What a challenging film

Rating: Null/10 (27 December 2000)

Very good film and very surprising that Hollywood chose to challenge the viewer so much. This is definitely a film that makes you think ... it sure doesn't present everything up front for the 'lowest common denominator' movie goer as most films do.
I was amazed in reading the comments on this Db that nobody pointed out how much Hanks'character's experience on the island mirrored the centuries of experience of ancient man in the Pacific. The learning to create fire, the way to get fresh water, eventual speech (notice how long on the island Hanks doesn't speak ... only when some of his most basic needs have been met does he move up Maslow's hierarchy), and the creation of his own idol/god in Wilson. His own life depending upon fate and the whim of the tides. The story is that of the evolution of man.
Moreover, take his time on the island and compare it to what he had before he got on that plane. Juxtapose the two and I think the movie makes a strong comment on how far we've come standing on the shoulders of millions of years of evolution. We've forgotten how we got here and the movie attempts to remind us. We're so far into self actualization that we'd all be lost if all our 'stuff' was taken away.
The love story that continues long after the film ends (which is left up to us to create) could be the greatest present this film offers. Helen Hunt's character isn't developed because the viewer isn't supposed to grow too attached to her. We are meant to dwell on what may be down the road for Hanks and White.
All that and the commentary on God or fate (whatever you believe) versus random occurrence. Is there any measure of control exerted by us in our own lives, is there a guiding force, or is it all the natural whim of the universe? This movie really let's you begin to ponder all of this, but doesn't force you to think just one way. I like movies like that.