Great movie, with a BIG "but..." *Spoilers*

Rating: 8/10 (26 December 2000)

This movie was one of the best I have seen this year, without a doubt. There was a major problem with it, however and that was the last half hour.
From the time he got onto the island, I was enthralled. I couldn't take my eyes off the screen, and it was simply beautiful. His developing friendship with a volleyball named Wilson was brilliant and I loved how he coped and adapted to his surroundings. (the tooth scene was a real cringer). Now, as the typical Hollywood market would suggest, he will, of course make it off the island, and the "great escape" was also astonishing - especially when he lost Wilson.
When the big tanker pulled up beside him, then it immediately cut to a scene with him in an airplane clean shaven with the words "Four weeks later", a voice inside my head was shouting "Wait a minute!" I desperately wanted to see what happened during those four weeks. After four years on an island, how does he react to the first human contact? How does he respond to a warm meal? An ice cube? A toilet? WHAT HAPPENS? Instead, it decides to focus on his relationship with Helen Hunt (typical Academy Award fluff), which I really couldn't care less about.
A local movie critic describes it best when he says that it was a fat juicy steak surrounded by bland pudding. I really should have left after seeing "Four weeks later", because in my mind that is where the movie should have ended.
Overall, I give it 3.5 out of 4 stars. Other than the last part, a beautiful picture.