Simply terrible - how does this have a 7 out of 10 rating??!!

Rating: 3/10 (13 March 2005)

There are too many faults to list here that would help justify my belief that this film is simply terrible, but if you're interested, just check out the various message boards which list them. Be careful, it's a big list.
The implausible plot turns in this movie would be expected if they were made by rank amateurs, but the writers/director/producers/stars of this film are simply too good for this. Spielberg directed this film? I find it hard to believe. I'm thinking it must be another person with the same name who conned the studio into letting him direct Tom Hanks.
The high rating on IMDb is no doubt due to two facts: 1) Any film with Hanks/Spielberg, regardless of the movie itself, will start at a 6 out of 10 and work it's way up from there. I personally admire both of these men and part of me feels the same way, but I couldn't step over the countless holes in this movie.
2) People who love this film are so desperate for an escape from their otherwise dreary lives that they will buy into every irrational plot development that unfolds. Hottie flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Douglas) falling for a bumbling immigrant? Sure...it's so romantic! What a waste of time....
ebhp