The main problem with the movie

Rating: 7/10 (13 January 2005)

Here is the main problem with "The Terminal": It doesn't know what genre to be. "The Terminal" could have been a funny human comedy, and at times it works well on that level. However, there are times -- because of the absolute absurdity and unbelievability of much of the plot -- the movie sneaks into allegory and symbolism. And that would be fine. At other times, the movie becomes a harsh, realistic satire on immigration and human nature. And again, it could have been a romantic comedy. Had Spielberg picked a genre and stayed, any of those could have worked, but as a hodgepodge of genres, it is strangely unsatisfying.
But the biggest problem is the amazing let down with the jar of peanuts. I was very interested to see what was in it, couldn't wait. "What does Spielberg have in store for me?" I kept thinking. Well, if you have seen the movie, you know how little drama or ethos was in the unveiling.
Great acting, great set (unbelievable, actually), interesting story, badly put together.
A low 7 out of 10, or high 6.