He missed the simplist way of making a fire.

Rating: Null/10 (28 July 2002)

I found Cast Away enjoyable and thought provoking. But it bothered me that this intelligent and resourceful man missed a simple way to make a fire. He had a flashlight (a Maglite) which provided short lived protection from darkness with its symbolic security of civilization. Eventually, the batteries die and has to work very hard making a fire to feel civilized again. But, if he had removed the front of the flashlight, he could have used it as a lens to concentrate the sun's light and easily have made a flame. The glass cover to his pocket watch and the wrist watch could probably also have served. Since their curves are not as great as the flashlight, it would have taken a little longer.