1、Name: Class:Date:The Terminal of HappinessThe Terminal is a sweet and delicate comedy which makes you hold your breath and smiles with tears. It always can bring big laughs, but it never seems to make an effort for them. The movie is Spielbergs tale of an almost childlike innocent and initially impr
2、esses as an extraordinary gamble for mainstream American filmmakers because Spielberg were to make a movie in 2004 where there is no sex, no violence and with a plot so homespun. However, its a film of quietly effective performances.The Terminal is supposedly based on the true story of an Iranian ma
3、n who camped out at an airport in Paris. In this film airport is changed to the JFK International Airport and the protagonist is a visitor named Viktor Navorski (Tom Hanks) from a fictitious small Eastern European country that was taken over in a coup while he was airborne. Therefore his passport an
4、d visa are worthless, because his country no longer exists, he cannot go forward or go back. In other words, he is only free to remain in the International Arrivals Lounge, forbidden to step foot on American soil. Although in the real world, Viktor would be declared a political refugee and all sorts
5、 of U.S. and international authorities would become involved in his case.Dixon, the customs and immigrations official, goes by the rules, but he has no great love of the rules. Sometimes the rules are cruel, but he takes no joy in the cruelty. At first, Dixon wants Navorski spontaneously out of the
6、terminal because Viktors situation is an exception. Actually Dixons plan is to pass Navorski on to another jurisdiction such as FBI and NYPD which will take the matter out of his hands if he leaves the airport. But Viktor has no guile, no hidden motives, and no suspicion of others. He wants to acces
7、s to America through the legal system, so he refuses to break the law. Later Dixon offers him political asylum. “Are you afraid of returning to your country?“ Unexpectedly he is determinate to say “Not afraid,“ He is unwilling to betray to his homeland even just lie. At the end, he seems to become a
8、 permanent resident of the terminal.In the terminal, Viktor shows remarkable ingenuity in making it a habitable place and learning English, at the same time, impresses the terminal staff with his generosity and indomitable spirit. Viktor helps the food deliver man to woo an attractive immigration of
9、ficer; makes friends with an East Indian caretaker, who waxes a floor to make people slip for laughs; wins a great reputation through help a Russian get pills to save his father by lying to the customer official but still abbey the regulation. Be touched by Viktor, the staff assists him when he fall
10、s for an exceptionally pretty flight attendant (Catherine Zeta-Jones) who is trapped in a hopeless affair with a slick married man who somehow meets her in the departure lounge without a ticket. There are several parts unsatisfied. At the beginning, Spielberg shows his racial discrimination on Chine
11、se travelers. As a big director, he shouldnt show his outlook on some sensitive topic which may make a bad effect on international relationship. The film as a whole offers a sense of closure, but two subplots are left frustratingly unresolved. Whats the way to make up the leak of the Customs system?
12、 Why the flight attendant cant have a happy ending? Then there are the product placements, and they are all over the place. Audients recently complained about the same kind of commercialism, but its worse here. Burger King, Sbarro, Borders, Starbucks. Nearly every kind of establishment to have a foo
13、thold in an airport gets plenty of screen time. Of course, with all of the fast food Viktor eats, one has to wonder whether Morgan Spurlock will suddenly show up with his Super Size Me cameras. Although it becomes increasingly sentimental and whimsical in its final act with a climax thats so sacchar
14、ine and movie-ish, unfortunately, its almost harder to swallow than the films relentless, shameless product placement. Yet for all its faults, “The Terminal“ could turn out to be 2004s triumphant piece of summer counter-programming: a gentle alternative to noisy kid-oriented action flicks, raucous c
15、omedies and the agitprop of “Fahrenheit 9/11.“ There is humanity in its humor that reminds you of sequences in Chaplin or Keaton where comedy and sadness find a fragile balance.About freedomJFK International Airport is a microcosm of American society, customs agents are redeemable bureaucrats, and f
16、oreign travelers are resourceful innocents. Spielberg gives some quick, weak stabs at political topicality. “when he rushed to the snowy New York City, all airport staff celebrates for his unwavering will to fulfill his fathers dream, not for American freedom in orally or so-called democratic.” (Zhu
17、 Xubin)About ordinary“The Terminal is not a big-scene movie with a heroic protagonist worshiped by the publics. There is only ordinary person with a warm-heart to help others. The film manipulates an active life attitude-Never give up and keep optimistic-through such a living-loving ordinary people.
18、” (Gu Li 61-65)About destiny“Amelia mentioned that Napoleon gives Josephine a necklace as wedding present with the word destiny on its back. Destiny might is held in everyones hand, but sometimes its not like that. We cant control, change, and choose just like Amelia finally chooses to stay with her
19、 troublesome love. Destiny is a complicated philosophy, so the film has not an all-satisfied ending.” (Guo Shilei，Zhang Nannan096-097)About waitingWaiting is a kind of belief. After long times waiting, Viktor fulfills his fathers will; sees the peace of his country; accesses to America; waits for th
20、e opportunity to go home. But happiness hasnt the final terminal, so we should wait with aspiration.I like to use the conversation between Viktor and Amelia to end my paper.I have to go. I have to stay.Story of my life.Me too.We are all travelers of this world.Bibliography郭石磊，张楠楠，评影片幸福终点站，电影文学，长 春 电 影 集 团 期 刊出 版 有 限 公 司 ,2010Gu Li. “The Terminal.” New Oriental English, Listening & Speaking, 319.4 (2005):60-65.Zhu Xubin. “Waiting in Travel.” Mtime. 2006. 28 June. 2006
