Terminal
I just finished watching this movie called The Terminal (official website). Some consider it a comedy, I didn't. On contrary, I found it quite moving and a real drama. Yes, there were comic elements in it, but I don't think its creators wanted this movie to be a comedy - or maybe it's just me (save it Josue'!). So, Roger Ebert, I'm seriously doubting your ability to be a movie critic - or perhaps living the good life does not allow one to see the drama in this movie's plot.
I liked it, I really did. Yes, it's a Hollywood movie (no wonder it had a happy ending) but had a lot of "indie" elements in it. And, unlike other movies that are made recently, there were several "lines" (or, for some, "moral of the story") intertwined.
For instance, there was a very powerful one-line that one of the main characters used, "America is closed." Being an immigrant myself, and in light of post 9/11 changes, I thought it was quite meaningful (did someone say "true"?). Isn't this writing somewhere in New York (where the movie takes place) as well?
Ah, the irony... . I could say quite a bit more about this but I better stop here.
For those who travel often (or even occasionally), being stranded in an airport would be the first thing they can relate to - not a pleasant feeling at all I may add. For instance, last year my brother and I were stuck at the Las Vegas airport for a good 12 hours simply because the line waiting to go through security checkpoint went around the whole airport (inside, second floor), and down to the first floor.
The whole idea of coming all the way to the US (and suffer through that months-long stranding) not to find a better life or a dream but simply to keep a promise to his father, was quite meaningful to me. I wonder if anyone from our generation would still do that. We seem to be in a hurry to depart with our parents as soon as possible; if one is over 18 and still lives with one's parents, one is considered a loser. Frankly, I'm not embarrassed to admit it: had I not depart Albania for a better education and life in the US, most likely I'd still be living with my parents.
Another "sad but true" moment in this movie was when the custom's official didn't allow some medicine to go through because it was for someone's dying father. However, the law (according to the movie - I don't know if it's true) allowed medicines if they are intended for animals... .
The line of friendship was evolved as well in this movie - although I'm not sure whether it was friendship or feeling sorry for the main character.
And then, of course, there was love - two of them, actually. The first one was a bit strange: immigration officer accepts to marry someone she never met or knew much (at all!) about. Are arranged marriages still practiced here? The second one involved our main character. Afterall, is there such a thing as a Hollywood movie without a love story involving the main character? Amelia Warren (Catherine Zeta-Jones) seems confused - and that's why I like it (uhm, no, I didn't say her outloud, did I?). I don't want to offend anyone but this confusion thing seems to be quite popular lately. So she is split between running for 7 years after a well-connected (I'm assuming well to-do as well) married gentleman who doesn't seem to love her (but hey, sex is good!) and Viktor (main character) who falls in love immediately (hello, again, Hollywood!). Yes, she chose the married guy. Very un-Hollywood, but oh-so-realistic!
As I mentioned before, I was able to notice several lines in this movie but I'm not going to discuss all of them. Ah, last but not least: I'd like to remind movie writers/directors, etc. to open some world map or a geography book before writing something. There was this taxi driver extra who appeared by the end of the movie. He said he was from Albania. Well, last time I checked, Albanians don't have names like Goran, nor do we speak with a Russian accent.
In conclusion, I'd recommend watching this movie.
I liked it, I really did. Yes, it's a Hollywood movie (no wonder it had a happy ending) but had a lot of "indie" elements in it. And, unlike other movies that are made recently, there were several "lines" (or, for some, "moral of the story") intertwined.
For instance, there was a very powerful one-line that one of the main characters used, "America is closed." Being an immigrant myself, and in light of post 9/11 changes, I thought it was quite meaningful (did someone say "true"?). Isn't this writing somewhere in New York (where the movie takes place) as well?
"Give me your tired, your poor,
| Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, |
| The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. |
| Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me: |
| I lift my lamp beside the golden door. |
Ah, the irony... . I could say quite a bit more about this but I better stop here.
For those who travel often (or even occasionally), being stranded in an airport would be the first thing they can relate to - not a pleasant feeling at all I may add. For instance, last year my brother and I were stuck at the Las Vegas airport for a good 12 hours simply because the line waiting to go through security checkpoint went around the whole airport (inside, second floor), and down to the first floor.
The whole idea of coming all the way to the US (and suffer through that months-long stranding) not to find a better life or a dream but simply to keep a promise to his father, was quite meaningful to me. I wonder if anyone from our generation would still do that. We seem to be in a hurry to depart with our parents as soon as possible; if one is over 18 and still lives with one's parents, one is considered a loser. Frankly, I'm not embarrassed to admit it: had I not depart Albania for a better education and life in the US, most likely I'd still be living with my parents.
Another "sad but true" moment in this movie was when the custom's official didn't allow some medicine to go through because it was for someone's dying father. However, the law (according to the movie - I don't know if it's true) allowed medicines if they are intended for animals... .
The line of friendship was evolved as well in this movie - although I'm not sure whether it was friendship or feeling sorry for the main character.
And then, of course, there was love - two of them, actually. The first one was a bit strange: immigration officer accepts to marry someone she never met or knew much (at all!) about. Are arranged marriages still practiced here? The second one involved our main character. Afterall, is there such a thing as a Hollywood movie without a love story involving the main character? Amelia Warren (Catherine Zeta-Jones) seems confused - and that's why I like it (uhm, no, I didn't say her outloud, did I?). I don't want to offend anyone but this confusion thing seems to be quite popular lately. So she is split between running for 7 years after a well-connected (I'm assuming well to-do as well) married gentleman who doesn't seem to love her (but hey, sex is good!) and Viktor (main character) who falls in love immediately (hello, again, Hollywood!). Yes, she chose the married guy. Very un-Hollywood, but oh-so-realistic!
As I mentioned before, I was able to notice several lines in this movie but I'm not going to discuss all of them. Ah, last but not least: I'd like to remind movie writers/directors, etc. to open some world map or a geography book before writing something. There was this taxi driver extra who appeared by the end of the movie. He said he was from Albania. Well, last time I checked, Albanians don't have names like Goran, nor do we speak with a Russian accent.
In conclusion, I'd recommend watching this movie.
This entry was posted
on Monday, August 29, 2005 at 1:29 AM.
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