Rating: 
Summary: Better than "Minority Report"; This is PKD for celluloid!!
Review: The first thing that struck me about this film is that it should've done better than it did. Based on Philip K Dick's short story, "Impostor" delivers the goods, surpassing this summer's other PKD celluloid offering, "Minority Report", in every aspect. Gary Sinise, Vincent D'Onofrio, Mekhi Pfifer, & Madeleine Stowe all turn in top-notch performances, & Gary Fleder's direction is absolutely sublime.One of the intriguing things about the Director's Cut DVD is that it features the original 38-minute short film (essentially the first 25 & last 13 minutes of the theatrical version), which was originally to be the linchpin in a trilogy of sci-fi short movies (and was, I believe, released as such in Japan). The higher-ups at Dimension were so pleased with the results that they gave the go-ahead to make it a full blown feature (kind of a shame for the other two movies), & rightly so. The film doesn't concentrate so much on the futuristic aspects as the characters, which is what PKD's writing was all about. No doubt, "Impostor" will get lost in the shuffle of all the hoopla surrounding the somewhat inferior "Minority Report", which is a shame. This film deserves to be given a fair shake.
Rating:
Summary: expectations surpassed...
Review: My boyfriend rented this movie, and because I love scifi and Vincent D'Onofrio, I decided to check it out. The direction and artistry of the film are excellent. At first I was a little skeptical of the premise: aliens have the technology to come to Earth to take over but aren't technologically sophisticated enough to just wipe out us earthlings without much of a fight; but I was able to suspend my disbelief and get into the story and the questions it poses. Comparissons have been drawn between this film and Blade Runner, the Fugitive, and even Twelve Monkeys, but the film that comes to my mind is A.I. because it poses many of the same metaphysical questions, such as what is the nature of existence, what is the soul, and even what is life. I thought the acting was excellent and I liked the way the lines between the good guys and the bad guys were very hazy indeed. As I said we rented the movie but I am purchasing it now. It is a movie that should be watched more than once.
Rating: 
Summary: Solid and entertaining adaption of Dick's story
Review: It's a pretty common theme in Dick's work; it's an inversion of Hitchcock's "wrong man" theme. Imposter works best when Sinise, D'Onfrio and Stowe are on screen. Sinise gives one of his most sincere, powerful performances since Of Mice and Men (nearly a decade ago) and Truman. D'Onfrtio acts as the perfect foil to Sinise's brilliant scientist. The plot essentially boils down to this: Sinise plays a weapons designer who has come up with a device that could obliterate the alien enemy (much like the atomic bomb with the Japanese during WWII). He's the ultimate insider with his doubts about the ethical and moral decision to develop and use the device. D'Onfrio plays a the future equivelent of an FBI agent. He believes that Sinise's character has been murdered and replaced by a Cyborg with a mission to kill the leader of Earth. If the Fugitive like plot plays out like something you've seen before, keep in mind that there are enough plot twists and turns ahead to keep it interesting. Remember, there are, after all, only 36 dramatic situations and variations on these themes. Imposter just happens to use one that's very familiar and invert many of the expectations. If the film plays a little too long given its plot, keep in mind that this was originally developed as 1/3 of a triology of short films (the original short is included with the feature version). That and the fact that the script passed through at least 6 different writers' hands (four of whom are credited) might explain some of the minor plot holes. On the whole when Imposter works it works very well. Director Gary Fedler (Kiss The Girls) keeps the pace brisk and scenes short and to the point. Most of the optical effects are outstanding (although it's clear during the narrative set up at the beginning that the budget was quite thin at that point. The opticals don't quite measure up to some of the later visual effects. Imposter is a faithful adaption of Dick's short story (right down to the ending played with a slight variation that Dick would have loved). Although not as visually stunning or groundbreaking as Blade Runner, the narrative flow of Imposter is stronger than that classic film (although there are a few plot contrivances that are distracting). None of the adaptions of Dick's stories have been flawless (much like Dick's work itself). Dick's themes are intact: What makes us who we are; how do we define our reality and what qualities separate us from our machines? I belive over time that Imposter will turn out much like Blade Runner: that classic film was blasted by critics and disliked by much of the audience. Its reputation has grown with time and the advantage that video provides with reviewing a film. Imposter may lack much of the groundbreaking visual style of Blade Runner but it more than makes up for it with a strong narrative flow. Sure, the film is flawed but then so it Steve Spielberg's very good (if overpraised) adaption of Dick's Minority Report. What's most important about Imposter is the fact that it's a serious look at Dick's existential themes in a formula film. The twists and turns of Dick's original plot have been kept (or embellished) making the film entertaining. Between the outstanding cast, taunt direction, a well written (if padded) script and very good visual effects, Imposter manages to make a powerful statement about the nature of who we are in an entertaining sf format. 3 1/2 stars.
Rating: 
Summary: And The Chase Goes On . . .
Review: As revealed in the featurette of this DVD, "Impostor" was meant to be one story of a three-story anthology flick, but the studio was so impressed that they opted to expand the film into feature length. In fact, along with a trailer, the short film is included as an extra, and your time might be better spent just watching that rather than the entire film. There are some good sci-fi ideas here, but the padding sticks out (even before you watch the short). Mix "Blade Runner" with "The Fugitive" and here's your film (minus a zero sign in the budget). Gary Sinise does his usual solid job as a top-level weapons designer who may or may not be a walking-bomb cyborg, but Madeline Stowe is underused, and her role is a bit too similiar to the one she portrayed in "Twelve Monkeys." Vincent D'Onofrio rages as Sinise's hunter. One note: If you get deja vu while watching the opening prologue, don't be surprised. As evidenced by the closing credits, the filmmakers lifted bits from "Starship Troopers," "Gattaca," and even "Hope And Glory" (gee, taking a bomb hit from a World War II flick) to set up their story.
Rating:
Summary: The Original Short Film is the prize of this DVD!
Review: A very close adaptation to Philip K. Dick's 1953 short story, the original short film was later expanded (more like bloated) to a theatrical length, and it shows. Although the short film is missing the CGI effects of Industrial Light & Magic that is displayed in the theatrical version, the presence of a fine cast and tight, flowing script make this short film the reason to buy this DVD. A must for any PKD fan.
Rating:
Summary: one of the best endings all time
Review: Bladerunner meets terminator.
this is truly 1 of the best films ive seen this year.
great story and cool special effects.
the only thing i missed was more background info of the aleins.
a must see movie if you like sci fi
Rating: 
Summary: Great beginning and ending.
Review: Gary Sinise is a scientist on the run in this fast-paced, futuristic sci-fi thriller about an ordinary man accused of being an alien impostor. The film features a great beginning before losing steam (and plot) after an hour, but regains its footing with a knockout twist-ending finale. Among its pros also include a terrific performance from Sinise and impressive visual effects. Gary Fleder's direction is overdone, however, but not enough to distract from the suspense.
*** 1/2 out of *****
Rating:
Summary: Saved from utter forgettability by Sinise's strong performan
Review: For those of us who look back fondly on the good old days of science fiction, when movie setups were straightforward and understandable and didn't consume almost the whole movie, involuted puzzlers like this one may never be our favorite movies. We remember fondly those simple set ups that let us sit back and enjoy an edge-of-your-seat main body of the movie, culminating in a definitive ending. This more contemporary thriller is about an assassin sent from another solar system to kill a major world political leader on Earth. The way this assassin operates is to take over someone else's body and sneak in undetected under that person's identity. Things get really complicated when it becomes darned near impossible to tell if someone is his or her real self or an imposter assassin. It seems that all but the last minute or less of this film is setup. Then by the time the short climax comes, things are so contorted and ambiguous that the movie leaves us quite confused. Sometimes endings are ambiguous and that can be effective as a plot device. But when it's ambiguous as to whether things are even ambiguous or not, that leaves me longing a bit for the good old days. What does make this movie more satisfying that many another modern convoluted thriller is Gary Sinise's strong performance. Given the material he had to work with, he handles it at least as well as in some of his previous impressive roles, as in APOLLO 13 and FORREST GUMP. As the lead in this case, he keeps our interest, even as the plot at some times becomes exasperatingly elusive.
Rating:
Summary: great movie...for pkd fans...
Review: really any story from pkd is great and to be able to see it on the big screen is even better, if it wasnt for the interesting story i dont know if id give it 4 stars but come on, its better than most of the typical hollywood crap like snow dogs and oceans 11...
Rating:
Summary: I'VE SEEN MUCH WORSE!!
Review: Being a Sci. Fi. buff, I go see them all! From the days of the spitting- smoking- cigar- trailing -off -into- the- universe-to the movie that changed all of that fake photography, (Kubricks) 2001: A Space Odyessey. Sci. Fi., began after that date in 1967. And most Directors who use space travel, have got to be weighed against that standard. So I tend to judge on how much tech. the movie puts out and how well they do it.
P. K. Dick wrote this short story in 1953. And it relates to a short story in the movie. Earth is at war with the Alpha Centaurians and have been for 40,some years. Cities or under dome shields and the bombardment from the Centaurians is almost daily. There are those who inhabit the outer-areas, and they live by the code of the wild. Most are sick from radiation. Dr. Olham (Gary Sinise) "Truman","Apppolo 13", has developed a weapon so strong that if deployed would alter the outcome of the war.
Hathaway, (Vinvent D'Onofrio) "The Velocity of Gary", "The Cell", is head of the secret service in charge of capturing centaurians'- human replicants', they send to sabotage Earths leaders. Olham shows up on an intercepted message from the Alpha Cent. as a designated replicant. He is arrested and then escapes and the hunt is on. Mrs. Olham( Madeline stowe) "12 Monkey's",'Last of The Mohigans', is a Dr. at the vet hospital. And in the end tries to help her husband prove his innocence! Wild cinematography, and solid acting. The end u can fill in from ur own Sci. FI., past. Ciao yaaah69
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