La isla de los condenados

Curiously, most of the cast members come across as if they don't belong in this movie. Tom Selleck was obviously unknown at the time. He is completely ineffectual as a "doctor." The only point of interest is also having Roger E Mosely in the cast, as he and Selleck went on to star in Magnum PI. The biggest disappointment is the way beautiful Marta Kristen is wasted here. Her role is quite generic. Nothing that any other actress couldn't have done just as well. Also, Marta has genuine competition here, strictly in terms of "looks." There are not many women who could have ever given Marta Kristen a run for her money, but Phyllis Davis does just that. Not only are they both beautiful women, but they look like they could have been sisters. There is some nudity. Not enough, and none of it is by Marta! WHY NOT??!! Overall, the movie is watchable, but more violent than sexy. Should have been the other way around.

Selleck (playing a doctor before his stint on "Friends") and Mosley appear in this one seven years before the Magnum, P.I. TV series. (It is amazing how a person can play one character and be so right for so many different roles).

California has abolished the death penalty (before it was reinstated) and the golden state empties death row onto "Terminal Island". Here, the inmates run the show and the only "guard" is a Navy frigate that prevents escape. Basically, this is a standard prison movie without the bars, but since there are no rules, the inmates can do whatever they want from what they can improvise on the Island.

A social order has arisen where a dorky murderer along with his black enforcer(Mosley) force everyone to work while he has his way with the women (other males get their turn, as well).

A "revolutionary" band of renegades (lead by Don Marshall(II) from "Star Trek" and "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century") roam the island and basically steal what they can from the "establishment". They treat their people only slightly better.

A war erupts when some guards delivering a new prisoner are overwhelmed and their machine guns are stolen. All manner of improvised weapons are also used as well.

This movie is a very good allegory for the VietNam war and how determined ingenious under dogs can defeat a militarily superior power.

Also, as expected in seventies exploitation flicks, a lot of chicks go topless and nude--unfortunately not Selleck or Mosley.

After the Supreme Court outlaws the death penalty, California circumvents the ruling by sending murderers to a secluded island, where they are declared 'legally dead' and expected to kill each other off. Four intrepid ladies spend some miserable time in the hierarchical sexist work camp on one side of the island, then run off to join the liberated comrades on the other side. There's some pretty big statements waiting to happen in there, and they come through loud 'n' brassy, but they are made in the firm confines of a rockin' 70s drive-in action movie. This is a co-ed prison flick on a cheaper set, with a great bunch of weirdo characters floating around and future Magnum P. I. cast members sweetening the pot. Smart and well made too.

Minor drive-in classic concerns the replacement of capitol punishment with exile to a guarded island. Men and women alike must fend for themselves in this rugged terrain(which looks like paradise to me).

TERMINAL ISLAND takes full advantage of it's many opportunities to present titties and sexual situations. If, for some strange reason, that doesn't manage to hold your attention, there's equal portions of violent action for good measure...it's a more professionally appointed example of it's type, and should manage to please many folks outside the trash-cinemaphile radius.

A sleazy, cheesy champion of drive-in splendor. 6/10.

Remember Escape From New York? Eight years previously, in 1973, Terminal Island did the exact same idea. Not nearly as well, but hey - being first count for something, too! TI is an exploitation film when being an exploitation film was cool. As such, it has certain shortcoming inherent to the genre, such as street talking tough black guy, the psychotic white chauvinist pig, and the heroic woman, overcoming oppression with sagacity and perserverence. I can live with those stereotypes, but I can't bear the background music leftover from a 1970's porn movie!

Marta Kristen finally gets to play the part of an action hero - quite a leap from the laid back Judy Robinson role she is best known for. She fights and blows things up and knows how to create gunpowder from nature. Very cool.