Reviews

When a young boy goes to bed doubting the existence of Santa Claus, he has no idea what is install for him that night. His bedroom rumbles as a large train pulls into his front yard and he goes outside to see what could possibly be going on. Should he board the monster? His curiosity gets the best of him and he is off on a roller-coaster adventure that will touch his life forever.

I find it interesting that the only character with an identifiable name is Santa Claus. Even our young hero is called just that, "Hero Boy," in the credits. Other major characters are the Conductor, Hero Girl, Lonely Boy, and Know-It-All. And you know, those identifications are all that is necessary -- nowhere in the film did I need a name for a character to know exactly who was being spoken to or about. More stories could use the same simplicity.

I watched this movie with 7 other people ranging in ages from my 6-year-old niece to her 43-year-old father, and her 76-year-old grandmother. We all loved it and I think you will too -- for we can all stand to return to our childhoods in our hearts.

Tom Hanks is both funny and touching in this 2004 release. The terminal is about a man from the fictional country of Karkozia that is taken over by revolutionaries. Viktor Navorski (Hanks) is stuck in JFK airport because his his home country no longer is recognized by the U.S. so his passport and visa are no good. He can't return home because of the revolution and can't enter the U.S. because of the visa situation. What is created is a sometimes hilarious, sometimes thought provoking film that I was surprised that I enjoyed so much. Many reviewers compared Tom Hank performance to that of Forrest Gump and I have to agree. He can take an out of the ordinary character and make him into someone we laugh WITH and not AT as so many people tend to do with those that are different. Check out this movie and I am sure you won't be disappointed -- I wasn't. (I have since purchased this DVD so I can watch the film repeatedly and share it with others...)

A truly touching movie about two friends who meet as children and keep in touch into adulthood. Bette Midler is great as CC Bloom and sings a great soundtrack including the now classic hit "Wind Beneath My Wings." I really liked this movie and have purchased it both on VHS and DVD and often share it with friends. (I saw it twice in the theater.) Everyone should see this movie.