Simple plot involves Ray Liotta's soldier character being sentenced to a prison island for the assassination of his commanding officer. Once there, he battles the typical out of control crazies trying to find his own personal redemption. He is taken under the wing of a band of soul-searching convicts led by Lance Henrickson and his right-hand man Ernie Hudson.
The baddie is played decently by Stuart Wilson who I barely recognize from lackluster parts in other bigger flicks. While acting sinister enough, I thought that his highly polished teeth, and neatly trimmed beard produced a very tame look for what you'd expect to be a Mad-max type villain. Oh well, perhaps the well-coiffed Shakespearean types are more dangerous than we first assume.
There are some clichéd and B-movie lines in this film but the actors seem to treat it seriously. It helps that I like all the major actors in this flick.
Lots of good action on the part of Liotta, Hudson and dozens of extras. While set in the future, don't expect too many sci-fi CGI effects. Most of the action is aided by mechanical special effects done the old fashion way. In fact, I forgot by the end of the flick that the setting was in the future.
The not overly complicated plot works just fine in telling this mostly action story. But is does lead me to....
SORT OF SPOILER A major plot point is that Liotta's character is encouraged to leave the island to tell the world about this savage island operated illegally by a certain prison. I have two issues with this.
1) some cons appear too incredibly tame to warrant expulsion to the island. It's not made clear whether some, all, or who exactly gets chosen to be moved from the prison to the island
2) Assuming all the criminals are likely to be reassigned to other prisons once the truth about the island comes out, why would the good guys, who've actually constructed quite a nice island compound, want to give up their freedom in this manner?
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