This is a relatively spoiler-free review. :)

.:Film Review: The Terminal:.

The Terminal
Sleepless in Manhattan.

Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg team up to deliver this heartwarming romantic comedy. In this film, Tom Hanks plays Viktor Navorski, a Krakozhian tourist who went into the United States of America for mysterious reasons. While in transit, his country is thrown into a military coup, thereby making him a non-citizen of the country. As such, the moment he landed in the United States, he discovers that he cannot get out of the international lounge in the airport, as his travel documents were no longer valid.

And so, he spends his time, given his limited English vocabulary, trying to keep himself busy in the Terminal. Through it all, the acting Field Commissioner of JFK airport, Dixon, is trying to push Navorski to escape from the terminal just so he can have him arrested and not have any problems with him any longer. Instead, Navorski chooses to stay on and live in Gate 67, playing matchmaker for one of his friends with the immigration officer. At the same time, he makes other friends like Gupta, the janitor, who has his own crazy antics to boot, and then Viktor runs into the beautiful Allie, played by Catherine Zeta-Jones, who becomes his romantic interest in the film.

The question, then, is why is Navorski there? Where did he come from? And what is it with his crazy antics, and for Allie's preference for older men (Nuninuninu...)? Watch the movie, as I don't feel like giving away any spoilers this time. =)

Let's put it this way: Tom Hanks was acting superbly here. He was perfectly believable as Viktor Navorski, and it was hard to not like his character. He played the character so well, and his interaction with the rest of the cast, especially the antagonistic yet misguided Dixon, was splendid. The way he endeared himself to the employees of the airport was really great to see.

Dixon himself was quite a sight, with his amusing ways of attempting to deal with Navorski, and his instinctive insights that explain why he was meant to be the Field Commissioner of JFK airport.

Catherine Zeta-Jones was quite impressive in her performance as Allie. She really managed to show the complexity of her character's personality, and yet managed to be endearing all the same.

All in all, this film was worth watching. In between all the laughs, you could just feel the heart in the film. All it takes is to look at Tom Hanks when he saw footage of the military coup of Krakozhia. That really set the tone for how lonely it can get when one lives in the airport... literally.

Marcelle's “Fun” Evaluation: A
Marcelle's “Critical” Evaluation: A