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The Island poster

The Island

Movie 2005 136 min Action, Thriller, Science Fiction Reviewed by Dan S · Checked 19 Jan 2019
Official Rating M ClearAge 14+

Why our age differs

Official is M. We say 14+ because the second half turns into a hard chase with guns and a chilling control premise. It watches tougher than a talky moderate drama

What we flagged

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Violence
Moderate
Sex and Nudity
Mild
Frightening
Moderate
Language
Mild

Our take

The Island begins inside a closely controlled community, then turns into an escape thriller as its promises start to unravel. Armed pursuit and chases dominate the later stretch, while the early scenes carry an uneasy sense of medical control. Language is relatively mild, and romance does not become a graphic sex scene. We put it at around 14 and up for the dark premise and sustained pursuit.

Uplifting themes

Questioning a comfortable lie and fighting for real freedom are the heart of the story. Friendship and choosing people over a system get clear airtime. Worth a talk after the credits Two residents who refuse to stay obedient models push back against control. They are action heroes, not quiet activists. Still useful for a chat about courage and curiosity Teens may ask about cloning ethics, consent, and who owns a body. The film is popcorn first. Those questions can still land at home

Story (may spoil tone)

In 2019, Lincoln Six-Echo is a resident of a seemingly "Utopian" but contained facility. Like all of the inhabitants of this carefully-controlled environment, Lincoln hopes to be chosen to go to The Island — reportedly the last uncontaminated location on the planet. But Lincoln soon discovers that everything about his existence is a lie.

What we flagged

View all categories

Violence
Moderate
Sex and Nudity
Mild
Frightening
Moderate
Language
Mild

Details

Violence Moderate Once the controlled community cracks open, chases, armed pursuit, and f…

Once the controlled community cracks open, chases, armed pursuit, and facility force take over. Threat of harm is clear and sustained in the back half. Earlier scenes feel sterile until the action starts

Language Mild Some coarse talk fits a PG-13 style chase film, with milder swearing in…

Some coarse talk fits a PG-13 style chase film, with milder swearing instead of a constant f-word barrage. Nothing that defines the whole movie. Still not a G watch

Sex / nudity Mild Lincoln and Jordan kiss and have a brief sex scene, with bare shoulders…

Lincoln and Jordan kiss and have a brief sex scene, with bare shoulders visible as they move together in bed. The film also makes a few jokes about sex and virginity

Frightening Moderate The controlled community grows sinister as its claims about the outside…

The controlled community grows sinister as its claims about the outside world unravel. Medical control and the later pursuit may unsettle sensitive teens

Gore / death / weapons Mild Guns and pursuit injury appear once the escape begins. You see danger a…

Guns and pursuit injury appear once the escape begins. You see danger and weapons without a long wound reel. Impact is moderate for an action thriller

Flashing lights We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

We have not confirmed whether this version contains flashing lights.

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Talk after watching

  • A safe life can still be a cage. How do you tell comfort from control?
  • The story asks who a body belongs to. What should consent look like in a medical future?

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