Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5002 in DVD
• Released on: 2005-01-31
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, PAL, Widescreen, Dolby, Digital Sound
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 129 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

Synopsis
Viktor Navorksi (Tom Hanks) falls into a bureaucratic crack in the system when his plane lands at New York's JFK airport from the fictitious country of Krakozhia. Unbeknownst to Navorski, his country fell prey to a military coup while he was in flight, causing it to be wiped from the map. This effectively renders his passport null and void, meaning he cannot legally enter America, nor return to his now nonexistent home. Barely able to speak English, the hapless Navorski is offered a sanctuary of sorts by kindly staff who allow him to freely inhabit the airport. With little money to his name, Navorski has to quickly shed his feelings of displacement, confusion, and alienation to survive. Fortunately he has a resourceful nature, and makes a meagre amount of money for food by returning baggage carts. As time passes he becomes more comfortable with his surroundings, even finding time to pursue a passing stewardess, Amelia (Catherine Zeta-Jones), who has captured his heart. But airport denizens such as customs chief Frank Dixon (Stanley Tucci), who is a constant thorn in Navorski's side, remind him of his outsider status throughout the ordeal. Director Steven Spielberg uses the airport setting of THE TERMINAL to represent a microcosmic view of the immigrant experience in American society. Drawing on a fine performance from Hanks, and a supporting cast who provide plenty of laughs, Spielberg handles some delicate subject matter with an acute sensitivity, providing a heartfelt tale in the process.

Customer Reviews

Fun and light hearted, despite mixed reviews
I liked this film for many reasons, the main being it was easy to understand thanks to its simple yet heart-warming plot, that opens up as the film progresses. Tom Hanks plays a Russian who enters a USA airport to travel to New York, but loses his own nationality as airport security discovers his country is in admist turmoil and trouble. So, as the troubled man he is, with a difficult language barrier, he has no choice but to settle into the airport to avoid the authorities. His expieriences in this chaotic place are both humerous and heart-warming as he falls in love with a regular american traveler.
The story has more to it than his consolodation into the airport, but its a good film if you want something thats easy to understand and watch, and does without the effects. Another great piece of filming from Speilberg!

The Terminal
This film on its own proves that Spielberg is a multi-talented director. Released during the time that Speilberg took a new turn in directing and decided to get away from the aliens and head towards true storys on a smaller scale.
The Terminal is a heart-warming story, that at moments can make you laugh and at others cry as well. The story tells of a man called Viktor. Who after arriving at a JFK New York Airport, discovers that his country is in the middle of a civil war. Unable to get back to his country or even step out of the airport as he temporarily has no country, he is being forced to live at the airport's lounge. He then goes on to meet new friends, get a job, and discover a liking to a air stewardess.
Tom Hanks who plays 'Viktor' does a fantastic job at playing a convincing foreigner. Sourrounded by a the likes of Cathrine Zeta-Jones and other fairly well known stars, thay make a great cast.
Theres very little to have a go at with this film except maybe that it does tend to go on a little sometimes. Its a fairly lenghty film, which is the only reason I didn't give this film 5 stars.
The Terminal is a treat for the family and with the joint efforts of Spielberg and Hanks leading the front, whats to dount. Highly recommended for all ages.

Brilliant - heart warmer/comedy
i personally love this film (not a great fan of heart warmers too)and i think Steven Spielberg did a fantastic job, Tom Hanks plays the perfect role for this film. Also a great comedy with some serious matters thrown into this heart-warmer.

Tom Hanks who plays 'Viktor Navorski' is a vistor to New York City from the small East-europe country Krakozhia, discovers when he lands his country goes into civil war. Krakozhia is no longer reconised by America and Viktor discovers a 'crack'in the system. He is not aloud leave the Airport.

The story is about Viktor adapting to life in JFK airport and follows his time there, with Catherine Zeta-Jones (who plays Amelia Warren) is a flight attendent and and becomes friends with Viktor and see him on a regular basis.

i won't give away too much of the story as some detials (such as why hes there) will ruin the story.

if you want a great faimly film without the violence this is the film, you won't be disapointed.