The Terminal

This is another achievement for Tom Hanks (Ladykillers, Catch Me if You Can) and the team he has developed with Steven Spielberg. Together they've done Saving Private Ryan and Catch Me If You Can and now The Terminal.

This is the story of a man who falls into a 'crack' of bureaucracy and cannot leave the airport in New York. He cannot be in the US, but cannot return to his country, which leaves him to live in the airport. We thought this was a fabulously creative idea, and must have been hatched by a frequent flier who sat in one too many airports, when in truth it's the story of an actual person. At least based on - an Iranian man named Merhan Karmini Nasseri who landed in Paris in 1988 and didn't have a passport. He said his papers were stolen. He had to take up residence in the airport. After a very long court battle he won asylum in France in 1999, but hasn't left the airport yet. He's 58 years old and his lawyer says he is "not crazy, just mixed up". After so many years living there, apparently he's comfortable enough to just stay!

Tom Hanks has an encounter with Catherine Zeta-Jones (Chicago, Traffic)and her character is really a good one. She plays a flawed human, incapable of accepting the attention of a good guy. I think she's one of the truest women characters to be seen in a movie in a long time.

Stanley Tucci (Maid in Manhattan)does a very good job of being the bad guy. He shows how many people deal with problems, and is very true to his character.

All in all this is a fun, interesting, entertaining and very original movie. It is long (nearly 3 hours) but really doesn't feel that long, which is a great sign. It holds your interest. The ending feels a bit like "oh, I was hoping for something else" but overall the movie is a very good one.

Rating - 4
FRESH popcorn at Pueblo Tinseltown! Lots of Sprinkle White Cheddar cheese! :)