Castaway - if you were one.

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I watched Castaway with Tom Hanks last night and pondered what the hell would happen to me if I was castaway. I liked this movie, the ending chokes me up, as well as the lost wilson part.

But could you be as resourceful as Tommy boy if you were castaway? Could you have survived 4 years there all alone? How would you feel if you were found 4 years later and came home to find out the one you loved had assumed you were dead and went on with their life? What if the roles were reversed and you thought your s.o. was missing and came back. Would you go on with life or wonder and wait?

― Simona (Simona), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

Also, what three things would you want to have with you?

― Simona (Simona), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:03 (twenty-two years ago)

On Desert Island Discs last week, George Clooney's eighth record was Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds by William Shatner - he said it would inspire him to escape (chop off his leg, hollow it out and use that as a canoe, as I remember).

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:17 (twenty-two years ago)

Well, I'm not very resourceful so I doubt I would be as smart as Tom. Although I guess in desperate situations you take desperate measures so who knows. I don't think I could have made it 4 years, without no one, barely any food. Ugh, I hate to think about it. As far as the s.o. aspect I would be devastated and don't even want to think of what it would be like to not see my wife for four years and coming back to find her married with kids. Ugh, makes me want to cry. I think if the situation were reversed I probably would try my hardest to find out where she was and what not. I don't know thats tough.

Three Things:

Knife
Waterproof Matches
Stereo

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:18 (twenty-two years ago)

aah, but where would I plug it in or get batteries? Im an idiot.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:19 (twenty-two years ago)

if I was a castaway because of a planecrash, a la Hanks, I'd die because you can't take pocket knives on planes anymore. The terrorists have won.

― hstencil, Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:30 (twenty-two years ago)

Never get on a plane with the Complete Works Of Shakespeare, the Bible and your eight favourite records.

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

Or your seven favourite records plus William Shatner.

― Madchen (Madchen), Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Also never get on a plane with someone else who has all of that baggage. You won't even survive the crash.

― Pete (Pete), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't the real worry here that you would end up LOOKING like Mr. Hanks?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

I heard it took them like 3 years to film that movie, so Tom could take time to grow his beard and lose weight. I like Tom Hanks.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

I'm waiting for his honorary Oscar for Bachelor Party and The Man With One Red Shoe.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:51 (twenty-two years ago)

He was brilliant in Bachelor Party. Not quite as good as the guy who played Rudy though.

― Chris V. (Chris V), Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Isn't the real worry here that you would end up LOOKING like Mr. Hanks?

No way, his beard was bitchin'.

― hstencil, Thursday, 27 February 2003 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

I'd survive about 14 minutes without chocolate and ice lollies.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Thursday, 27 February 2003 19:11 (twenty-two years ago)

I think you might as well bring booze and drugs with you cos it's not like you're going to survive anyway.

― Ally (mlescaut), Thursday, 27 February 2003 19:19 (twenty-two years ago)

eighteen years pass...

if I was a castaway because of a planecrash, a la Hanks, I'd die because you can't take pocket knives on planes anymore. The terrorists have won.
― hstencil, Thursday, 27 February 2003 15:30 (eighteen years ago) bookmarkflaglink

After he's rescued Tom is handed a Swiss army knife and he flicks it open and looks at it for a second. They maybe overdid these sorts of moments but they were pretty cool anyway. I liked how the VHS tapes are played for laughs when he first opens them - 'oh my god, how useless!' - but they end up being crucial.

Anyway, I watched this with my family last night. My 9-y-o was still eight years away from being born when this thread was started. Last night he told me that he'd be good in Tom's situation because he's 'played a million games like this'. i.e. Stranded Deep, Subnautica, Raft

I couldn't believe how telegraphed and cornball the ending was. The ladle it on thick in Hollywood, huh?

The detail with the noose, and its slow reveal, was an excellent bit of scriptwriting.

And the camera work was pretty amazing. The whole first section before he gets on the plane, the camera's following him around, over his shoulder, long takes. It was unusual.

Everyone else in my family thought Tom Hanks did 'great acting' in this. Did he? I guess so. I don't know why I'm so grudging in giving him props.

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 3 June 2021 14:49 (four years ago)

my family thought Tom Hanks did 'great acting' in this. Did he?

it's not always easy to tease apart what's adequate acting from what's great acting because there are so many other factors at work that affect the audience perceptions of a role. your family is mainly saying they enjoyed the film and were moved by it, and since Hanks occupied the center of their attention 98% of the time, he gets 98% of the credit in their minds. god knows what bad takes ended up on the cutting room floor.

― What's It All About, Althea? (Aimless), Thursday, 3 June 2021 16:40 (four years ago)

I recall that film almost being sponsored by FedEx, in a way that was over the top back then but is probably just taken for granted these days.

― Andy the Grasshopper, Thursday, 3 June 2021 16:47 (four years ago)

It certainly felt like it!

― Tracer Hand, Thursday, 3 June 2021 17:25 (four years ago)

just disappointed this thread is about a terrible movie and not the popular 90's proto-alcopop drink that my mum once downed ten in a row of for a bet.

― calzino, Thursday, 3 June 2021 17:47 (four years ago)

"if you aren't a fan of Tom Hanks, then you might have some trouble with this film because a great deal of the film is him alone on an island."

- imdb

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 4 June 2021 14:37 (four years ago)

Thanks for letting me know what my family was thinking, Aimless. ffs

― Tracer Hand, Friday, 4 June 2021 14:38 (four years ago)

two years pass...

if this movie was made today it'd be about the plight of the people who didn't get their FedEx packages due to the crash

― a very very unfair (Neanderthal), Monday, 6 November 2023 21:14 (one year ago)

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