The Terminal (Full Screen Edition)

Amazon.com

Like an airport running at peak efficiency, The Terminal glides on the consummate skills of its director and star. Having refined their collaborative chemistry on Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me if You Can, Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks mesh like the precision gears of a Rolex, turning a delicate, not-very-plausible scenario into a lovely modern-age fable (partly based on fact) that's both technically impressive and subtly moving. It's Spielberg in Capra mode, spinning the featherweight tale of Victor Navorski (Hanks, giving a finely tuned performance), an Eastern European who arrives at New York's Kennedy Airport just as his (fictional) homeland has fallen to a coup, forcing him, with no valid citizenship, to take indefinite residence in the airport's expansive International Arrivals Terminal (an astonishing full-scale set that inspires Spielberg's most elegant visual strategies). Spielberg said he made this film in part to alleviate the anguish of wartime America, and his master's touch works wonders on the occasionally mushy material; even Stanley Tucci's officious terminal director and Catherine Zeta-Jones's mixed-up flight attendant come off (respectively) as forgivable and effortlessly charming. With this much talent involved, The Terminal transcends its minor shortcomings to achieve a rare degree of cinematic grace. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews:

The Terminal.......2007-09-05

I ordered my copy from Andrewsgroup. The DVD arrived damaged, and I have had no response from Andrewsgroup, can't even get their address so I am stuck with a useless copy.

3.5; not really great but not terrible either.......2007-07-09

Unlike directors such as John Carpenter or Michael Bay, Steven Spielberg tends to take on new stories and themes every time he comes out with something new. This could be frustrating since at times we want another serious masterpiece like Schindler's List or we just want a rollicking good time like Jurassic Park. So it's interesting in that the Terminal is neither in that he's more in an Always/E.T mode here, going for sentimentality and drama than thrills or gravitas. But this film is no E.T but then again it's not as bad as Always so it's kind of stuck in the middle: good without being great.

Inspired or maybe not but a real-life story, the film centers on Viktor Navorsky from the fictional country of Krakohzia who flew in to New York. But while he was in the air, rebels overthrew the government which essentially made his passport invalid and now he's stuck in a curious dilemma: he can't enter the United States since he has no valid passport yet he can't go home since he doesn't have a "home" to go to. He's basically stuck in the airport and has to live there. But don't mean he can't make friends and he becomes acquainted with some of the other hired help, a gorgeous stewardess and to a lesser extent, the guy running the airport security.

A film like the Terminal has a strange predicament since in lesser hands, this would've been an awfully boring movie yet in the hands of Spielberg and Tom Hanks, it becomes a slow good movie. This isn't really a film that's bound to get you all energized a la War of the Worlds and it doesn't have a Munich-esque message and it's there simply to have a good time. But even though it's really only 2 hours, the film feels longer than that as Viktor just lives and lives at the airport with one group supporting him and one man (sylishly played by Stanley Tucci) are not. It's a good movie to watch with your spouse but on its own, the film doesn't really do much.

That doesn't mean there isn't anything to like and Hanks gives a good performance as Viktor. Appears slow yet can actually offer surprising insight, it's the kind of role where in someone else's hands, he would just be cartoony. The only weak link is Catherine Zeta-Jones. It's not for aesthetic reasons since let's face it, she's really easy on the eyes; but she's kind of thinly written and her fascination with Napoleon and her bookishness comes across as just...strange. Speaking of aesthetic, the film has a great set with the airport built from scratch using a hanger and it's quite something to see. Sure it looks like any old airport but the fact they actually made one complete with working escalators and working restaurants makes it more special for some reason.

Sure this film isn't that great and of his recent output from A.I to Munich it's probably the worst, yet there's something watchable about the whole thing and that's quite something.

Cute without being sappy.......2007-06-29

A very nice film. Very nice. Is it a great film? Perhaps not, but it's a remarkably well-produced film, and well-acted. It is done well enough for people to ignore a plotline which stretches credulity at more than a few points. Even though viewers will have a reasonably good idea that things will work out OK, the film keeps us engaged by moving along at a brisk pace, never bogging down with exceptional sentiment. The coda --- a tribute to a son's promise to his father --- is definitely the best part of the movie by far, the most touching, and helps to redeem some of the weaker moments which preceded it. Overall, very satisfying. Did I mention that it was very nice?

Good Flick.......2007-06-25

Speilberg is not capable of making a bad movie. It's just not in the realm of this Universe' possibilities. Tom Hanks does a great job of playing a sympathetic foreigner who turns out to be a hero. Catherine Zeta Jones breaks his heart ofcourse but in the end her character is just in it for the cash like most of the rest of us. There's also a jazz theme to the flick which tells me Speilberg is a jazz fan. An even better but underated Speilberg flick is A.I.. This flick is not quite up to that standard but still worth a few viewings especially if you strongly relate to underdogs.

Enjoyable and Uplifting Fantasy.......2007-04-22

I did not want to watch this movie first - I don't like the claustrophobic movies where the fun has been made of the characters who are awkward foreigners that can not speak English. Spielberg's "The Terminal" has got it all but I've came to like it. Technically, it is great - the work of Spielberg's set decorators' and cinematographer's is superb. After a few obligatory jokes based on the main character's total puzzlement and confusion regarding what is happening to him, film starts to look at that man closer and finds a lot in him to admire.

I don't think that making the villain of huge proportions of Stanley Tucci's character was such a great idea. It is not exactly clear why he is determined to make Victor's life even more confusing and miserable with the tenacity deserving better purpose. It was not exactly necessary to make a hero and saint of Hanks' character, either.

With all the negatives, "The Terminal" for me is an enjoyable and uplifting fantasy - sentimental, of course and not perfect but fine and enjoyable. The most important for me was the part when we finally find out why Victor Navarsky (Tom Hanks), the citizen of the fictitious Eastern European Country Krakozia came to New York City, NY, USA. The story behind his arrival is simple, sweet, and touching.
3.5/5

Average customer rating:

The Terminal
3.5; not really great but not terrible either
Cute without being sappy
Good Flick
Enjoyable and Uplifting Fantasy

The Terminal (Widescreen Edition)
Starring: Tom Hanks , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Stanley Tucci , Chi McBride , and Diego Luna
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00005JMYC
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Terminal.......2007-09-05

I ordered my copy from Andrewsgroup. The DVD arrived damaged, and I have had no response from Andrewsgroup, can't even get their address so I am stuck with a useless copy.

3.5; not really great but not terrible either.......2007-07-09

Cute without being sappy.......2007-06-29

Good Flick.......2007-06-25

Enjoyable and Uplifting Fantasy.......2007-04-22

The Terminal (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)

Average customer rating:

The Terminal
3.5; not really great but not terrible either
Cute without being sappy
Good Flick
Enjoyable and Uplifting Fantasy

The Terminal (Three-Disc Collector's Edition)
Starring: Tom Hanks , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Stanley Tucci , Chi McBride , and Diego Luna
Director: Steven Spielberg
Manufacturer: Dreamworks Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

Comedy | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

Drama | Boxed Sets | Stores | DVD | Video

( T ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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ASIN: B0003JANCI
Release Date: 2004-11-23

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

The Terminal.......2007-09-05

I ordered my copy from Andrewsgroup. The DVD arrived damaged, and I have had no response from Andrewsgroup, can't even get their address so I am stuck with a useless copy.

3.5; not really great but not terrible either.......2007-07-09

Cute without being sappy.......2007-06-29

Good Flick.......2007-06-25

Enjoyable and Uplifting Fantasy.......2007-04-22

Average customer rating:

Mixed Emotions
No terminal errors here!
MAN VS. MACHINE

Terminal Error
Starring: Matthew Ewald , Marina Sirtis , Michael Nouri , David Wells , and Timothy Busfield
Director: John Murlowski
Manufacturer: Mti Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B0002V7S20
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Product Description

When a bitter former partner wants revenge on wealthy computer mogul Brad Weston, he releases a powerful computer virus that soon takes on a mind of its own. What was supposed to only destroy computer terminals evolves into a deadly entity that worms its way through the entire city causing wide spread panic and destruction. Now, it's up to Brad and his computer savvy son, Dylan, to find the source and figure out a way to stop this virtual, but very real, enemy before the virus becomes TERMINAL.

System Requirements:
Starring: Timothy Busfield, Matthew Ewald, Michael Nouri, Marina Sirtis, Audrey Wasilewski, and David Wells.
Directed By: John Murlowski.

Format: DVD MOVIE

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Emotions.......2006-02-07

An ex-acquaintance of an automation company's owner decides to wreck revenge by unleashing a powerful AI-centric trojan horse (aka, a virus) that first kills people and then decides to eradicate the entire planet of humans.

Pros:

1. There is only one... it makes you think. Should we really become so dependant on computers throughout the world? While viruses becoming hell-bent on the destruction of mankind are very unlikely (that would require a program to develop feelings of anger, desire, and many others), viruses can make a mess of things when they do strike. Especially in this day and age where even cell phones require an anti-virus package.

Negatives (there were many, but these two stood out):
1) Highly implausible. This is a huge one. Okay, I am a computer programmer, database manager, network administrator, and overall geek. I could produce pages and pages and pages of things that doesn't make sense in this movie. So if you want a movie based on reality, this isn't one of them. Sorry, it wasn't even close.
2) Acting. The acting veteran Michael Nouri and Star Trek's Marina Sertis give the better performances. Mathew Ewald as the child computer genius even put in a semi-decent act. But everybody else was waaaaay over the top or just plane silly.

Would I recommend this movie to anybody? Well, despite the bad acting and terrible script I did find it somewhat amusing. Whoever thought this movie up was trying to make a point, I think, and while it didn't really strike home with me, it did cause me to pause and reflect for a bit. Real sci-fi geeks may find something in this movie if they are willing to ignore the technological shortcomings, but few others will.

No terminal errors here!.......2005-08-02

An ex-employee of a computer firm is bent on revenge & befriends the president's son & gives him a MP3 file with a computer virus in it which creates havoc all across the city by poisoning the water with chlorine, making planes crash and neearly causing a meltdown at a nuclear power plant. The movie stars the gorgeous Marina Sirtis from "Star Trek-The Next Generation"

MAN VS. MACHINE.......2005-03-05

Although ludicrous and improbable in concept, TERMINAL ERROR is an interesting movie nonetheless. Timothy Busfield chews up the scenery as a computer hacker who seeks revenge on a former partner by sabotaging the computer software he manufactures, leading to a nuclear fallout in the Ukraine; the death of three employees on an elevator, and several other "accidents" that question the credibility and motive of its creator (a subdued Michael Nouri). Add to the plot the man's young son (Matthew Ewald) and estranged wife (Marina Sirtis) and you have the ingredients for the plot. The movie maintains its suspense and there are some tense "what if" scenarios and a message alerting us to the problems of having machines do everything for us. Craftily directed by John Murlowski, TERMINAL ERROR is a diverting and enjoyable entertainment.

DVD:

DVD

DVD