Inoffensive and mildly entertaining.

Customs should arrest SS for making this crap.

This movie tries to charm in the cliched Spielberg way. But except for a few moments, this movie disappoints. Completely absurd and unbelievable, the story becomes more and more ridiculous as the movie progresses. Hanks is also disappointing with a stereotypical and uneven performance. This Spielberg fairytale is one of his worst.

A lot of people panned this film, but I thought it was really cool if you could set aside reality. Tom Hanks did a great job (as always), as a man who visits New York from another country, and is not allowed to leave JFK airport or go back home. Stranded in the airport for almost a year he makes many friends (mostly from the janitoring staff) and falls in love with a history-obsessed flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones). The movie is corny at parts, especially at the ending, but if you don't take it too seriously, I promise you you'll have a good time. Stanley Tucci is convincing as an a--hole. He almost always plays a--holes. I wonder why...… Expand

Spielberg alas has broken his winning streak of recent masterpieces with "The Terminal". Easily his weakest film since the tepid "Amistad", this movie doesn't work as a whole. Why didn't Spielberg just make the film based on the true life tale of the man who's been living in an airport in Paris in 1988 by his own will. Instead there are mostly dull subplots including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Stanley Tucci's villian, Hanks' dad trying to get autographs from old-time jazz musicians, etc. The best scenes involve Hanks attempting to adapt to living in this shiftless transportation mode with his group of airport-worker friends, most notably Kumar Pallana, who is HILARIOUS as the janitor Gupta. Overall a bright, often-charming (but never funny) film that is too slight and bland to recommend.… Expand

[***SPOILERS***] Well, I hate to say I saw this one coming a mile away. A man lives in a terminal...wow, what next? a man lives on an island and befriends a volleyball? But, you think maybe Spielberg and Hanks can team up and make this another "catch me if you can" or really any decent spielberg film for that matter. Sadly, the movie suffers from not knowing its own identity...is it a drama, a love story, a comedy? And for me, most of the movie was basic Hollywood schmaltz filler, like the man with the sharp object who was attempting to bring pills to his ailing father in...get this coincidence...Tom Hanks' neighboring country. Hanks calms the man down and convinces Stanley Tucci (a terribly bland antagonist) that they are pills for his pet goat. Then, inexplicably, the man just gets on his plane and leaves without further detainment even after trying to cut security with the knife. The whole scene was useless, as was the movie as it turned out. Then the whole reason Hanks came to New York, to get some jazz players autograph, is pretty much a way for the screenwriter to justify a man sitting in an airport terminal for like a year. Convenient how war started once he was in JFK. And I hate to say this, but the romance between him and Catherine Zeta-Jones, while completely obsurd to begin with, became even harder to stomach as the film dragged on. And I say dragged on because the film made the audience feel like you were in a layover...for a good movie (hah). I expected much better, maybe shouldnt have. I would rather live in Krackovia or however the hell they spelled that, than see this again. Oh, and the most romantic line in the movie: "Meet me at the Sbarro"... thats quite touching.… Expand

Most importantly, we don't have a "K-19: The Widowmaker" problem, in which we were all too aware that Harrison Ford is not a Russian. Tom Hanks sounds convincing, so we can relax and watch without distraction, but perhaps, his character learns English a little too quickly. "The Terminal" works best when paeans to love aren't being expressed through the construction of a fountain, and Tianamen Square so bizzarely evoked. Spielberg is able to create an engaging universe out of the airport, so we never feel the need to see New York. "The Terminal", at times, tries too hard to make us feel good, when we already were. … Expand

Although the limits of the terminal itself limit the greatness of the film, this is another successful teaming of Spielberg and Hanks. It's a sweet story, kept from icky sweetness by Hanks' effortless portrayal of an honest man lost in a foreign world. The supporting cast is excellent.

I thought it was a great movie because I really got to go on Viktors journey through out his trials. Tom Hanks continues to amaze me in how versitail he can be. Congrats.

This wasn't a romance, it wasn't a comedy (although very funny). It was a movie about Importance. What was important to Viktor was his family. His loyalty to fufill his father's lifelong dream was what this movie was really about.

Terminally boring!

Very good comedy. Tom Hanks was a very god character in this movie. Very funny. Good movie for the whole family.

Tom Hanks saves this movie from a sub 5 rating. While the actual plot wasn't too bad, many of the little things in the movie were way over the top. If they made it a little more realistic I would have given it a 7 or above. It was still entertaining though, as most Hanks movies are.

Very funny.

I thought this movie was funny and very entertaining. There is nothing not to like about this movie.

Slow and tedious. Hard to watch.

Manipulative, contrived, Hollywood storytelling!! No iota of truth to be found in the stereotyped characters or their predictable situations.

Cheap drawn-out overdramatization and awkward slapstick blows situations that were trying to ring true. Spielberg needs to go back to making movies where the characters are carbon-based life forms.

If a lesser known director had made this movie, I doubt the reviews would be as negative.

This movie was inane and completely unbelievable. I expect much more from Spielberg and Hanks. A completely lame script has people acting in ways that make no sense. Huge disappointment.

Disappointing on almost all fronts. The storry was predictable and the result inevertable. Why is the rating for the film above 1! i simply do not see this lurking appeal of this film! Even with the slight humour is was a dry film. Even though i love commedies this was uterly pathedtic.

This was an annoying piece of fluff, where the antagonists motivation was completely random and pointless. How are we to believe that a man shrewd enough to be promoted to head of airport security can't comprehend that someone sitting in front of him can't speak English? This is the depth to which the motivation of the antagonist is thought out. The screenplay was written with the intention of generating more sappy audience sympathy, not generating believable behavior for a character. This makes the movie frustrating to watch, and it seems to drag on and on.… Expand

Yes, it's light and fluffy. Yes, it has more product placement than, well, maybe any film in history. Yes, the comedy doesn't always work. But Tom Hanks works and, for the most part, Spielberg works -- again. Do not look for "meaning" or "edge". Go enjoy youself. I know this is not enough for some critics, especially with the talent involved, but give me a break. Sure it's as if the airlines paid for the film so romance can be brought back to flying and airports, but we need the industry to be strong, for jobs and or enjoyment. Take 2 hours of your life and get away from reality for awhile.… Expand

Horrible and over sentimental. hanks' accent is also very laughable. dumb story too. boring, boring, boring.

The movie was ok but I thought Hanks was great as usual. The story on the other hand, was a little too much. First, Catherine Zeta's character was so bad. The movie tries to make you feel bad for her, but it doesn't develope her character at all. I think the whole love story inside the love story with a food delivery boy and a customs agent is ridiculous. No one agrees to marry someone they've never met just by sending notes to each other through a strange man. How scary is that? And last, i don't think there are people out there that is this evil in the character played by Stanley Tucci. And how in the world would someone do everything he could to stop Hanks from leaving, and then just let him go just because he took 2 steps out of the Airport? Did anyone ever think that he needs to come back and take a flight back to Karvovscia or wherever? Just get him when he get's back! Anyways, Hanks carried the movie, Zeta was a dumb blonde trying to be emotional and smart, and Tucci was a typical Disney Villain. … Expand

[***SPOILERS***] Have you ever read a novel which was great right up until the last few pages where it all then suddenly fell apart? Well, this movie is like that. The story takes you on an emotional roller-coaster and then crashes badly at the end of the ride. Victor Novarski comes to America to get the last signature from 58 jazz musicians in order to keep a promise to his dead father. Along the way he gets stranded at JFK for a year and falls in love. (Spoiler Alert) But in the end he chooses not to fight for the woman of his dreams but rather meekly goes off to get the last signature. He never even tries to talk to her in order to make her realize just how much he loves her. And she never tells him why she must reject him. All we are left with is a few rather cliche lines which tell us nothing of the truth about the lead characters and which leave a rather bitter taste in our mouths as we leave the theater wondering what the point of the story was in the first place.… Expand

Let me sum it up in one word for you. SUCKED!

Sappy and silly. One dimensional characters.

Better than I expected.

I love spielberg. always did. i have learned to love hanks over the years, especially after saving private ryan and catch me if you can. i thought spielberg and hank was incapable of making a bad movie...i thought wrong! the good thing is, we see that they are human beings and not movie making machines. (at least in the artistic sense) spielberg commands the movie half way through without any hic-ups. however, when all his movie chops are used up and dried out, so does the movie. the film turns into a....well..."meeting everyone!...meeting!...we are sinking, what shall we do???"....ummm mr. spielberg?...."what!?"...ummm...let's get the old indian fella to stop a jumbo jet...."oy!...action!!!" i am sure, if he (steve) had his dinosaur and spaceship making computer fellas with him at the time, he would have ask them to help him out on this one. because if a film ever needs a random t-rex running through the airport and trampling the over acting catherina zeta whats her face, its THIS film. stanley tucci seems like he is "shell shocked" that he is actually acting in a spielberg film, he is not comfortable and portrays and utterly un-beliveable, off the cliff antagonist. i mean, marvin the martian makes more sense than him. why is he so damn angry? because hanks has 2 oscars and he doesn't? hanks is good, but somehow he is always good...i dont know if we are all captivated by his acting skills or his face reminds us his other, better films. whatever the case, i enjoyed his accent and him playing a "non-american" got me going for a while. it seems spielberg wanted to wrap this up and go home so he can make indiana jones 4 or something, the end of the film is un-forgivable for his talents...therefore, unlike his mostly other work...forgetable. the cinematography and opening credits are well done...too bad the rest aint.… Expand

A major disappointment. Slow, boring and predictable.

My wife and I LOVED this film! Hanks is fabulous with this Russian accent.

This started out well. The premise was interesting, it made some good commentary on government, and Hanks acted it well. But, around the middle, it started to get downright sappy. The shameless deus ex machina at the end secured its downfall. The only good thing in the end was the resolution of the romance, which never had a real chance anyway. It might be disappointing, but it was, at least, realistic. The rest was just typical, silly Hollywood. There is nothing wrong with silly Hollywood when it admits that it is silly. This thought that it was meaningful.… Expand

Tom Hanks gives a great performance-he basicallly carries this movie-not top flight Speilberg but better than most critics rated it-it had a bittersweet nature that i found appealing ,even though the premise was a bit farfetched.

Great!

Speilberg should be ashamed of this film.

Why such the low rating? The Terminal=excellent!

Spielberg has underachieved with terminal but give the man a break. he was on a roll in the 90s with films such as jurassic park, schindler's list, saving private ryan and AI. the problem with the terminal is its one-dimensionality. notwithstanding few moments of realism, this is capra with all sugar and no salt. it's kinda like an ET for adults. like ET, an alien is stranded between his world and ours. tom hanks, wonderful and funny, is too much of a caricature to take seriously and too real to take lightly. i suppose we could argue that the characterization is very much like the situation the character is trapped in--in a state of limbo. indeed, the movie was based on a true story but it was given the spielberg fairytale treatment. just think of what this movie could have been in the hands of someone like scorsese--or even spielberg of the 90s. still, the movie is interesting as a possible rumination on the meaning of the wandering jew. his status--perpetual outsider, man without a home, scrambling with his wits to survive--speaks volumes about jewish anxiety, intentional or not. the cast of characters of various ethnicity isn't entirely sweet and embracing, but ultimately toothless enough to make the toothfairy work overtime. even the villain of the movie is forgiven and patted on the back as not-so-bad-after-all. if you turn off 25% of your brain and want to be amused for 2 hrs, you can do much worse. besides, there's also the very lovely catherina zeta jones.… Expand

A misfiring, never-ending, aimless mess that could (and should) have been a little gem of a movie. It bores where it should enthrall, which is a crime considering the talent on display.

Geez... we couldn't even finish it...

A truly underrated movie. I thoroughly enjoyed it and believe that in today's bureaucracy, a similar situation could happen.

Maybe I'm just a sucker for silly accents (not to mention my crush on CZJ), but this was a very funny movie.

Could this be worse? One unbelievable plot point after another. Writing that only an idiot could tolerate.

Had some very good humor, Hanks did a really good job in this movie. It didn't have the clearest plot though.

Boring! Boring! Boring! I really don?t like this movie. Stupid jokes!

Hanks is the best actor since Chaplin.

How people can see this movie as boring is unbelievable. Tom Hanks was VERY good in this dramatic romantic comedy. This movie was incredibly funny, I was laughing at almost every point there was comedy. This was a fun movie and everyone will love it. C'mon guys this is hilarious! And dramatic, but still hilarious.

It's sad, it's really sad when directors, writers and actors begin to get so lost in their hollywood culture that they no longer understand or relate to mainstream America anymore. I completely gave up on this movie when it became obvious that Spielberg was more interested in wringing out some vapid emotional response than in attempting to achieve any level of crediblity at all! Imagine government officials speaking paragraph after paragraph to someone who obviously doesn't understand English instead of making him wait in the other room for an interpreter. Imagine that NO ONE else has arrived at that airport on that airplane from this imaginary country. Imagine that one of the largest airports in the world wouldn't provide or send for an interpreter. Imagine laying meal vouchers on a bench rather than putting them in your pocket. Imagine that no one would think to send this person to his country's embassy. Imagine you have such contempt for American intelligence that you don't care that none of it makes any sense. Anyway I see a big, fat lecture on the Ugly American, multiculturalism and intolerance soon so OUT the DVD goes!… Expand

Interesting premise, initially absorbing, but veers toward incredulity as it progresses. The Catherine Zeta Jones scenes are the worst offenders. And how could such a schlub become such a hero?

GREAT MOVIE! Very Well Acted. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

I went into this movie with mixed feelings. I had checked the metacritic score before going to see it but I had faith in this movie because of the director and the actor. This movie was better than I expected. There was hardly a moment where I wasn't fully drawn into the movie. I admit some parts were a little predictable and unbelievable, but Hanks' performance overshadows the little bad that there is in the movie and gives the audience 2+ hrs of a great emotional rollercoaster. I think this movie has it all. Not one of my favorite movies ever, but a fun flick that any movie goer with an open mind who's not looking for an oscar worthy movie would enjoy.… Expand

Amazing...seriously so many people are doubting it for no reason.

People are being way too hard on this film. Honestly, they didn't market it very well, because I thought it'd be a piece of sh.t. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was not. It was an enjoyable, feel good movie. Maybe its not "real" enough for some people. I don't know. Remember that not every movie has to have the same attitude toward storytelling. If Spielberg wants to make movies that make people feel good, what's the harm in that? Its not my favorite type of movie, and no, its not a classic, but it does what its supposed to do. It entertains. It did me, anyway.… Expand

Tom Hanks is frequently compared to James Stewart, Gary Cooper and/or Jack Lemmon, but even those great actors in their heyday didn't have access to the incredible variety of roles Hanks gets and continues to surprise us with. His naive, innocent but smart and resourceful Viktor Navorski, a would-be US visitor literally trapped in an airport terminal for months on end, is one of his best. Similarly, Steven Spielberg shows no signs of jet lag or coasting: this movie may not be as flashy as the Indiana Jones movies or Saving Private Ryan, but it's just as well-directed, with lots of wonderful, subtle touches--Spielberg makes his one gigantic set, a seemingly mundane airport that all of us who aren't terrified of flying have seen at least a few times, into a world as specific and imaginative as the futuristic ones of A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Minority Report. (And, for once, the built-in product placements are not only necessary to the atmosphere and action, but are beautifully and wittily used.) Spielberg is frequently criticized for not including romances in his films; he answers here in spades by featuring a remarkably poignant one. Roger Ebert is fond of quoting Jean Luc-Godard's adage that the best way to criticize a film is with another film; well, after suffering through the remarkably cynical, acrid Gallic psuedoromance Love Me If You Dare, this proudly one-part Capraesque, one-part Chaplinesque delight is a welcome tonic. (Ironically, BOTH films feature round, metal containers as McGuffins!) In an age where, even after 9/11, the most memorable airport scene in the last few years was Ben Stiller going ballistic on an officious stewardess in Meet the Parents, and we all seem to be getting more and more polarized and distanced from each other as we define ourselves by our jobs, nationalities and political stances rather than our common human identities, The Terminal dares to remind us that bureaucrats who are "just doing their job" are people too; that it's possible to learn important lessons about dealing with people at the precise moment when someone seems most utterly incapable of doing so; and that sometimes the grandest, most self-sacrificing gestures are made by the biggest jerks. In short, this is a film that believes in miracles. And the fact that someone who has both so fully defined the moden-day Hollywood studio system and is as deeply entrenched in it as Spielberg can still make something as sweet, sunny and thoroughly open-hearted as The Terminal may be the biggest miracle of all!… Expand

Spielberg's cinematic magic is ever present, but unfortunately the story's beginning is so unbelievable, that I was unable to suspend my own disbelief to ever truly relax and enjoy myself. I've had my share of nasty customs officials so I know that they can be really bad, but not like this. Otherwise, the characters have an honesty to them that is endearing, even Zeta-Jones'. I was hoping for more, it is Spielberg and probably why I was dissapointed. It was shot masterfully, and is very interesting to look at. … Expand

It had its funny moments, but the overall effect was terribly unsatisfying. The writers tried so hard NOT to give it a "feel good" ending you left the theater with a sense of frustration at all the unresolved issues and loose ends. Hanks did a great job, but the script was too flawed to really work. The most frustrating this is that it could have been so much more!

You're not gonna find a masterpiece here, but you will find a bright, funny and ultimately satisfying movie. It never ceases to entertain. The script does have its flaws but the acting was on the mark. Despite its minor flaws it's definitely worth seeing. I think the people who failed to see any good in it and voted 0 have little or no appreciation for movies and should probably just sit back and pray for a White Chicks 2.… Expand

While its script is somewhat flat and flawed, and some of the gags do not completely work, this film is still delightful and light-hearted enough to make us want to watch it over and over again. Another great performance by Mr. Hanks helps the film go up one step.

Very enjoyable. No sex, violence, or vulgar language, just an enjoyable story. Yes, it's rather absurd as anyone who travels much would know, but it's entertaining, not meant to be a documentary on foreigners traveling to USA. I would love to see more clean, enjoyable movies.

Very enjoyable, easy unexpected laughs. Tom Hanks is superb as usual.

It's a good movie, don't get me wrong, just a loooooooooong and sometimes boring one.

This is definitely one of my all time favorite movies (and this is coming from someone who loves critically loathed summer blockbusters). Great movie to watch before travelling.