Rating: 
Summary: One of the best pictures of 2000!
Review: The most simplistic elements of life are taken for granted everyday of our lives. We turn on the lights without a second thought; we light matches without a moment's hesitation. Water coming out of the faucet is a given, something we know we can always depend on to be there. "Cast Away" takes all of those securities and hides them away, leaving us with an incredible and harrowing story of survival and determination. Taking its time in getting to what the movie is all about, the story first begins with the frenzied life of Fed-Ex systems engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks), whose number-one rule of life is making sure that everything goes according to schedule. This leaves him little time for his understanding girlfriend, Kelly (Helen Hunt), whom he returns to see in Memphis for Christmas. Circumstances intervene, and he finds himself rearranging his schedule in order to make a trip across the Pacific for business. But not before exchanging gifts, one of which is an engagement ring, the other an "I'll be right back." After a near-10-minute plane crash sequence that raises the intensity, the true Zemeckis style kicks into gear, as Chuck is left in a rubber life raft in stormy seas, the only light source coming from sudden flashes of lightning. At daylight, he finds himself on an island, not another soul in sight and only the sound of crashing waves and wind in the trees for company. Instincts drive him to signal for help at first, and as the days move on, he silently realizes his situation. The story becomes more intriguing with the transition of time during his stay on the island: he learns the secrets of creating life's little commodities. Resorting to stick-rubbing for the creation of fire and collection condensation from leaves for nourishment, the only visible objects that tie his present life to reality are a Fed-Ex box, his battered life-raft, and a volleyball with a blood-painted face whom he calls Wilson. But as Chuck becomes more attached to life on the island, he cannot shake his desire to once again return home to his love, whose picture he repeatedly paints on the wall. Let's be honest: this is probably the best deserted island movie to date, possibly ever made. "Swiss Family Robinson" was less engrossing because there was a family on the island, not a single person. Being alone on the island allows the story to explore the inner human strength and spirit, as well as new methods of companionship. Other techniques bring the movie to a full-force magnitude that keeps us engrossed with what goes on. During the entire island sequence, from the time he arrives to the time he is plucked from the sea, there is a complete absence of music. This leaving out of the musical score gives an added focus to his situation as well as reflecting on his solitude and loneliness. The nature surrounding Chuck is beautifully captured and photographed, and under Zemeckis's helm, the setting is ominous and brooding without becoming too overpowering. Hanks gives, without a doubt, the best performance to date of his career, topping his work in "Forrest Gump." His acting, along with the aforementioned techniques, puts us right there with him as he begins to learns the small things in life can be quite complicated. Even his silence is our key to understanding his realizations about the potential danger he faces, and his comprehension of what seems to him an inescapable situation. At the movie's end, I felt compelled to inquire why Russell Crowe received the Best Actor Oscar for his work in "Gladiator," when the performance by Hanks is much more involving. But, like any good movie, there are flaws. Luckily, this movie escaped fairly unscathed, until the ending, however. At movie's end, it loses the same luster it had before, and the return to reality and the emotional challenges he will face are less intriguing or involving as those presented in the midsection of the story. And the silence experienced for so long seems shaken in a bad way once everything begins to round itself out. Nonetheless, "Cast Away" is a compelling tale spun from the director of "Contact," who tells the story the way it needs to be told. Hanks brings his best screenwork to the movie, while the entire effect of the movie is one of sheer awe and enamoration. Did you ever wish you were on a deserted island with someone else? You may just think twice.
Rating:
Summary: Tom Hanks is amazing...
Review: It is amazing how good of an actor Tom Hanks is! He spends about 45 minutes of the movie not talking and still is able to draw you into the character and plot of the movie. I find that so incredible! This movie is really good...watching him struggle to survive on the island, seeing the development of his 'relationship' with Wilson is hilarious and witnessing his return to civilization is hardwarming. Good movie!
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Summary: I miss Wilson...<sniffle>...
Review: A globetrotting Fed-Ex employee named Chuck (Tom Hanks), after kissing his sweetheart Kelly (Helen Hunt) goodbye at the airport, hops onto a Fed-Ex plane that eventually runs into major trouble during a fierce storm, and plummets into the sea. The plane's crew all perish, but Chuck is miraculously washed ashore on a deserted island, where he must fend for himself, using only the island's elements at his disposal, as well as some Fed-Ex packages that wash ashore from the plane wreckage.... Remember the great sci-fi cult classic from the early 60's, "Robinson Crusoe On Mars," about a U.S. astronaut stranded all alone on the red planet? "Cast Away" seems to borrow somewhat from this film, with a few changes. Instead of futuristic gadgets to work with, our hero has Fed-Ex packages. Instead of an adorable wooly monkey & an alien slave for company, our stranded protagonist has a volleyball that he draws a face on, names it Wilson (get it?), and talks to it. Personally, I'll give "Cast Away" credit where credit is due: despite being a disjointed film, it is Tom Hanks' terrific performance as Chuck that makes "Cast Away" the absorbing film that it is. For the big middle section of "Cast Away," the movie is basically The Tom Hanks Show: he's all that we see for the large second act of the film (which spans four years). There's lots of quiet time in this part of the film, too---Hanks doesn't speak very much (at least, not at first) as he struggles to survive on the island. And yet, as he goes from being washed ashore, to scouting out the island, to collecting the packages that wash up on the beach, to figuring out how to make fire and get food, to talking to his volleyball chum Wilson, etc., Hanks remains very compelling in the role of Chuck throughout. With any other actor in the role, this film could've been a major snoozefest. But with Hanks at it's center, you remain absorbed in his adventure (and needless to say, Hanks has got another well-deserved Oscar nomination headed his way with this one). And kudos to director Robert Zemeckis for his skillful direction of his star, as well as his incredible photography. If "Cast Away" has any faults, it's that the film is a bit disjointed in it's storytelling, and the final portion of the film goes on a little too long. Unfortunately, I can't go into any of this without heading into spoiler territory. But in the end, what it all comes down to is this: your enjoyment of "Cast Away" primarily depends on whether or not you care about Tom Hanks' Fed-Ex man and what happens to him. Me? I DID care about this guy and what happens to him. Therefore, despite being imperfect, "Cast Away" still gets a solid recommendation from me. It's Tom's show all the way, and it's a good one.
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Summary: Cast Away not Castaway
Review: The whole key to this movie is in the title. It is not a Robinson Crusoe/Swiss Family Robinson castaway movie. It is not about merely surviving on a remote tropical island. It is about being Cast Away--away from everything, everyone, society as a whole. This man Chuck is so connected to life and he is suddenely removed from that. This movie is a celebration of surival and endurance--not just on the island but returning to familiar ground that isn't really familiar anymore. It is one of the most compelling movies I have had the pleasure of watching.
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Summary: THE REAL POINT
Review: Nobody seems to get the real point of this film. All of the reviews and comments focus on the superficial plot and character aspects. There is an underlying spiritual message; that nobody is lost! Noland is cast away from the love of his life and forgotten by all but God (the whale, you know he is bigger than life) he saves Noland. It is interesting that he does this after Nolands' invented friend Wilson also leaves him alone.
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Summary: You totally missed the point
Review: I'm not going to write a lengthy review, only because I feel that anything that I could say, has already been mentioned. What I do want to say, is that the people who did not like the movie are the same type that thought "Gone in 60 seconds" was a masterpiece. Get it? They were dissapointed that they watched this movie and missed the town monster truck rally. No depth, not a drop..... This movie was wonderful. It will touch you. If that's not enough, nothing is.
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Summary: great movie
Review: it was so good. i loved it. it had a great story. it was awesome. its my favorite.
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Summary: Gold Dust
Review: Tom Hanks has the golden touch and it seems that every film he is involved with is a hit. It could have alot to do with he is a good actor, or it could be that he picks all of the best films to do which he has done with Cast Away. Tom Hanks plays Chuck Nolan who works for a parcel firm who is obsessed with time and punctuality, and is the team member and problem sorter so he is constantly flown out to different depots to sort out problems and make some improvements. while on a routine flight the plane runs into difficulties and crashes leaving Chuck as the only survivor. What follows is one mans tale of survival and determination, which is told oin the best possible way. (i like the added touch of Chucks new friend) There is a deeper meaning to the film than Chuck getting stranded but that would spoil the film for you, just watch it and i'm sure that you won't be dissapointed
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Summary: Good movie/better documentary
Review: Castaway would have been even a better movie if Tom Hanks would have just remained on the island, or maybe the final scene would have been seeing that he just gets rescued. Hollywood got their fingers into the mix, most likely, and nearly ruined the movie. However, the movie works brilliantly as a documentary. It really should have been called "How We Learn" (but of course, then, noone would have seen it) because it shows the true iterative process that people go through to learn a new task. Tom Hanks, and maybe even more the director, was great at showing how inept the castaway was when Hanks first landed on the island at even doing the "simplest" tasks. The scene where he tries to get a fire started was great, because it took long enough, even in "movie time" for us to know that this is no trivial matter without matches. (I nearly felt blisters on my fingers by the time that he got his first fire!) How many times have we seen actors in a movie learn a new task and perform it perfectly the first time (just watch any dance flick)? It just doesn't happen that way. Thankfully, Castaway doesn't insult our intelligence and shows us how painful learning really can be. Does the director's cut remove the ending? Because if it does, this fine documentary will be soon showing on the Discovery Channel. Otherwise, catch the movie version for "free" on HBO and save your $100.
Rating:
Summary: Superb
Review: Regarding the corporate portrayls the keyword here is REALISM. I appreciate the accurate portrayal of real life where we all are surrounded by corporate enties - Toyota, Micosoft, UPS, etc. What to me is unrealistic is using "made up names" i.e. they could have used PAU (Packages Are Us). After seeing Gladiator and Cast Away before the Oscars my wish was there could be cowinners for Best Picture and Best Actors - slight edge to Gladiator. Having prescreened the movie myself, my wife and I took our 4,5, & 7 year olds to it - we covered their eyes when the body washed up on shore - incidentally they were quiet throughout except for a few laughs regarding "Wilson". It was refreshing to find an entertaining movie without the violence, nudity, offcolor dialog. A sidenote - I made a "kids" version of "6 days, 7 nights" by editing out the violent parts. One final comment I thought the fireplace scene near the end was quite memorable. Thanks to all concerned for making an excellent movie that I plan to enjoy many more times including on a plane flight in the near future on my laptop.
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