i had heard mixed reviews about steven spielberg’s film, but i felt largely satisfied after finally watching it the other day. i think what i liked most about it was that it was fun to watch. with mainly dramas catching the attention of audiences and the academy, it’s nice to find a sweet “dramedy”, if you will, that blends the two genres rather nicely.

in the past, i had always been a firm believer that tom hanks was an overrated actor specifically chosen for dramatic roles that would win him and his films many awards. after seeing this film — and catching hanks’s recent appearances on various talk shows — i have sort of switched my view of him. i missed the comedic element that used to be part of his acting, but, with movies like the terminal and the polar express, he is quickly re-emerging as the funny guy with contagious humour.

the storyline in the terminal blends many mini-episodes of romance, cultural conflict, familial issues, and friendship, and it does so in a way that isn’t too far-fetched. the film simply leaves you feeling good inside. the ending was a bit odd with catherine zeta-jones’s character, but, for the most part, spielberg captures a warm conclusion to viktor’s adventure.