Cast Away Vs. The Martian (Ep. 0025)

The idea of the isolated man resonates differently in 2022 than it did in 2000 when Cast Away was released. As society’s dependence on technology has come into prominence, the idea of losing access to people, technology, and modern comforts seems implausible. Cast Away and The Martian analyze this concept from two unique perspectives. Get stranded with the Movie Wars crew for this battle of loneliness. 

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Film Summaries

Cast Away

Obsessively punctual FedEx executive Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) is en route to an assignment in Malaysia when his plane crashes over the Pacific Ocean during a storm. The sole survivor of the flight, Chuck washes ashore on a deserted island. When his efforts to sail away and contact help fail, Chuck learns how to survive on the island, where he remains for years, accompanied by only his handmade volleyball friend, Wilson. Will Chuck ever return to civilization and reunite with his loved ones?

• Rating:
• PG-13 
• Genre:
• Adventure, Drama
• Original Language:
• English
• Director:
• Robert Zemeckis
• Producer:
• Steven Boyd, Jack Rapke, Steve Starkey, Robert Zemeckis, Tom Hanks
• Writer:
• William Broyles Jr.
• Release Date (Theaters):
• Dec 22, 2000  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming):
• Nov 6, 2001
• Box Office (Gross USA):
• $233.6M
• Runtime:
• 2h 23m
• Distributor:
• DreamWorks SKG

The Martian

When astronauts blast off from the planet Mars, they leave behind Mark Watney (Matt Damon), presumed dead after a fierce storm. With only a meager amount of supplies, the stranded visitor must utilize his wits and spirit to find a way to survive on the hostile planet. Meanwhile, back on Earth, members of NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring him home, while his crewmates hatch their own plan for a daring rescue mission.

• Rating: PG-13 
• Genre: Adventure, Sci-Fi, Drama
• Original Language: English
• Director: Ridley Scott
• Producer: Simon Kinberg, Ridley Scott, Michael Schaefer, Aditya Sood, Mark Huffam
• Writer: Drew Goddard
• Release Date (Theaters): Oct 2, 2015  Wide
• Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2016
• Box Office (Gross USA): $228.4M
• Runtime: 2h 22m
• Distributor: 20th Century Fox