Rating: 
Summary: What's all the Rave About???
Review: In my opinion Cast Away is one of the biggest films of the year 2000 that failed the most. A lot of effort was put into this film done by Robert Zemeckis and his crew but it simply didn't pay off. The film most likely will not hold your attention and you will get very fidgeity during the end. The whole plot was pretty dumb and non-original too. ... Tom Hanks did a fair job of acting but I don't think that he should earn any award for his performance in this film. If you would like to watch Tom kill fish and talk to a volleyball for nearly two hours, this movie is for you. The only reason the movie earned 2 stars from me is because I thought that the action sequences on the Fed Ex plane were superb. So, if you know you will like to see Tom kill fish and talk to a volleyball for most of the film, this is for you. P.S.- When I say he talks to a volleyball I mean it. It is another way that he is able to stay alive. His friend "Wilson" is supposedley another strength that keeps him alive.
Rating: 
Summary: They Must Have Left Alot On The Cutting Room Floor...
Review: While the ending works just fine for me and is very clear and actually very satisfying, it was what was left out that bothered me - scenes either cut or never shot that would have provided for smoother transitions and understanding. The "explosion" on the plane was unclear, perhaps meant to convey the confusion of Hank's character at the moment. When Hunt's character explains the specifics of his crash towards the end of the movie, by then the viewer has taken his thoughts away from the movie more than necessary to ponder confusing actions such as the crash; also Hank's "apologies" at the end, when clearly it's hardly his fault; the painting of the design on the fed-ex box on the porta-potty door; the "hanging" that apparently happens in year "3," totally unclear, a scene which would have played out effectively had it been shown, and only bogged the movie down in confusing allusions until, once again, made clear in dialogue towards the end of the movie. Action is always preferable to dialogue, and I don't know why Zemeckis and gang chose to eliminate visuals in favor of dialogue in many scenes. Interactions of the characters frequently ring false, as mentioned in one of the first reviews above. A conversation or scene should have been added in the beginning where Hunt begs Hanks to not board the plane, to stay this one time, and he insists on going, etc. Instead it's all business as usual, so that when at the end, Hanks apologizes saying "I shouldn't have gotten on that plane," it doesn't follow. Why aren't his friends showing more amazement at his survival, why aren't they more proud of him, why are they "accepting" his apologies???Regardless, the movie definitely held my interest, is visually fascinating, effectively portrays the tenacity of life, and is mostly well-done. A little more objective work on the dialogue would have helped. I would like to see a longer version some day, to see what was cut out, if anything... Thanks for reading my thoughts!
Rating:
Summary: boring start, great middle, dumb end
Review: This is one of those movies that you go away from the theater thinking "What a horrible ending." But then you can't stop thinking about the rest of the movie, the good parts (like Titanic). The beginning was slow... you're thinking, crash the plane already! The crash scene was very exciting on the big screen. Much better than any I have ever seen. I thought the island part would be boring but it's actually the highlight of the film. His ingenious ways of using fed ex packages was neat, and his failed attemps to get of the island make your heart ache. But when he finally does get off the island (which was ruined in the trailers) and sees his old girlfriend, the movie goes downhill. The ending is too realistic. It could have been happy! And the hope the finale offers you is not much. They should offer an alternate ending on DVD, but of course they won't. So my title pretty much sums up the film.
Rating: 
Summary: An ambivalent movie...both very good and very bad.
Review: One thing is for certain: Cast Away is an ambitious film. And the element of the filmmaker's ambition is profoundly striking, but sadly the requisite drama and forced romance is hopelessly bad. For about two-thirds of the movie, Tom Hanks is alone on an island. He is remarkably effective in this role, commanding a great level of interest despite no character interaction whatsoever (well, a little bit, kind of -- you'll see what I mean). This is a testimony for how brilliant Hanks is as an actor. A man stuck on an island, and he must survive through his own survival faculties. It's a simple but good story requiring a straightforward exposition and an equally simple but suitably triumphant close. Unfortunately, obligatory romance and strained drama dilute this strong little plot with gratuitous dross, diminishing its ultimate impact. Hanks is Chuck Noland, a Federal Express executive whose job requires him to fly all over the world and amend problems. While flying over the Pacific, a storm forces the plane off course before an onboard explosion cripples the craft and sends it careening into the ocean below. This scene is nerve-racking; one of the best plane crashes ever filmed. Hanks survives (obviously), and finds himself washed up on a deserted island. Here, the desperation of the situation causes the emergence of considerable canniness. At first he struggles with his predicament; he toils to call upon the basics of fire-building, shelter-building, and fishing. Watching him work is utterly engaging. It's not white-knuckle action-style intensity, but it's still completely captivating and I was quite taken by this aspect of the film. Chuck's only companion during four years (!) of solitude is the volleyball named Wilson. While it might sound silly, Hanks' incredible acting talent vicariously makes the ball an almost human figure. Wilson is indeed Chuck's only accompaniment, for he unerringly drives the focus of the film's middle portion without music or deviating scenes showing what's happening beyond his little world. I don't want to be responsible for spoiling the ending (although the excessively revealing movie trailers have done as much already), but I will say that the ending is like a kick in the head. After Chuck's inspiring and gripping exploits on the island, his return home is met with a hokey romance sequence and a seemingly labored attempt at enlightenment. The final contrived scenes were cringe-inducing. If I'd known what was going to take place after Chuck's rescue, I would have left the theater immediately following it and forever wondered about Chuck's reunion with his former fiancé and how he would thereafter live his life. It's an above average film, and Hanks performance is solid, but I recommend that the viewer make a getaway after Chuck's rescue. Trust me.
Rating: 
Summary: Soul Survior...The Review
Review: Chuck Noland, head of sub divison of FedEx, gets taken away by an urgent call to make one more FedEx delivery via plane. However, when a storm tears down the plane, every passenger on the plane is killed on the plane exept for Chuck Noland. In the most intense and thought provoking scenes in the film, a man is torn from his life, his friends, family, and is drafted in to the ocean. In an incredibly violent storm. Battling the cold and and the storm, barely clinging on to a half beaten raft that he kept on him, Chuck manages to bear it all, and reaches the shore, to come upon his new "home". For 4 years, the character Chuck Noland, goes from being a "city boy" who could not catch a fish, to an expert in survial and who could spear a fish 20 feet away at the blink of an eye. Eventually, after the horrid time, braving the mystics of the island. Chuck Noland, a some what now battered man, finally gets the courage to go against the waves, and the horrors that the ocean might bring by making a make-shift boat, along with him is "Wilson", a volley ball, after days and days of drifting,**Do not read if you do not want it spolied**, a ship spots Chuck and takes him out of his misery. When shaved and given a meal, Chuck Noland sets out on his new quest, being able to say to the world, "What more can you bring to me? I say bring it". Tom Hanks plays the character brilliantly, with little dialouge which I did not mind. The effort put forth in this film by Tom Hanks is great, he first gains about 10 pounds for the role, then loses 50 pounds for the later part which, I can sure appreciate. I think this is a great film, shot with a low budget, you know Tom Hanks is not in it just for the money, the budget like I said is low, and just the atmosphere that Tom Hanks brings to the film is enough to see the film. It is greatly written, and directed with exellent visuals and of course the beautiful Fiji island. An all around great film, with very little flaws if any, and it makes me wonder why anyone would give this a four or lower. Just superb!! I hope I helped you in your descision to see this film!! Have a good one! Ryan
Rating:
Summary: Tom Hanks Gets the Job Done!!
Review: From the opening scene to the ending scene, I sat in my small theatre seat captivated with the troubling and uplifting story that was told. I found myself from time to time, gripping the sides of my seat. Especially during the fifteen minute plane crash. Tom Hanks always picks the best of the best to be in and when his name appears you know that the movie is going to be good. At first, I didn't think that Hanks could pull off a one man show. And the trailers to me looked like a remake of Robinson Crusoe. I find myself completely wrong on both counts. The story is about Hanks, who works for the FedEx company and is called out on Christmas. After telling the love of his life,"I'll be right back", he boards the plane. Of course the plane crashes in the pacific halfway through the flight. After that is when we get to see Hanks transform into a completely different person from the pudgy man that he once was. He becomes self sufficient and keeps his wits by talking to a volley ball named Wilson. This movie has to be one of his best. The teaming of Hanks and Zemeckis really packs an Oscar punch once again.
Rating:
Summary: Good, but...
Review: Hank's performance is excellent. Unfortunately, about 25% of the movie is a commercial for FedEx. The CEO even has a part playing himself. The portion of the movie which takes place on the island is great, although I wish they hadn't glossed over the suicide attempt. Predictable filmmaking hurts the end of the movie. Unsurprisingly, the final scene between Helen Hunt and Hanks takes place in the rain. Hanks' character, at a crossroad in his life, is then shown...standing in a crossroad. Hack filmmaking.
Rating:
Summary: Tom Hanks should win his next oscar for this movie
Review: Tom Hanks gives an emotionally charged performance in an otherwise disapointing movie by Robert Zemmeckis where both the begining and the climax show that they cut corners in the editing of the film. I would say that if you like good acting, then watch this movie, but if you want a good story look somewhere else.
Rating: 
Summary: Are there two Cast Aways ??
Review: Whoops! a) I have lost my mind b) there are two movies called Cast Away and the people who gave it 5 stars saw the other one c) the people who gave it 5 stars have lost their mind. Did Tom Hanks take this movie because he was the only actor in it and got the entire acting purse of 3 trillion dollars and all the cream filled donuts he could eat for life ? Surely, he would otherwise rather have died in the plane crash than appear in the credits of yet one more movie written and produced by People Who Have Had Their Brains Removed. The only part of the movie I enjoyed were the last ten minutes, by which time I had escaped a more life threatening experience than Hanks's in the movie, which was actually watching it, and was at home pouring a whisky with trembling hands - boy, that was a close shave with Nothingness. Sadly the rest of the audience were too comatose to follow. Hanks is a great actor but there is a limit to how long you can watch even him rub sticks together to make fire or talk to a basketball. Hanks's character apparently did this for four years ; it certainly felt a good deal longer. But matters worsened when he returned to the enthralling offices of Fedex and engaged in conversations which proved that if you dedicate your life to getting parcels there on time you cause yourself severe cerebral damage. His best friend's wife has died of cancer. Hanks says "I should have been there, I am sorry, I should have been there". He doesn't go on to say I would have been there if I hadn't got held up by a plane crash in the Pacific Ocean and been cast away on a desert island for an eternity. His friend could at least have said, don't worry Tom I understand why you didn't make it. Hanks returns and his beloved's new husband meets him and says ,Hi remember me I once gave you root canal treatment,and by implication, But that's nothing to what I'm going to do to you now. He meets his beloved and she a) makes him a coffee, b) tells him she has a big mortgage, or her husband has a big mortgage, or a big something else which is why she fell for him (he is after all Mr Big from Sex in a Cargo Plane) and then cheers up the hopelessly depressed Hanks by telling him she hung on to his car after he died and, look , here it is. At this Hanks forgets about falling forty thousand feet into the ocean and spending the best years of his life communing with stones and becomes as happy as any Walmart shopper stumbling across a bargain. I have to admit that was the moment when I expected the oxygen masks to fall from the ceiling and save us & when they didn't I had to make a break for the air outside. I don't know what happened at the very end. But there could be no miracle great enough to redeem this cynical movie. Hanks had better be careful what kind of project he attaches himself to next: brand names degrade with misuse, faster than Fedex.
Rating:
Summary: Tom Hanks is at his best!
Review: Tom Hanks stars as a man who is isolated and forced to tranform himself in order to survive both physically and emotionally.
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