Customer Reviews

Cast Away: The Films of Robert Zemekis & The Music of Alan Silvestri

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

Alan Silvestri gives a wonderful impression in Cast Away, but I did feel slightly cheated with the track that they chose to put in this compilation. The first three minutes are wonderful, nearly bringing me to tears, but the last four minutes sound like a meditation CD. I thought that this particular CD would the entire score of Cast Away, but as it turns out, Silvestri only used one cut and played it contiuously throughout the movie. The rest of the disc is wonderful, with bold music from Back to the Future, sweet innocence in Forrest Gump, and sad revelation from Cast Away. I found it enjoyable overall, but will be on the lookout for the complete soundtrack of Cast Away

I love score music. This compilation (yes, this is a compilation as the album is subtitled The films of Robert Zemeckis and Music of Alan Silvestri) is a wonderful overview of the composer's relationship with the director.

For all who are upset that the whole Cast Away score is "missing" it is well known that there was not enough music in the entire film to fill up a whole CD.

If you loved that beautiful piece in the movie and also love the music from movies such as Back To The Future, Roger Rabbit, Romancing The Stone, and notable other scores, I recommend you check this out.

I, for one, did not feel ripped off as the record label clearly stated on the package that this is an overview of the musical/direction collaboration of Zemeckis and Silvestri. Think of this package as hearing a new song from your favorite artist and the only way to get it is to pick up their greatest hits album.

The score to Cast Away is one of my favorites - right up there with Ennio Morricone's underrated instrumentals for "Once Upon a Time in America" - and it's a real shame that, apparently, the only album with music from the film is this compilation disc which doesn't even feature the full soundtrack. Luckily I got my hands on an Academy Awards advance album preview for Cast Away - the CD that Universal sent to the Academy Awards crew for Oscar consideration - and it has six beautiful tracks. But I know there are more out there and I think it's time the full soundtrack was released.

This CD is exactly what is wrong with the music industry today. It is not piracy, it is content. I was perfectly content with paying full price to have the dramatic and extraordinary orchestrations from Cast Away on my CD player. I even sampled the music and thought even if the only Cast Away song on the album is seven minutes, it was still enough since this was the only CD where I could get this music. What a waste. The Cast Away suite only lasts three minutes, and then the listener is left with waves crashing for the next four minutes. Occasionally, a small piece of music is overlaid. I was also hoping the other tracks on the CD would be a bonus, since I was primarily interested in Cast Away, but they are not worthy of being on this album either. Instead of suites, they sound more like filler music, and have no endearing qualities whatsoever.

Demand more from the music industry. Demand a full CD of the wonderful variations of the Cast Away theme. The music from the film was special. Hopefully the music industry will capture that magic on a CD and I will gladly get in line to purchase it.

I bought this soundtrack, because if you liked the music of Cast Away, this is the only soundtrack you'll get of the film. Not only of Cast Away, but also the memorable themes from Romancing the Stone, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit? The ocean sounds make the music even more relaxing that you just dream of the ocean wherever you are. Zemekis has done the right thing of keeping Alan for his composer. Silvestri has written very exciting and thrilling scores, especially What Lies Beneath, and is still continuing to work with Zemekis. What's sad is that no matter how hard Silvestri tries, he still hasn't won an Academy Award, only a nomination for Forrest Gump. Silvestri deserves more than that. His theme for Cast Away was breathtaking. We just have to hope that one day he'll receive one. I'm looking forward to seeing Silvestri's name in credits of Robert Zemekis films.

This CD is filled with memorable themes from some great movies. "Back To The Future" brings you right back to the first time watching Marty McFly, Doc, and their Delorian (not to mention the other two times). The piano of "Forrest Gump" is moving, with every main part of the great film represented in the track. "Contact" is eery at times, poignant at others, but incredibly emotional the whole way through (even if a little bit similar to "FG"). "What Lies Beneath" is creepy, visceral, and evocative of early Hitchcock films. And while the other tracks are interesting (if unfortunately skipable), it is the End Credits to "Cast Away" that is the real treasure here. The simple oboe, combined with rousing orchestra at times breaks my heart at every listen. And the intriguing addition of waves breaking on the shore (while the score periodically cuts back in) is aching even more. Tears at almost every listen. For those who complain about this fact (or that the entire score has not been released), after watching the film the score would amount to roughly 20 minutes and is pretty much the main oboe theme repeated everytime that it is present in the film; from Chuck leaving the island, floating at sea, interacting with society again, and to seeing Kelly after so long apart. Overall, this CD is a great listen, not only for the emotional and memorable themes from many great movies, but for the last track itself. It is moving, achingly heart-felt, and the perfect falling-to-sleep theme out there. Definitely worth every penny!

I made the mistake of buying this cd before I viewed the track list and I did so under the impression that it was the cast away soundtrack, boy was I disappointed. I'm not saying that the other songs aren't good, which they are, it's just that if I would have wanted any of those songs I would have bought their respective soundtracks. As for the lone track from cast away it is my humble opinon that it is one fo the most beautifully haunting songs on a soundtrack in some time and one that I love the most. However, I could do without the journey to the sea in the last 4 minutes. The first time I listened to it and heard that I kept thinking that it would end with another or minute or two of song after the ocean noises. Effectively going out with a bang. I was disappointed there too. Overall I would have to say this CD was below my expectations and I, as well as others, will be awating the release of the real soundtrack. If there ever is one.

If you're buying this album for "Cast Away," you will be highly disappointed. I think it's a shame they put Tom Hank's picture on the cover of this CD. Listeners have to wait until the last track before they hear the beautiful and sad theme music from Cast Away. Even then, 2 and a half minutes of the promised "7-minute" theme" are just ocean noises with an occasional violin chord. For someone who's STILL waiting for the complete Cast Away soundtrack, I have to admit I was very disappointed. BUT, there are things to enjoy on this CD. The Forrest Gump Suite is wonderful, touching on every familiar theme from the movie (you almost want to shout "Run, Forrest, Run!" in the middle of it). And the music for "Contact" is beautiful as well. The music from Back to the Future was a nice addition--although we didn't need the themes from part II and III as well. They're pretty much the same. Overall, I usually listen to about 20 minutes worth of music on this CD. Not bad, but definitely not a "must-have" for movie soundtrack buffs.

The namesake for this CD, Cast Away - is an all-time personal favorite movie. Every time I watch the movie and hear that beautiful music at the end...the piece captures the loneliness, the fear, the longing, and four years of being alone.

The music associated with the end credits of Cast-Away is some of the best I have ever heard. To clarify erroneous info from previous reviewers, the cut on this CD is EXACTLY the same as the end-credit piece on the DVD. The sound-effects of the wind and waves, interspersed with POWERFUL (emotional) cords is what is heard during the end-credits.

This CD is a compilation of music from many Silvestri (amazing composer) movies. The other pieces are classic Alan Silvestri - "One hears that music, and what can one say...but 'Silvestri'". (Mozart..from Amadeus)

The purchase price is well worth this amazing music.

If you are as moved as I was by the music Mr. Silvestri wrote for Cast Away, you may have to purchase this CD (as I had to). But be prepared to put up with a lot of other music from Silvestri's past and only a minimal amount of music from the film. Even then, the music has been interspersed with sound elements from the film (as if the music needed a crutch to stand)! 1 star for the album, 5 for the music.