THE PLOT THUS FAR
A romantic comedy from director Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Hanks as an eastern immigrant who finds himself stranded in JFK airport, and must take up temporary residence there.
WHAT WE THOUGHT
“The Terminal” is one of those Spielberg movies that just limps to the finish line. Whether it’s “Always”, “1941” or “Amistad”…there’s something to the Beard’s under appreciated works. If anything, “The Terminal” plays closer to a later in life Billy Wilder movie. Mixing foreign influence with common places allows for any schlub to find grand romantic purpose. Tom Hanks is no Jack Lemmon, but he doesn’t need to be. He has to have an open and warm heart that embraces the even keel of ethnic stereotypes that JFK Airport has to offer him.
I admire Spielberg for taking a shot on a romantic comedy with Tom Hanks. If you noted the sarcasm, then you win the Internet for the day. Could anyone else have pulled down the realism of a stranded foreigner? Sure, but Paul Giamatti wouldn’t be allowed anywhere near Catherine Zeta-Jones. Hell, he’d have a better shot getting in Stanley Tucci’s pants. Kidding Tucci fans, I know that he’s drilling Emily Blunt’s sister. The film plays a lot with expectation, before it falls back into the typical romantic comedy tropes. Hanks’ character is on a secret mission to do right by his deceased father. Jones can’t find love. Zoe Saldana likes banging Trekkers. So on and so forth.
The Blu-Ray comes with featurettes, photo gallery and trailers as the special features. The A/V Quality improves quite a bit in the jump from DVD to Blu-Ray. The DTS-HD 5.1 master audio track makes the boombastic airport come to life. Then, there’s the subtle nuance to the 1080p transfer. Darks are dark, brights are bright and the office areas of the airport have that flushed green gray look about them. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase.
RELEASE DATE: 05/06/14