This was the first film that I saw based on Daniel Dafoe's classic novel, revisited for the first time in over thirty years, seeing variations made in the 30's, 50's, 70's and 90's. Aiden Quinn barely says a word as he is stranded mostly by himself, a young slave trader who doesn't make it back home, ending up shipwrecked, and encountering two different island natives, one brutally killed by cannibals after they briefly become acquainted, and later by one of the cannibals who may have slain the other.
It's the human side of the story along with the gorgeous scenery that takes control here, with the direction by Caleb Deschanel and a tender music score also memorable. Quinn shows Crusoe going through a transition from naturally prejudiced and a civilized barbarian to one whose wake up call sees him loose two friends violently whom earlier he might have violently murdered or enslaved. Subtle and touching, with one moment of the supposed savage tribesman saving his life, then how their mutual trust comes about. The tribesmen looks on Crusoe in awe as the changes occur, and it's a tragic brotherhood that lasted far too short.
It's the human side of the story along with the gorgeous scenery that takes control here, with the direction by Caleb Deschanel and a tender music score also memorable. Quinn shows Crusoe going through a transition from naturally prejudiced and a civilized barbarian to one whose wake up call sees him loose two friends violently whom earlier he might have violently murdered or enslaved. Subtle and touching, with one moment of the supposed savage tribesman saving his life, then how their mutual trust comes about. The tribesmen looks on Crusoe in awe as the changes occur, and it's a tragic brotherhood that lasted far too short.