robinson crusoe

when i read this book in junior high i thought it would make such a cool movie! it would, but this one isnt it. the story is a familiar one, robinson crusoe finds himself shipwrecked and the only survivor on a desolate island. he recovers as much as he can from the ship and tries to do his best to stay alive. as the years go by he finds a local inhabitant who he calls friday. this particular adaptation of the book glosses over many of the parts of crusoe's story that i always found the most interesting: how did he manage those first days and months? this moive skips past much of that first inner turmoil of realizing that he is alone and must fend for himself. instead this film focuses on the religious aspect of crusoe and friday as they try to come to terms with their differing beliefs. crusoe is adamant that catholicism is the only way, but friday sticks by his local indigenous faith. the whole thing falls apart into the 'white man savior' idea very quickly as the two of them are attacked by a bunch of natives. the movie never quite recovers and just kind of peters out at the end. i will give them respect for one thing in the movie: they dont shy away from showing brosnan's magnificent chest hair!