That was a good film, have seen it a couple times.

Next time I fly over the Pacific I'm duct-taping a firesteel, satellite phone and dozens of Cliff Mo-Jo bars to my body.

Will look a little weird on the TSA scanner.

Cast Away made a great impression on me the first time that I saw it. It's probably one of the most underrated films of all time. Purely because most people don't have the depth of knowlege to appreciate just how difficult that situation would be.
It's actually quite a subtle film. Appart from the initial crash there is very little drama in it.

Tom Hanks was a very good choice for the film. He, again, is a seriously underrated actor. Or perhaps I should say: Was. Some of his more recent films have been well received. He's an interesting actor. He is not "Hollywood" handsome but he does have the knack of being able to enact the part of the ordinary, it's just a job, want to get it done and go home to my wife and kid's man in the street. The quiet hero if you like.

The best thing about the movie is how they show his progression threw the ordeal. From making big mistakes on a regular basis to becoming "one with teh island". It Really shows how rushing to do things and aggravation can seriously impair your survival while when getting things right and moral boosted can greatly increase your chances of survival.

He had 2 Oscars before he did Cast Away and was nominated again the year prior for Saving Private Ryan.

I don't think anyone has underestimated Tom Hanks since Big.

(I see you're in the U.K.)

Leigh, in the United States, Tom Hanks was THEE actor for awhile to the point of being annoying.

For me, Hanks best performance was in Road to Perdition. Stunning movie.

The actor who played Wilson in the film really deserves a mention (should have received an Oscar nomination) portraying a mute, highly physically disabled character who has to react to the constant one liners that Hanks dealt out throughout the film. The portrayal of the Wilson character was especially astonishing especially after realising the requirements needed for a Hollywood character actor as shown by Sir Ian Mckellen's acting master class. Although it must be noted also that fine Shakespearian actors such as Patrick Stewart also can produced some down right rubbish screenplay treatments.

I read almost the entire page thinking you mean the 1986 film of the same name. That one stars Oliver Reed rather than Tom Hanks.