Hi, im 15, and live in the UK, my hobbies are sports, art, and listening to music. At the moment im ...
Hi, im 15, and live in the UK, my hobbies are sports, art, and listening to music. At the moment im studying for my GCSE's but im still having fun at the same time!! I spend most of my time getting fit, and being on this site reviewing products and rat...
Member since:08.10.2000
Reviews:20
Members who trust:12
As I viewed the opening credits, I felt a tingle run down my spine, as I knew that this film was going to be excellent, due to the enormous amount of hype surrounding this film for months! Therefore this review will discuss whether the hype has been worthwhile. I saw this film after reading somewhat different opinionated reviews and articles, so I decided to see for myself whether this film was top notch or top drop, however I was fairly confident, as it starred Tom Hanks, all of his films in the past have been superb.
Castaway is a film about a man starring Tom Hanks who travels on a plane for business purposes (Fed Ex Express), however, he runs into severe weather difficulties and eventually crashes into the ocean. He finds himself washed up onto a deserted island. This is where the plot unfolds, as he desperately seeks to find a way to get back to civilization, to return to his lover (Helen Hunt), however he finds this impossibly difficult. He tries almost anything to escape the island, such as using skating shoes, rope, that he finds in some Fed Ex packages which was his hope to return home, and even video tape! I will not reveal any more about the plot and spoil your enjoyment, so you’ll have take a trip to your local cinema and see this great film for yourself.
As he finally realizes that his ambition to return to his loved one seems very bleak, he makes a new friend, a volleyball!! This is due to the island progressively driving him to the point of insanity, this is a very clever way of expressing his emotions to the viewer, as he finally has something to talk to. Sympathy is evoked at many stages of this film, such as when he stares at a photograph of his loved one. However, there are also huge amounts of tension within this film, such as when he tries to deal with an agonizing Toothache, by knocking it out with a blade!!
After 4 years of being stranded on the deserted island, he decides to pluck up the courage and attempt to escape the island once again, injuring himself in the process by gashing his leg on a coral reef. This escape attempt is made by building a raft composed of the materials he had collected on his time spent on the island, this builds tension by keeping your attention fully focused on the film, as by what you have read by the above, you may have guessed, the plot is truly amazing!
But beware, this film will not appeal to all, as those people out there that expect a sweet, slushy ending will not be happy, as the man is terrified, stranded on a island, even turning to suicidal thoughts. Also I feel that this film lasted far to long, 2.20mins, and could have been about 20 – 30mins shorter than it is, however unlike some films, its captivating, so people will be astonished at the amazing detail, and cant help but marvel at how the directors has portrayed this film in such a fantastic manner.
I feel that the best feature of this film has to be the attention grabbing moments, and the brilliant acting by both Tom Hanks and Helen Hunt, as they both evoke the emotions that are necessary to keep you ‘glued’ to the big screen throughout this masterful film, however all the credit should not just be given to the actors, as the plot is unbelievably gripping.
You may criticise this film as unoriginal (a la Robinson Crusoe), but I feel that great effort has been put into keeping this film as unique as possible.
I would greatly recommend this film to any Tom Hanks fan, or any other of his films for that matter, such as Apollo 13, and Saving Private Ryan. However I feel that very young viewers may get a little impatient as Tom Hanks spends alot of time talking to himself which is a great acting feat in itself. Dont miss it!
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Production Year: 2002 - Action/Adventure - Director: Vincenzo Natali - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring:Lucy Liu, David Hewlett, Anne Marie Scheffler, Joseph Scoren, Matthew Sharp, Jeremy Northam
Production Year: 1964 - Action/Adventure - Director: Cyril Endfield - Original Language: English - Classification: Parental Guidance - Starring:Stanley Baker, Jack Hawkins, Ulla Jacobsson, James Booth, Michael Caine, Nigel Green
Production Year: 1977 - Action/Adventure - Director: Clint Eastwood - Original Language: English - Classification: 18 years and over - Starring:Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke, Pat Hingle, William Prince, Bill McKinney
Action/Adventure - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring:Jack Ging, Marla Heasley, Lance Legault, Melinda Culea, Mr T, Dwight Schultz, Dirk Benedict, George Peppard, Carl Franklin
A damn fine op on a great film, although I could have watched another two hours of it.
Wemstalker
redridinghood 01.04.2001 03:20
Nice op. I enjoyed the film but did think it could have been so much better. It was a good idea that just somehow didn't flourish in my opinion. But enjoyable none the less.
purdy 26.02.2001 17:04
Excellent review - although l dont share you sentiments of the film - l though it mediocre but thats a matter of personl opinion. Great op though.
Advantages: Great film, great direction, great individual performances, gripping plot Disadvantages: Slightly dodgy lighting, plot not properly explained
Cheesefather 24.01.2002 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
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Feb 24th, 2001
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