THE TERMINAL
Cast: Tom Hanks, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci...
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Andrew Niccol (Story), Sacha Gervasi (Story/Screenplay), Jeff Nathanson (Screenplay)
Review Date: 07/27/04
Written By: Clarkey
Rating: 6/10
THE PLOT:
An vistor (Hanks) fleeing the war that ravage his tiny Eastern European homeland finds himself stuck in the terminal of one of New York City’s airports when the time of his landing coincides precisely with the point at which the war causes his nation of origin to no longer exist, meaning that his passport and paperwork are no longer vaild. AS a man without a home, he takes up residence in the terminal itsef, befriending the staff of the airport, and falling in love with an airline flight attendant.
THE REVIEW:
Tom Hanks is one of the best actors of our generation and Steven Spielberg is one of the best directors ever. They have made good movies together like Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me if You Can. But they couldn’t get to that level in The Terminal. It wasn’t their worst effort, but it wasn’t their best either. It was merely average, but it was an enjoyable film.
Tom Hanks is wonderful as Viktor, the man with no home. His accent is fine and doesn’t piss you off like some other accents, (i.e. Harrison Ford’s russian accent in K:19). Hanks is supported by the lovely Catherine Zeta-Jones, who merely plays the beautiful fligth attendant who falls for Viktor. The part that I liked the most of these two leads was the romance; it was a realistic one, not like many of the other Hollywood romances. Like the romances that have the two lovebirds falling in love in a matter of days or weeks. Viktor gets to know Amelia for about 5 months or so and they are still getting to know each other even at the end and it doesn’t end the way that you are hoping for. The unlikey friedns of Viktor give good support and give us most of the lighter moments in the movie. I did have a problem with Stanley Tucci’s character, who isn’t developed as well as the two main characters and simply becomes the bad guy so that there is a bad guy.
Steven Spielberg is a great director and has directed some of the best movies ever, but he turns in a mediocre effort. It is definitely not his best work. He seems to being using the same moves when he should try to expand his horizon. I did love the set though, which was miraculously built simply for this movies. I thought this movie was film in some real terminal, until I read that it was built.
The major problem that I had with this movie was the plot. I know that this movie is loosely based on a real event. And I think this movie would’ve been better pre 9/11 because post 9/11, airports would never allow the events in the movie to take place or they would be talking to the feds as we speak. It is remarkable that they can’t find a translator, especially in an airport as large as the one in the movie. Also, they simply allow Viktor to walk around freely with a mysterious can that could’ve had anything in it. Another plot problem I had was the stupid and unrealistic event that involved two co-workers who don’t know each other.
In the end, it is a movie and a light movie at that. And an enjoyable one.
Director: Steven Spielberg
Writer: Andrew Niccol (Story), Sacha Gervasi (Story/Screenplay), Jeff Nathanson (Screenplay)
Review Date: 07/27/04
Written By: Clarkey
Rating: 6/10
THE PLOT:
An vistor (Hanks) fleeing the war that ravage his tiny Eastern European homeland finds himself stuck in the terminal of one of New York City’s airports when the time of his landing coincides precisely with the point at which the war causes his nation of origin to no longer exist, meaning that his passport and paperwork are no longer vaild. AS a man without a home, he takes up residence in the terminal itsef, befriending the staff of the airport, and falling in love with an airline flight attendant.
THE REVIEW:
Tom Hanks is one of the best actors of our generation and Steven Spielberg is one of the best directors ever. They have made good movies together like Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me if You Can. But they couldn’t get to that level in The Terminal. It wasn’t their worst effort, but it wasn’t their best either. It was merely average, but it was an enjoyable film.
Tom Hanks is wonderful as Viktor, the man with no home. His accent is fine and doesn’t piss you off like some other accents, (i.e. Harrison Ford’s russian accent in K:19). Hanks is supported by the lovely Catherine Zeta-Jones, who merely plays the beautiful fligth attendant who falls for Viktor. The part that I liked the most of these two leads was the romance; it was a realistic one, not like many of the other Hollywood romances. Like the romances that have the two lovebirds falling in love in a matter of days or weeks. Viktor gets to know Amelia for about 5 months or so and they are still getting to know each other even at the end and it doesn’t end the way that you are hoping for. The unlikey friedns of Viktor give good support and give us most of the lighter moments in the movie. I did have a problem with Stanley Tucci’s character, who isn’t developed as well as the two main characters and simply becomes the bad guy so that there is a bad guy.
Steven Spielberg is a great director and has directed some of the best movies ever, but he turns in a mediocre effort. It is definitely not his best work. He seems to being using the same moves when he should try to expand his horizon. I did love the set though, which was miraculously built simply for this movies. I thought this movie was film in some real terminal, until I read that it was built.
The major problem that I had with this movie was the plot. I know that this movie is loosely based on a real event. And I think this movie would’ve been better pre 9/11 because post 9/11, airports would never allow the events in the movie to take place or they would be talking to the feds as we speak. It is remarkable that they can’t find a translator, especially in an airport as large as the one in the movie. Also, they simply allow Viktor to walk around freely with a mysterious can that could’ve had anything in it. Another plot problem I had was the stupid and unrealistic event that involved two co-workers who don’t know each other.
In the end, it is a movie and a light movie at that. And an enjoyable one.
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