A Great movie that could have been Excellent except for...

Rating: 9/10 (1 January 2001)

...one scene where the words "FOUR YEARS LATER" appear, in my opinion that's what can seperate a good director from a great director. If done well the audience should not have to be told it is 4 years later... we should already know it... again that is just my opinion, otherwise kudos to Tom for making this another "Must See" film. I was sitting in a theater getting ready to watch MEN OF HONOR, another good one, when the trailer for Cast Away came on, and I remember sitting there captured by the clips of the plane crash (I agree with another viewer, they did give too much of the movie away) and saying I have to see this.
Huge credit goes to Wilson, of course, "someone" I am sure we can all relate. I admired Tom's desire to get Wilson back and then making a conscious decision to give up the fight and move on... that was a very powerful momment... a very final momment that was beautifully done. I am glad Wilson did not wash up on shore, to me it would have decreased the impact of the significant role Wilson played.
All the scenes done without dialogue were excellent. You could here a pin drop in the theatre. Tom does a great job at telling a story without words. The shoe scene was FUNNY.. I think it was meant to be funny. Kind of makes you not want to take off your shoes in an airplane, which goes against Bruce Willis' theory about dealing jetlag (DIEHARD)
Overall a great movie and while I wasn't knocked out of socks about the ending I did appreciate the "realness" of it. The movie is worth the time spent... and finally it may be just me but I am not to sure I would be ready for another airplane that quick after what happened. But again, that's just my opinion.