The Terminal is a movie of a classy sort. The kind where you walk out of the theater floating on a cloud because the world isn't all that bad at all. Then again, we're matching Steven Spielberg directing with Tom Hanks acting. So when has that duo ever gone wrong (Cast Away, Catch Me If You Can)? Hanks is an Eastern European immigrant, stranded at JFK airport because his country is in limbo. Stanley Tucci is the airport head honcho who at first can't have Hanks wandering around his terminal, but then can't seem to rid him. Stranded, penniless, friendless, this is movie that starts from scratch. But when you're Tom Hanks, it's not hard to get up and running and have the entire airport service workers (and entire audience) rooting for you. Catherine Zeta-Jones portrays a love interest, but it's downplayed enough not to veer the movie in the wrong direction. You really can't go wrong (though a little cliched) with a movie and movie-team like this.
GRADE: A-
Absolutely incredible! Terminator 3 is so so so immensely impressive and thrilling. Let's start with logistics: John Connor (Nick Stahl) is now twentysomething and living as though judgement day (the day the machines take over) has passed, but still fearing it's possibility. Then the T-X (insanely lifeless and stoic Kristanna Loken) transports to the present from the future; her/its sole mission to destroy Connor and his future lieutenants, which includes a fiesty veternarian Kate Brewster (Claire Danes). T-101 (Arnold Schwarzenegger) returns to protect both Connor and Brewster. Ok, now to the good stuff. The movie starts out with some very minute background (or foreground? they talk about the future). Then it's the most intense car chase scene EVER! No limits, nothing held back, no mercy. Director Jonathan Mostow goes out to destroy a good portion of a Southern California city. I mean, he obliterates it! He's got this huge big rig chasing a veternary truck and all these local PD and fire department vehicles being controlled by the T-X. And this lasts a good 15 minutes! You are sitting there, at first thinking, great action scene, then it's going on and on and EVERYTHING is being destroyed. Arnold is being thrashed through cars, concrete, you-name-it! When all is said and done (which is not even half an hour into the movie), you still can't sit easy because that deranged T-X is still out with a purpose. The movie takes some time to acquaint us with Brewster's role and we learn more about what is to come. Without going into too much detail (the movie explains everything in a very nice and clear, undogmatic way), Terminator 3 was directed, performed, and executed in perfect line with it's predecessors despite being tagged with a different director. I think the movie ends very fittingly should there be or not be a sequel. It definitely gives itself room for a sequel (though how Arnold plays a main role in it seems questionable), but also allows itself to end with perfect speculation as how humanity will play out. If you are going to watch an action film this year (and don't want to think about philosophy and "what is the matrix"), watch T3.
GRADE: A
This movie has the ingredients for a lot of punch, but comes up very short. Kate Beckinsale is the rampant vampire, Selene, who hunts the streets of pseudo-New York for werewolves. Her hunts turn curious when the werewolves begin to target human beings, in particular Michael Corvin (Scott Speedman). It's a centuries old war between vampire and werewolves that is headed for a showdown. So, Underworld could easily be a stylistic, action film with the love story riding in the undercurrent. Yet, Beckinsale doesn't come off as the hardcore death dealer she's supposed to be. Maybe it's the casting, but this movie never quite reaches its potential. In fact, some scenes come out as downright corny. And that's not good for a dark action, fantasy movie.
GRADE: C 
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