Cast Away

THis is the film where Tom Hanks lost shedloads of weight just for the role. When you've got that kind of commitment, the film really needs to be watched. Hanks plays a FedEx workeer whose delivery plane crashes into the sea and he's marooned on a desert island. He learns to survive and finally makes it back to civilisation. That's pretty much the whole story, minus the human interests that make this very watchable. Hanks as always, is brilliant, and there's the usual weepie stuff along the way. A good film to watch.Books you might like to readCold Steel on the RocksWe Are Cold SteelKalter Stahl auf den Felsen

Although if it did actually happen to me, I would probably hate it, I do watch this and often wish I was there. Away from all the hustle and bustle and pressures of everyday life. Enjoying the solitude and being at one with nature. But what I really do like about this film is that unlike many other movies, it does not just end. So he gets rescued, but the credits don't just roll up, and that's it all over. No, you get to see how he integrates back into life, and what happened to the life he left behind. Post-rescue, the film really does continue for quite a while longer. I guess in some ways it's a little like "Lost" but minus the rather disappointing, confusing, and thrown together ending. It's certainly a film I will bring out and watch every few years.

Just such a feel-good film and one that is timeless and never ages. Good picture quality for me and being region free can watch using any blu ray machine. Top class delivery service as always from Amazon. Film is, for me, just great!!! Get it while the price is low. This is becoming somewhat of a rarity on home media now.

*** This review may contain spoilers ***Jetting off on yet another important task, FedEx whizzer Chuck Noland leaves his girlfriend Kelly Frears (Helen Hunt) behind just before Christmas. Disaster strikes during the flight and the plane crashes into the ocean. Managing to free himself from the sinking jet, Noland is washed up on an uninhabited island. Without basic modern comforts and fighting solitude daily, Noland must live in hope that one day he might be saved before he loses his mind or the will to live.Tom Hanks (Noland) re-teams with director Robert Zemeckis after their hugely successful collaboration on 1994 awards stealer, Forrest Gump. Though Cast Away didn't win any awards (the usual cry of it being Oscar bait had preceded it) it can be argued to be Hanks' best performance. Few actors in the modern era could carry the film the way that Hanks does. Beguiling and drawing us into his loneliness, Hanks, with minimal dialogue (his only company being a volleyball that washed up with a few other FedEx parcels) excels with facial and bodily acting. Zemeckis, who should be applauded for the middle section and the terrifying plane crash that precedes it, puts Hanks' Noland through the mangler. The convenience of said parcels washing ashore aside, Noland is bumped bruised and dentally challenged, the Robinson Crusoe clichés exist of course, but Zemeckis and a heartfelt Hanks put us there on the island as well, with a pat on the back due for the excellent work by the sound department I might add.Sadly Cast Away is bookended by not so great work. The opening character introductions are unremarkable but just about good enough for the plot set up, but the ending lacks emotional punch and defies what has been built up. Things aren't helped by Helen Hunt's lack of chemistry with Hanks, but that in turn is not helped by the writing from William Broyles Jr. since it's only really now that it's Noland that we care about. It's a bit churlish to complain too much though, because Zemeckis kept us on the island with Chuck, there was no cutting back to grieving family or fruitless rescue attempts. With that it was a truly fine one man show, even if that is something that ultimately renders the ending something of a let down. 7.5/10

My husband missed the beginning of this film on tv and was desperate to know how he landed on the island so bought the dvd. Its brilliant. So nice to find an interesting film with no sex or violence. Well done Tom Hanks, I believe it was originally his idea. Great suspense, you are willing him all the way to get back to civilisation - well worth a watch. I am not sure what the second disc is as we already watch the film and a re run on the first disc (this shows how it was put together) before we had a chance to watch the second it was 'stollen' by my family to watch the film.

One of my top films of all time.A man is washed up on the beach of a deserted island and after many agonies and countless lonely days, he befriends a ball whom he names Wilson. I know it sounds daft, but the film is very moving. I cry every time Wilson gets washed away. Tom Hanks actually manages to get thinner through the film which makes the film even more realistic. He is his usual brilliant self and gives 110% to this role.An enjoyable film but be warned, you'll need a packet of tissues!

Once again the wonderful idea if making movies over 10 years old "ONLY" for a US and canada market lets the rest on planet Earth wait for a "region free" Hi-Def version to enjoy..I wish SONY or Panasonic could come out with a dam region free blu-ray player instead of wasting time working on 3D players..there are so MANY bloody films I'm wanting to see on Blu-Ray that I'm not allowed to beacuse I live in dear old England and heaven knows other people in France , Spain , ..okay most of Europe.. ohhh dear !! Is it really worth taking time to create a Hi-Def version if nobody has a player to watch it on???Oh well , back to downloading it illegally if I want to see it...Their loss , not mine..