Of The Terminal



There is a man who lives in the airport in Paris,and he's been living there for the past ten years.And the movie i watched today was in fact based on this man's life at the airport.The movie is yet another effort by Steven Spielberg to diversify from his usual big budget Hollywood movies like Jurassic Park and Saving Private Ryan,to a smaller production like Catch Me if you Can and this movie,The Terminal.This movie comes to show that Steven Spielberg can do both the big budget movies and the films on a smaller scale that deals with more human relationships and characters that we can relate to.

The movie is about a man,Viktor Navorski(Tom Hanks) from the Slavic country of Krakozhia's life at the airport.While he was on the plane from Krakozhia to the JFK airport in New York,there was a military coup in the country.The militants took over the government overnight and Krakozhia was no more.As Viktor arrives at the airport,he realises that his VISA was cancelled and he was no longer a citizen of Krakozhia,since the government was couped and the country was no longer recognised.Which means,until the United States of America recognises Krakozhia as a real country,Viktor is stuck in the airport and unaccepted on the American soil.Facing this problem,the head of the airport Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci) decides to allow Viktor to wander around the airport for a while,provided that he does not leave the gates of the airport.Viktor then began his journey and life in the airport by finding jobs to feed himself,making friends with the janitors,and meeting a beautiful air stewardess Amelia(Catherine Zeta Jones) whom he falls in love with.

The movie focuses on Viktor's life at the airport,and how he deals with the everyda problems.Food was a big problem for him,and he seeked ways and means to get himself a bite.One of the ways was to collect the carts at the airports and earning 25 cents as a reward for each cart collected.Then he helped the food delivery man to get the girl of his dreams.The movie is basically Viktor's life in the airport,and that aspect is indeed a wonderful and fascinating journey to the audience.How he learnt English,how he found his job,how he played poker for unclaimed lost and found items and so on.Also,using his skills of carpentry he managed to find a job and please Amelia,his love interest.

The Terminal has a very lighthearted dramatic feeling to it,as well as a pure comedy for the audience.There are scenes that made me laugh my guts out,as well as other scenes which were moving and touching.For example,the scene when Frank desperately tries to convince Viktor to be afraid of his country.You'd understand when you watch it,and Viktor's one word answer was hilarious.

Tom Hanks,as a double academy award winning for best actor,proved once again that he can deliver a great performance that elevates the whole movie.Viktor Navorski is a likeable guy,both by the characters in the movie and by the audience.He's innocence and he's positive outlook on life simply touched most of us.Due to his lack of understanding for English,he often mixes words up and misinterpretes sentences,which becomes the comic relief of the whole film.However,there are dramatic scenes such as the first time Viktor discovers that he was forced to stay in the airport.When he was detained by the airport police,he didnt know that the country was closed to him.So he kept asking Frank Dixon where to buy the Nike shoes,about Broadway,about New York and everything else.Basically,he had no clue what Frank was trying to explain to him initially until he was lead into the international waiting area by the police when he suddenly dawned on him."The United States of America is closed." said the police,and Viktor looked at the television mounted on stands.It was a news channel,and the news about Krakozhia's military coup was shown on television.Viktor then starts to panick and he runs around the terminal asking people for help.The saddest scene in the movie was when he was trying to call for home with this phonecard the police gave him,but didnt know how to you it.As he stood amongst the crowd begging for help,no one helped him at all.He held those luggages and papers in his hands,and went "Please.Please.Please."But no one offered their help.He then went upstairs and saw the news on tv once more,and cried behind the glass doors.That scene really got me,and i was telling Krishna how saw that part was.This was definitely one of Hanks' best works since Forrest Gump.

Other cast members were awesome too.Stanley Tucci being the villian of the movie was great,though a little overboard.After all,a movie like this must have a villian.The supporting cast like the janitors and the food delivery man provided lots of comedy,and subplots that allowed Viktor's character to grow.Kumar Pallana is the funniest of the three,with his indian accent and his circus act while Amelie and Viktor had dinner was amazingly funny.Catherine Zeta Jones was stunning in this movie,and she literally brightens up the whole movie.She was so pleasent to see on screen really,and you start to understand why Viktor had an affection for her.

I didnt like certain aspects of the movie.In fact,only one.The storyline with Viktor and Amelie were not closed properly,and i wouldnt consider it a happy ending.Most of all,i didnt understand why Amelie did what she did in the end.I will not spoil it for anyone here,but that subplot was left open-ended for the audience.The story also provided a twist concerning the reason for Viktor's arrival to America.That subplot is amazingly touching as well,and the secret lies in the peanut can that he holds around all the time.A hint for you guys:Jazz.Haha.Anyway,though i wouldnt consider that twist to be majoy enough to make a dead corpse flip in their graves,but i think it provides a conclusion to Viktor's character.

At the end of the day,people would definitely be satisfied with the movie.Its lighthearted and warming to watch on a Sunday afternoon with your family or friends.This is a must watch for the year,and is definitely recommended by me.

F.I love this movie.

Ratings:9/10

Quotes of the Day:
Frank Dixon,"You catch a small fish and unhook him very carefully. You place him back in the water, so that someone else can have the pleasure of catching him."

Frank Dixon,"Are you afraid of returning to your country?"
Viktor Navorski,"No."
Frank Dixon,"But aren't you afraid of something?"
Viktor Navorski,"I am afraid for,ghosts.Vampires.Wolf man.Sharks?"

Viktor Navorski,"One man.Two women.Crowded."

Amelia,"I have to go."
Viktor Navorski,"I have to stay."
Amelia,"The story of my life."
Viktor Navorski,"Me too."

[Watching Viktor build something on a wall they're supposed to be fixing]
Airport Construction Worker,"What's he doing?"
Karl Iverson,"I can't ask him what he's doing. I'm supposed to tell him what he's doing. I ask him what he's doing and I'm gonna look like an idiot."

Viktor Navorski,"He shit. Shit. Shit. Shit."
Enrique Cruz,"He shit? Oh! He cheats?"

Gupta Rajan,"I think he's CIA!"
Joe Mulroy,"You dont know what you are talking about.That guy doesnt even speak English."

Salchak,"I know you've been waiting for years for me to either drop dead or retire."
Frank Dixon,"No, I haven't been waiting for you to retire."

Amelie,"You headed for home?"
Viktor Navorski,"Er..No.I am er...Delayed.Long time."

Viktor Navorski,"Officer!My friend says that you are a stallion."
INS Agent,"What?"
Viktor Navorski,"Like a horse."
INS Agent,"Stand behind the yellow line!"

Man in the bathroom,"You ever feel like you're just living in an airport?"
[Viktor Navorski stares blankly at him for ten seconds.]

Brookstone Manager,"Do you live nearby?"
Viktor Navorski,"Yes,Gate 67."
Brookstone Manager,"Because we are very particular about punctuality.Did you say Gate 67?"

INS Agent,"Next.Let me ask you something Mr Navorski.Why do you wait here two hours everyday when Ive told you there's nothing i can do for you,and your new VISA will only arrive when your country is recognised by the United States?"
Viktor Navorski,"You,you have two stamps.One red,one green."
INS Agent,"So?"
Viktor Navorski,"So,i have chance to go New York,50-50."

Frank Dixon,"You are the kind of woman who can get any guys you want.Why Viktor Navorski?"
Amelie,"Thats something a guy like you,could never understand."
---"The Terminal"(2004)

Song of the Moment---My Girl by The Temptations