Cast Away (Widescreen)

 

 

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How can a modern human live without modern technology? Are we even capable of surviving on this Earth without a phone or (let's get basic) without iron or flint or domestic plants? And what would a man do without a companion, as if stranded on an island alone in the middle of the enormous ocean?

These are timeless questions and it is a very human story. Tom Hanks and crew have told this story beautifully. I have watched it many times and I will happily watch it many more.

A haunting film that says much about the human need for companionship, heartfelt loss and loneliness; and the triumph of the human spirit. Hanks does his usual impeccable presentation of a man in adversity, and his unmatched ability to make you forget it's Tom Hanks you are watching, and he persuades you to immerse yourself in the emotions and considerations of what you would do in such a situation.

Helen Hunt is perfect - as always - as the lost girlfriend, but it is Hanks that anchors the film. Indeed, his achievement is that he is the only element in the film for a greater part of it - but his anchor is hugely needed: because the film is otherwise a strangely dislocated narrative, with snap changes from intensely personal characterisation and emotion, to impersonal scene-setting, much of which is due to the extremely tedious product-placement of FedEx and Wilson; both of which are astoundingly trite and annoying in places; but perhaps not entirely inappropriate, given that the story has to have some reason for his being Cast Away - just too much at times - and in your face.

The narrative dislocation strangely works quite well, since it reflects the grotesque dislocation in his life from 'normal' to 'cast away'. As a whole the film has a draw that pulls you in - primarily because of its challenge in how you would manage the situation, and how desperation and the need for human contact can produce bravery and survival.

So a great film with a similar feel to 'Shawshank Redemption' and 'For Love of the Game' that draws you back to watch it again and again ... in it's triumph of a man over a great loss in his life: where his only way forward is ..."to keep on breathing"...

However, the real spoiler is the crunched DVD-editing deviation from the original theatrical film. Since you won't see it in the DVD (don't know about the Blu Ray), I can only give you the last 9 words of the original dialogue that totally changes the entire film in every possible way ... from great loss and sadness and inconsequential ending, into huge optimism and a new future, and a new sharing ... and also pulls together the FedEx theme, the welding girl, the removal of the name over her gate ... and so many subtle themes in the film ... that it's hard to believe the morons in the DVD editing suite were allowed to get away with it ... C'est la vie ...

A great watch - just remember the last words in the original ..." Hey cowboy, do you fancy a cup of coffee ? " ...

I started watching this movie during dinner, a time when I usually don't watch the ending of many movies. I generally turn off the TV and dash back to my beloved computer. BUT Hanks grabbed me from the first scene of this powerful movie, holding me captive until the bittersweet ending. He's a fine actor and was superb in this role.

Hanks plays the part of Chuck Noland, a FedEx systems engineer on company business when the plane crashes and he ends up alone on a deserted island. The photography and visuals are excellent when they follow Chuck's progress as he does everything humanly possible in order to survive. His physical and mental regression are heart-breaking to see, yet the film has its uplifting moments when he makes "friends" with a Wilson volleyball, using it as a "human" sounding board to keep his sanity. He names the ball "Wilson," of course. The scenes when he talks to the volleyball look rather "insane," but are the few touches of humor in the film.

The scene where Chuck "loses" Wilson touched my heart; a very moving moment. By that time in the movie, Director Robert Zemeckis's wisdom in choosing stark island scenes to emphasize Chuck's solitude were remarkably evident.

Just how does Chuck lose Wilson? How does he react? How is he finally rescued? How has his life changed when he gets back to the real world? How?...How?...How? And Is his girlfriend--played brilliantly by the fine actress Helen Hunt--still waiting for him after four years when everyone thought he was dead?

You will learn the answers to those questions as you view this film that is brought vividly to life through Hank's realistic portrayal and the director's keen insight into this character. The sound effects and rhythmic camera moves capture Chuck's emerging survival skills to perfection.

"Hope springs eternal in the human breast," and after one episode when Chuck almost gives up, he never loses hope again, clinging to it despite the odds he's facing. His hope never seems to fail him until he returns home and faces his new reality in a very moving confrontation with the sweetheart he left behind. (Being a hopeless romantic, at that moment in the movie, I wanted this film to end the way I wanted it to...but that wasn't meant to be...)

However, the film had a hopeful ending, one that left it up to the viewers to draw their own conclusions. I know what ending I chose, so I was not left with a feeling of wonderment, but with a strong feeling of hope and a fresh start for Chuck. Why not see this film and choose your own ending?

Even though it was rather odd for one man to carry an entire movie, that's what happened in this one--and Hanks was up to the job! I agree with the New York Post review: Tom Hanks "...gives one of the towering screen performances of all time." Five stars all the way to the bank...

Reviewed by Betty Dravis, June 3, 2010
Author of "Dream Reachers" (with Chase Von) and other books

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5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you for this product
Fast shipping, great product! Thank you so much for a great customer service. Will do business again for sure!

Published 20 months ago by Celine Duval

3.0 out of 5 stars Destiny...
Cast Away stars Tom Hanks as a modern-day Robinson Crusoe. After the plane in which he is travelling crashes into the ocean during a fierce gale (a sequence more heart-racing than... Read more

Published on Dec 12 2008 by Greg Curtis

3.0 out of 5 stars Way overhyped. It was good, just not THAT good.
Quckly: Not bad, but not that good. Was way too popular when it came out, and I'm not sure why.

Summary: big fex-ex add where one of the bosses gets stranded on an... Read more

Published on Feb 11 2007 by Maurice G. Tousignant

5.0 out of 5 stars unwooden Hollywood
Greeting comrads. Whats all can be said. read Yugijouohs' stunning review here in this Amazon customer review section, and you can believe me, he be harsher than I would have... Read more

Published on Jun 22 2004 by Eddu Peppini

5.0 out of 5 stars A Good movie in its on light...
(For personally changes in life, my former review has been deleted by me, if you didn't get to read it, tuff luck I suppose :))

Tom Hanks again brings in a great... Read more

Published on Jun 20 2004 by Garrett Yarbrough

2.0 out of 5 stars Tom Tanks
Castaway was gravely lacking whether it was a true story or not. I hope it was true because that would at least validate the reason why somebody would put an anti-climactic and... Read more

Published on May 13 2004 by Boz Hubris

1.0 out of 5 stars First of all I would like to warn you
I thought that this movie was terrible. Why? Well, the movie went nowhere, told us nothing, and was nothing but one guy talking to a volleyball. Sound exciting? Read more

Published on April 26 2004 by M. Miller

5.0 out of 5 stars a testament to the strength of the human spirit
The key to understanding (and enjoying) this film lies in understanding one's self; sound a bit too new-agey? Read more

Published on April 16 2004 by yankeeoregon

4.0 out of 5 stars Top of his game
Though this story may be tried and true, it's Hank's acting that give this film the punch that it has. Read more

Published on April 9 2004 by Damian P. Gadal

3.0 out of 5 stars No. 2 in the numbered Fox Collectors Editions.
When I first saw the first half of the trailer to Cast Away, my mind was immediately excited. One guy tries to survive on an island with nothing but what washes up on shore from a... Read more

Published on Mar 22 2004 by Jeremy Nichols

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