Cast Away

FedEx systems engineer Chuck Noland's (Hanks) personal and professional life are ruled by the clock. His fast-paced career takes him, often at a moment's notice, to far-flung places. Until one day when Chuck is suddenly taken away from his hectic and hasty life when his plane runs into trouble during a terrible storm, and plummets into the sea on its way to Malaysia. The plane's crew all perish. Chuck miraculously survives and is washed up on the shores of a deserted island. His life is changed forever, isolated on a remote island - cast away into the most desolate environment imaginable, alone on the shores of a tropical island. Can he survive in this tropical wasteland? Will he ever return to civilisation? To the woman he loves?

This film tells the tale of personal survival and character development. Perseverance. Hope. Chuck must learn to survive both physically and emotionally, away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. He must survive without the things you and I take for granted, using only the island's elements and a few FedEx packages that wash ashore from the plane wreckage. The film brings to light that even in this world of modern technology and development one can still be end up feeling very isolated and alone. As you watch you begin to ask yourself 'how would I react in a situation like this?' The film really develops the atmosphere and feeling of isolation, both with the use of sweeping panoramic scenes and through Chuck's character and personality.

Cast Away is a refreshing adventure movie set in the Pacific and is well worth watching. It generates feelings of hope and trust in the infinite possibilities that life has to offer. This is an excellent film and a must-see, especially on the big screen where you will get the full impact of the films imagery and scenery, and which means that you will leave the cinema with a different outlook on everyday life.

Stephanie Gates