-cam.com/video/-_kzNjK2Ox8/v-deo.html
It was very well directed by Michael Ritchie, who made three other favorites of mine:
1972's crime thriller Prime Cut ua-cam.com/video/EBW3Rlw4mlw/v-deo.html,
1985's comedy Fletch ua-cam.com/video/VYsRIZsd2xI/v-deo.html.
and 1989's comedy Fletch Lives ua-cam.com/video/cX78XXrtOZU/v-deo.html
Plus, it has a great music score by Ennio Morricone ua-cam.com/video/TqF8w9Aym30/v-deo.html
Here is the original trailer for 1980's The Island ua-cam.com/video/IfNI-f1NhCk/v-deo.html&pp=ygUidGhlIGlzbGFuZCAxOTgwIHRyYWlsZXIgd2lkZXNjcmVlbg%3D%3D
If you have never seen it, try it out for yourself... I think you will be pleasantly surprised. In fact, make a night of it, along with 1975's Jaws ua-cam.com/video/4pxkU9GVAoA/v-deo.html and 1977's The Deep. ua-cam.com/video/Pic2cThP7mU/v-deo.html) Have a Peter Benchley Triple Feature!
Anyway... I'm sorry to go on and on like this, but I will ALWAYS stick up for this movie... SOMEONE has to defend this unique and entertaining Michael Caine thriller!
PS: Be sure to read the Benchley book, too... It's quite good!
Like all things it has its fans - people like what they like and that's fair enough.
Meanwhile:
The Deep: ua-cam.com/video/yoGlOwKEsZE/v-deo.html
The Swarm: ua-cam.com/video/5OWovZPX3eg/v-deo.html
Prime Cut: ua-cam.com/video/0eVPfvYCTbc/v-deo.html
Ah back home with a selection of soggy ferrets and trench foot to find Tony has treated us again, time for a coffee and a roll up. Cheers Tony from I and the militant furrys😉.
Right back at you, Compo. T.
I may have to step into the Island....
Don't say you were uninformed if you do. Thanks for commenting, Steve. T.
You know it’s bloody awful, but annoyingly it’s still entertaining, or maybe not entertaining but endearing.
Takes me back to my vhs rental days around 1980 when if you took a film out it cost you a fiver and you were stuck with it for a whole week, which meant multiple viewings were the norm.
Even the films were dogshit, by god I was going to get my five quid’s worth.
My local video rental emporium was called Janus Videos. The J dropped off the sign and was never replaced. It was that sort of venue. In fairness, though, they charged a quid per film for two nights - two quid if it was a new release or popular. Then they fined you three quid if you didn't bring it back on time. I watched a hell of a lot of videos back then. T.
Anus Videos 😂🤣😂 that’s made my fuckin day 😂🤣🤣
I loved it then and I still love it now.
Great stuff Tony. Read the book, have never seen the film except in bits. Looks like it could have been great but ended up being a bit silly. There was a family show from Australian TV in the sixties called 'Adventures of the Seaspray' about a widowed Dad and his kids sailing the Pacific in a yacht of the title. There was an episode called 'Forgotten Island' which dealt with a lost tribe of pirate descendants. No sex or violence of course but the makers did a better job.
The book was a better book than the film was a film - although that's not saying much. I have vague recollections of that Aussie series along with something I think was called Barrier Reef and another called Seaway - although Seaway might not have been an Oz show. I would look them up, but due to reviewing The Island I'm feeling a bit seasick and it may be a while before it lifts and I dip my toe in the briny again. Thanks, Peter. T.
Saw it when I was a kid when it came out. I was indifferent to it then as I am now.
as for the actual mystery of the Bermuda Triangle, I've always theorized that some sort of large creature lives there.. think about it, the sea is one of the most unexplored places on earth, there could very well be a mega-ton creature resting in a specific spot that swallows passersby whole.
I'd seriously like to think that's true. T.
@@tonybush555 it's really quite a logical explanation, either that or it's an ancient curse by some pissed off witches😆
Caine's scowl throughout this movie was due to being told about his upcoming Hoagie roll 😂😂😂. In Jaws the Revenge. See what I did there?
😉
Hey, my second favourite Bush after Kate is back! Been watching Dark Corners Reviews have we? They consider this film a massive dud, but it looks entertaining in a so bad it's good way. And with a few decent character actors (David Warner!) and a middling Morricone score it's worth a look. If only it was on TV, as it's too stinky to pay for. Cheers for another fun review.
George Dubya not in the running? The Island's got something - scurvy probably - but there are worse things out there. Probably. Many thanks for commenting. T.
I've heard of Ritchie before, coincidentally one of your own fans A.C. Marston recommended I should watch and review his film Downhill Racer (1969) a year ago
My personal recommendation would be Prime Cut - ua-cam.com/video/0eVPfvYCTbc/v-deo.html
@@tonybush555 hmmm, prime cut, haven't heard of this one T. I'll be putting it on my list :)
I love this film
Movie gets a partial redeeming rating in light of what Hollywood spent the next 43 years wallowing in. By 1984 over the top, excess and unbalanced tone were the new wave in movies.
A very fair point, David. T.
I think Caine was game for anything, he has a very eclectic filmography. Could have been the money, but that's me being cynical😂
Caine wasn't coy about his financial motives and had enough humility to admit some of those films were rotters. So I don't think you're being overly cynical. Thanks for commenting. T.
Well done!
Thanks. T.
Michael Ritchie tends to be a forgotten director from the New Hollywood era! He made some great 1970s movies including The Candidate, Prime Cut and Downhill Racer nut probably had his biggest commercial success with the Bad News Bears. His career nose dived after The Island and he was reduced to making the Fletch movies with Chevy Chase and The Golden Child with Eddie Murphy which made money but could have been helmed a television hack. When I interviewed Nat Segaloff he compared Ritchie's decline with William Friedkin's in the 1980s but made the point that WF managed to keep going while MR in the end threw in the towel due to the rubbish material he was presented with to direct. Its a real shame because Ritchie at his best was one the best in the 1970s, but had a decline akin to Hal Ashby in the corporate Don Simpson led high concept/formula films of the 1980s!
I will always rate him with gratitude for Prime Cut, wonderfully hard-boiled and a personal favourite. The rest of his output, not so much. Thanks for commenting, Mark. T.
Caine had poor taste to do jaws 4 and posiedon adventure 2 (although that Paul gallico ) his seafaring movies seemed to sink immediately.
The island is a often contradictory film -the scene with cocaine is ruined by dialogue rather than letting the audience draw their own conclusions.
The truly unfortunate scene on same of chuck Norris type got on my tits when I first saw the film and 35+ years hasnt improved it. Strangely I find myself in absolute agreement about the great late David Warner's role. He miscast , misdirected and badly written role -i have read that he and Caine would often sit and chat on location shooting wondering how the filmic premise blown in translation. Caine though does salvage the movie --his willingness to give what is essentially a silly story a grounded central character make the movie mostly work and it worth just watching for his "Long fucking John" line.
As I seen this recently really pleased you reviewed as threatened.
Take care keep up the great work
I try to make my threats promises, Graeme, as you know. Or is that promises threats? Anyway, one of the things I like about Caine as a person is his honesty. He's always been upfront about his monetary driven reasons for making some of the films he made. Which is a very unstarry thing to do, and I respect that. Doesn't make the films any better, unfortunately, but his self-insight is refreshing. Thanks for commenting, mate. T.
@tonybush555 ppl complainimg about jaws 4." Well I've never seen it but I've seen the extension it paid for on my house" really suspect he underpaid for years.
Great stuff. Cheers T
I remember watching this on HTV's Night Club in 1990. It has a great first act. Horror elements. It is until Michael Caine meets The Pirates which feels like the rest of the film abruptly changes into a Monty Python film without the comedy. I understand why The Island works as a late night piece of entertainment. I wouldn't say its the worst film ever made. I feel that there is some great ideas there but it needed a co scriptwriter. The overall script looks like a jumbled mess. I understand why some audiences might like this film. This could of been a cult film but it lacks some quirky elements to be a cult film.
The writing and execution let it down - yet it does have some entertainment value in there somewhere. Thanks, John. T.
@@tonybush555 it is the script that is the problem. The cast isn't the problem even Michael Ritchie as director wasn't a problem. Even though he got typecast as a comedy director with like Fletch, he also directed gritty thrillers like Prime Cut. I wonder if The Island was a co British film to have the majority of British cast?
Michael caine was mostly like most people today - will do anything for money. He lived in Switzerland fgs. He was in some classic films though - fourth protocol, Zulu, man who would be king, and ipcress file. The whistle blower is good as well. The Italian job is ok. The rest I can happily never see again and won’t as I no longer watch the garbage tv channels
Michael Caine was in THE classic film: Get Carter. More than good enough for me.
brilliant review! caine is on record as saying his bad movie choices were not intentional! he cites this movie and the swarm as both signing on to a sure thing and that hollywood knows nothing! as he explained i did all star massively budgeted the swarm made by irwin allen after the poseiden adventure earthquake and the towering inferno had been massive hits! disaster movies were surefire hits! it died the death of deaths bad script bad effects ludicrous premise and those effing bees! oh we got it wrong! i then get offered a peter benchley adaptation ! jaws and the deep were massive successes so the third would be even bigger! another disaster! the island! point is i also did poseiden adventure 2 and jaws 4 im not a hypocrite but i knew they were crap and i simply wanted the massive paycheck! the island and the swarm however were intended to be genuine quality pictures intended to make mega bucks! nobody at the very top in the business saw how crap they were so how was i supposed to know? classic example by mr caine of how the geniuses in the film business simply find a formula then throw money at films trying to repeat it! look how the present situation shows nothing has changed! super hero movies.joker 2 woke snow white endless star war flops all costing hundreds of millions of dollars all flushed down the toilet! as screenwriter william goldman said films are a business where no one knows anything!
I don't blame or judge Caine adversely for his choices or citing money as his motivation. He's always been refreshingly honest about it and openly admits that the films were bad. I do blame the studios and the New Hollywood for their dogmatic and willful attitude these days, their failure to learn, their refusal to admit they are getting it wrong, to just continue pumping out stuff that people don't want to see because they are convinced they are right and it's the audience that's wrong. If you don't like it, you're the one at fault. That doesn't fly. None of this is complicated stuff or difficult to grasp. If a restaurant serves rotten food that looks and tastes bad, people won't eat there. And they'd be right not to eat there. That's where it begins and ends. Thanks for commenting, Mike. Appreciated. T.
@@tonybush555 well said tony
@@tonybush555 also interestingly though tastes and audiences change the two biggest stars at the start of the sound era were not bronxed adonises or bathing beautys! they were george arliss and marie dressler both well into their 60s! now theyd be rejected by algorithm for not fitting the demographic! audiences change i know and a lot of pre war movie subjects are now covered by tv! however the old studio system did churn out a vast varied selection of different movies.warners dor example had paul muni for intellectual films .cagney and bogie raft and robinson for crime flicks ,errol flynn for swashbucklers.and bette davies for womens pictures . yet they were not typecast in specific roles,theyd try them in other parts or genres. theyd break it up .bogie for example played in various very different movies as a vampire and irish jockey and an irish stableboy along the way . flynn played soames forsythe in a drama about edwardian manners! cagney got an oscar for a hit musical! they made movies people wanted to see! theyd screen them and scrutinize the preview audiences reaction cards.they made the odd turkey muni in jaurez was jack warners bete noir! however they tried not to repeat them and listened to the fans! now we have the situation where boards of morons and computors tell us what we must watch! if you dont like it its not their fault! its the audience for being leftist rightist facist communist racist anti woke homophobes sexist anti electric car trump supporting morons who they dont want at their films anyway! the business is doomed!
@@mikekemp9877 Can't fault what you say here, Mike. The majority of "new" films are sequels, prequels, reboots, remakes of stuff that has gone before and really warrants no further manifestations. As you so rightly point out, the originality and the variety of thirties Hollywood movies was staggering. Coincidentally, I'm currently working on a review of one of my favourite films from that period. I saw it at a young age on TV and it's important to me personally because it was the first time I realised that cinema was a true art form with real world relevance and meaning. I mean, the set up alone is genius - an action/adventure/romance/drama about a rickety private airline in a fictional South American sea port flying perilous mail and cargo drops over the Andes. I've only sketched it out so far, but it's one I really want to do. And I will as soon as I get a handle on it. Many thanks. T.
@@tonybush555 cant wait! i think i know the movie! wont spoil it for the others! again the man who made it had a simple formula that he worked with .bunch of real guys an attractive intelligent girl in a dangerous location where their lives are at risk every day! snappy overlapping intelligent dialogue and plots that made sense .could use it as a war movie western safari picture even alien invasion! and a mail service that the operators know will eventually kill them.yet all his movies were different sucessful and classic entertainment .much copied by greats like john carpenter and although he hates to admit tarantino! made when movies were for the audience!
The best thing about this film is the poster, which is half decent, echoing the rising up from the ocean asper Jaws and The Deep. Terrible film, agree with everything you say, but for some reason your review compelled me to watchbit again. Probably a mistake, although I did manage to sleep through the middle section. Very poor book as well. A writer who had clearly run out of road, subsequent to his one good idea. But I will stand up for The Deep. Good book, arguably better written than Jaws, if lacking the former's compelling premise. Of course the film of it isn't a patch on Jaws, because Jaws is one of the half dozen or so greatest movies ever made, but judged on its own merits it's a pretty decent film.
As a big fan of movie poster art from back when it was a true art form, I agree about the various posters for the film. Many thanks for commenting, Richard. T.
2:34 Hey…hey, I had a gun when I was his age that my old man bought me for Christmas and I turned out fine…Then again I am a.…TEXAN 👍👍👍🫡🫡
Texan? More power to you! As such, I would imagine you're a different breed to Caine's son in The Island. I wouldn't trust that kid with a spud gun. Thank you for commenting. T.
@ I certainly hope so. Yeah this kid is “messed up” as we say. Giving him a firearm, probably not the greatest sign of parenting. I recall, walking out of this film back in ‘80’ (15 at the time) it was a true…dog of a film.