World Famous Comics: Cast Away (Full-Screen Edition)
Cast Away (Full-Screen Edition)
Starring: Paul Sanchez (II), Lari White, Leonid Citer, David Allen Brooks, Jelena Papovic Directed By: Robert Zemeckis Average Rating: Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: DVD Format: Closed-captioned, Color, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC Label: 20th Century Fox Number of Items: 1 Region Code: 1 Release Date: May 21, 2002 Running Time: 143 minutes Theatrical Release Date: December 22, 2000
Product Description: After a plane crash that kills the crew, a FedEx system engineer finds himself stranded on a desert island. Genre: Feature Film-Action/Adventure Rating: PG13 Release Date: 2-SEP-2003 Media Type: DVD
Amazon.com essential video: Cast Away is a good movie that wants to be much better. While director Robert Zemeckis's earlier film Contact achieved a kind of mainstream spiritual significance, Cast Away falls just short of that goal. That may explain why the film's most emotionally powerful scene involves the loss of an inanimate object, even as it presents a heart-rending dilemma in its very human final act.
It's three movies in one, beginning when punctuality-obsessed Federal Express systems engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) departs on Christmas Eve to escort an ill-fated flight of FedEx packages. Following a mid-Pacific plane crash, movie number two chronicles Chuck's four-year survival on a remote island, totally alone save for a Wilson volleyball (aptly named "Wilson") that becomes Chuck's closest "friend." Movie number three leads up to Chuck's rescue and an awkward encounter with his ex-girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt, in a thankless role), for whom Chuck has seemingly risen from the grave.
It's fascinating to witness Chuck's emerging survival skills, and Hanks's remarkable physical transformation is matched by his finely tuned performance. With slow, rhythmic camera moves and brilliant use of sound, Zemeckis wisely avoids the postcard prettiness of The Black Stallion and The Blue Lagoon to emphasize the harshness of Chuck's ascetic solitude, and this stylistic restraint allows Cast Away to resonate more than one might expect. Even the final scene--which feels like a crowd-pleasing compromise--offers hope without shoving it down our throats. You may not feel the emotional rush that you're meant to feel, but Cast Away remains a respectable effort. --Jeff Shannon
Amazon.com: Cast Away is a good movie that wants to be much better. While director Robert Zemeckis's earlier film Contact achieved a kind of mainstream spiritual significance, Cast Away falls just short of that goal. That may explain why the film's most emotionally powerful scene involves the loss of an inanimate object, even as it presents a heart-rending dilemma in its very human final act.
It's three movies in one, beginning when punctuality-obsessed Federal Express systems engineer Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) departs on Christmas Eve to escort an ill-fated flight of FedEx packages. Following a mid-Pacific plane crash, movie number two chronicles Chuck's four-year survival on a remote island, totally alone save for a Wilson volleyball (aptly named "Wilson") that becomes Chuck's closest "friend." Movie number three leads up to Chuck's rescue and an awkward encounter with his ex-girlfriend Kelly (Helen Hunt, in a thankless role), for whom Chuck has seemingly risen from the grave.
It's fascinating to witness Chuck's emerging survival skills, and Hanks's remarkable physical transformation is matched by his finely tuned performance. With slow, rhythmic camera moves and brilliant use of sound, Zemeckis wisely avoids the postcard prettiness of The Black Stallion and The Blue Lagoon to emphasize the harshness of Chuck's ascetic solitude, and this stylistic restraint allows Cast Away to resonate more than one might expect. Even the final scene--which feels like a crowd-pleasing compromise--offers hope without shoving it down our throats. You may not feel the emotional rush that you're meant to feel, but Cast Away remains a respectable effort. --Jeff Shannon
SPECIAL FEATURES THAT AMAZON INSIST ON IGNORING Disc One: CAST AWAY Letterboxed - Anamorphic - 1.85:1 Audio: DTS 6.1 ES - English Dolby Digital 6.1 EX - English Dolby Surround - English Dolby Surround - French
Additional Release Material: Audio Commentary - 1. Robert Zemeckis - Director, Don Burgess - Director of Photography, Ken Ralston - Visual Effects Supervisor, Carey Villegas - Co-Visual Effects Supervisor, Randy Thom - Sound Designer Interactive Features: Scene Access Interactive Menus
Disc Two: Bonus Features Featurettes - 1. "The Making of CAST AWAY" 2. "S.T.O.P.: Surviving as a Castaway" 3. "The Island" 4. "Wilson: The Life & Death of a Hollywood Extra"
Special Effects Vignettes with Audio Commentary Charlie Rose Interview with Tom Hanks Trailers - 1. 2 Original Theatrical Trailers 2. 10 TV Spots Interactive Features: Scene Access Interactive Menus Text/ Photo Galleries: Stills Gallery Storyboard Galleries Concepual Art Illustrations
Excellent Excellent movie, it should have won best picture, and it should have won Hanks another Oscar.
Profound This film is just about perfect, another successful Hanks/Zemeckis/Silvestri collaboration. Tom Hanks demonstrates again his renowned commitment and style. Robert Zemeckis is on top of his game here and deserves as much credit for what isn't in the film as for what is. And the music...oh God, the music. It's notable for not existing till almost the end, but by then you're ready for it. It says it all, carries it right over the top, speaks to a place inside beyond the movie. You will know what it means to be 'cast away', if you dare. Fortunately, Zemeckis is not Tchaikovsky. See this movie and you'll know what I mean.
Wilson should have gotten best supporting actor Anytime Robert Zemckis makes a movie I take notice. He more than even Speilberg is the stereotypical American Director(like Frank Capra).
So what about Cast Away. I think it's a pretty good movie, a little long but then a lot happens.
Watching Tom Hanks learn how to survive on the island was educational. I found myself asking, "Do I know how to make fire?" "Do I know how to find water?" Crazy questions I guess every should ask.
The setting of the island was beautiful yet with an ironic twist. By that I mean scenicly it is beautiful, but absent are all things that make life worth living, namely companionship(no offense Wilson)
The love story at the end was painful and when the two were looking at each other in the rain it was like they wanted to kiss more than breathe.
I really liked the movie and the extas are worth the cost of the movie by itself.
Blu-ray worthy The movie is well known so I will just state I was very happy with the picture/sound on this disc as others have stated. Was nice to revisit the movie, not sure how many times one would want to replay it but it has some great demo scenes!
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