Rating: 
Summary: Spielberg's Splendid Cyberpunk Film
Review: Spielberg's second mature science film after "A. I.", "Minority Report", is not only a splendid homage to Philip Dick, the author of the short story "Minority Report", but may also be the best example so far of cyberpunk literature translated into film. Tom Cruise's character, police chief John Anderton, is a classic example of the loner, or drifter, found in many of William Gibson's early cyberpunk short stories and novels, especially the "Cyberpunk" trilogy depicting the dark, gritty world of the "Sprawl". Here, the screenwriters play tribute to Gibson in referring to Washington D. C.'s ghetto as the "Sprawl", and depicting computers and nanotechnology (e. g. the robot spiders) like those described vividly in Gibson's work and those of Neal Stephenson and Bruce Sterling.Tom Cruise gives the finest performance in his career as John Anderton. It is matched with excellent performances by the young Irish actor Colin Farrell, British actress Samantha Morton, and the venerable Swedish actor Max von Sydow. The supporting cast, featuring the talents of Neal McDonough and Lois Smith among others, is excellent too. John Williams's score for "Minority Report" is as vividly intense as his for "A. I.", and is a far cry musically from those he composed for cinematic blockbusters such as "Jaws", "Jurassic Park" and the "Star Wars" saga. I salute Spielberg for his excellent directing; his first foray into the realm of adult film noir, in the guise of a near future cyberpunk thriller. It is as thrilling a film as the first "Jurassic Park" movie or "Jaws", but easily transcends both with its adult depiction of crime and the meaning of individuality. Without question, this has to be considered as one of the finest films of 2002.
Rating:
Summary: Ranks among Spielberg's best
Review: Steven Spielberg once again show us he's not out of tricks in his bag. From the man who invented heart warming blockbusters comes another adult sci-fi teaser which, like his previous A.I.:Artificial Intelligence, is quite amazing, but this one even to a new level. Whatever the reason for Spielberg's sudden launch into dark, mature science-fiction, I like it. Unlike the much talked about and much cheered and jeered A.I. (I myself think it's brilliant) Minority Report really knows where it's going and it's almost as if the previous venture was a test that has finally payed off. This future is fully realized and the technology is quite insane. It's a future of wild amazement, but yet it's strangely familiar. Jon Anderton, played here perfectly by Tom Cruise (whom I have a new found respect for) is a divorced, drug addict who is still trying to recover from his son's kidnapping over 5 years ago. He's the main man down at pre-crime, where they solve crimes before they happen thanks to 3 'pre-cogs' who can see the future (well, at least the murderous future). The system is perfect, perfect that is until Anderton sees himself in one of the visions. Here's where we're set into a whirlwind of chases and mystery. Anderton feels he's being set up by a federal agent suspicious of the pre-crime division, Danny Witwer (played excellently by Coln Farell). Pre-crime has the chance to go to the national level, but Witwer is out to stop it but he doesn't know what he's up against or gotten himself into. Without getting into too many details, Spielberg has spun a spider's web of twists and turns that make the movie fly by. The effect work done by George Lucas's ILM is once again seamless, especially when a squad of mechanical, retina reading spiders are launched after Anderton. Sure, the ending is typical Spielberg warmth (you know it's coming, enjoy it) but everything before it is a classic film ranking among Spielberg's best and that's about as good as it gets.
Rating: 
Summary: Everybody Runs...
Review: It is the year 2054. Detective John Anderton (Tom Cruise) works for pre-crime, a new agency designed to prevent all killings and murder in the District of Columbia. John believes in the system, it is perfect. But just a few days before the spreading of Pre-Crime all over the States, something unexpected happens. The three pre-cogs of Pre-Crime foresee the murder of a certain Leo Crowe by none other than John Anderton! Not even knowing who the victims is, John flees to try to unravel the mystery. Little does he know that as he begins to dig up the past, he discovers the unthinkable, that the system is not as perfect as he believes... I went to see "Minority Report" just recently with high expectations for it. From all I've heard from the reviews, I was all up and ready to finally see it. I was at first VERY discouraged at the opening sequence which was to me undeniable scary, but as the film progressed I found myself very intrigued by the interesting and well-thought out plot, the exciting and breathtaking action, and body tensing suspense. Steven Spielberg again does a marvelous job as the director of the film. But the film was all Tom Cruise's as each and every scene he gives such a strong role as John Anderton. He acts exceptionally well and gives a great performance with lots of character development. Also knowing that he did most of his stunts also earned a bit more respect from me. Another performance which cannot be passed by without mentioning was Colin Farrell as Witwer. Though he is somewhat like the bad guy at first, I really loved his role. Also starring is Max von Sydow as the Director of Pre-Crime, Lamar Burgess, and Samantha Morton as the pre-cog, Agatha. The plot is what really makes the movie so mesmerizing. I thought the whole story was well-thought out and the whole idea about Pre-Crime is interesting. At some points the story seemed a bit like it was dragging but was soon picked up with lots of action and suspense. When the movie finally tells why John Anderton was supposed to kill Leo Crowe, I was shocked! The conclusion for me was very satisfying though some have said it was a bit disappointing. Not your usual happy ending but was in a way still satisfying. The effects and action sequences were very well done. I loved all of the futuristic gadgets and new technology, especially the cars, advertisements, using the eyes for identification, and more. The action scenes were also very exciting. I especially liked the part where Tom Cruise was being chased down by his fellow agents in the alley. But the movie for me did have its disappointments. For a PG-13 movie I thought that the people stretched the limitations to the very edge, making me wonder if the movie was really rated R. Like I said, the opening sequence was undeniable scary and a bit grotesque. And though it does get a bit better, the movie has its scary moments and some parts were very violent. In addition, some scenes were unnecessary and should have been cut out. Hence my reason for taking off one star, but only one star since the acting, directing, and story give a five star movie. So my recommendation is to try renting the movie before buying it. And if you can't handle scary or violent movies, I suggest you stay away from "Minority Report". But if you're looking for excitement where you can actually think through the movie, check this movie out!
Rating: 
Summary: Spinach In Its Teeth
Review: Nothing depresses me more than incredible talent wasted. This film should have been the new-millenium "Blade Runner." Philip K. Dick gave so much great (science) fiction to the world - having that work rendered on screen badly is agony. This film joins "A.I." on my list of films that snatched mediocrity from the jaws of brilliance. Tom Cruise gives a great performance as John Anderton, chief of the Precrime unit of the Washington, D.C. police force. Anderton is very good at his job tracking down murderers before they kill based on the semiconscious visions of three "pre-cogs". He is the classic noir-hero, with dark clouds in his past shadowing his present. Suddenly, the world he knows turns against him when his name comes up as a "pre criminal" and he is set on the run from his own unit to try and prove he has no intention of murdering anyone, let alone the mysterious "Mr. Crow" whom he does not know. So far, so good. The laws of the 2054 universe are laid out - precrime, drug addiction, pop-culture - for the audience to see and appreciate. A believable, immersive universe is key to selling good fiction, especially science fiction. Why oh why then does Mr. Spielberg, arguably the most powerful man in Hollywood, allow his well acted, technically brilliant, intriguing film get sunk halfway through by a plot hole big enough to drive a truck through? In a less powerful director, I'd accept the possibility of studio meddling. Here, it's all Mr. S. Early on in the film, retinal scans are established as a means to identify people in cars, on public transportation, and (in one of the more memorable sequences) in public places for advertisements to target individuals by name ("Hey, John Anderton, welcome back to the Gap!") Much is made of the difficulty in avoiding the police without somehow "forging" a retinal scan. MINOR SPOILER WARNING Why then would our hero get an eye transplant to avoid detection, then carry his original eyes around so he can (successfully!) break into police headquarters top secret facility to obtain evidence to help his cause? Why wouldn't his retina set off every alarm in the place? END SPOILER There isn't even an attempt to explain this. I tried to keep the bile down and stay with Anderton, and it almost worked, but Mr. Spielberg couldn't leave well enough alone. He felt the need to imitate two high-profile cinematic train wrecks - "Vanilla Sky" and his own "A.I." As we follow Anderton to his confrontation with "Mr. Crow", careful viewers will guess Crows' significance, as well as the fact that the point isn't who Crow is, but who Anderton is. Mr. Crow, it turns out, isn't the vehicle for Andertons' self-discovery - he's "tech support" from "Vanilla Sky", a talking piece of scenery who offers ridiculous amounts of exposition to explain the sudden emergence of the heretofore (thankfully) minor "main plot". Anderton is now looking for another murderer, who was alluded to earlier in the film no doubt as a way to link the brilliant plot of the first half of the film (inconsistency excepted) with the formulaic drivel of the films' last hour. This hour is akin to "A.I." after the discovery of the Blue Fairy - un unwelcome coda to wrap up a plot that should be finished and pave way for the - you guessed it - standard Spielberg Happy Ending. "E.T." deserved the redemptive happy ending. It was Mr. Spielbergs work, it reflected his aesthetic, and it was a wonderful film in and of itself. Drafting that kind of saccharine onto "Minority Report" is akin to having Humphrey Bogart get on the plane at the end of "Casablanca". Unfortunately, the massive reality hole around the retinal scan and the "Frankenplot" graft in the last hour made Tom Cruise' excellent performance and the technical wizardry of the special effects and cinematography completely irrelevant. Lipstick on a pig. Too bad.
Rating:
Summary: Minority Report - will age well in time (like Blade Runner)
Review: Saw the movie today so can now comment - VERY GOOD!. Others have commented on plot being predictable - but for this immersive movie you feel like JohnA rather than the viewer so that is irrelevant. Others have commented that it's very shallow and does not explore the quandries and problems in 2054 - I disagree. It provides the perfect vehicle for us to go back and discuss for ourselves, as did BR. Steven's use of a futurist team as part of preproduction has obviously helped the movie - things we hear about separately today as being possible have come to life. The product placement is goodness and realistic - if you look at internet surfing today it's obvious that brands will be so pervasive in the future. They're the main points and I'm sure I'll think of plenty more as I replay in my mind.. Anton.
Rating:
Summary: Worth Owning
Review: Excellent little scifi action romp, with fine performances all around. There are a few holes in the plot, but you really won't care once the film gets rolling.
Rating: 
Summary: lousy, boring, and underdone
Review: I was truly disappointed in this movie. I had such hopes, and with Steven doing the directing how could it go wrong? It needed a little more schindlers list, and a little less humor, though. It was distracting to be in the midst of an exciting chase/action scene that would be broken up with a scene aimed at humor. Why did he bother? And the ending? I won't give it away, but it ruined the whole thing. The only ending I am looking forward to is the ending of Tom Cruises career. Many said he acted very well in this movie, but I wasn't moved at all. I tried to watch this lousy waste of time 3 times before sitting through it for a whole performance, and I still can't figure out why I bothered. The biggest mystery in the movie is dispelled too soon, and the only mystery left is why people would tell their friends to spend 8 dollars to see it at the theater. I can't wait for it to come out on DVD--I need a new coaster for my coffee table.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant in every way.
Review: I absolutely loved this movie. The plot is extremely original and captivating, and the acting is excellent. It is essentially a philosophical film -- it goes MUCH deeper than the great adventure story that it is on the surface, and the things it makes you think about (such as the whole question of justice) are highly apropos to what is going on in the world today. The special effects are amazing (personally I feel like we're getting very spoiled with movies and/or over-stimulated in general, since many people apparently don't appreciate HOW amazing these special effects are!!). I often don't like sci-fi movies unless they deal enough with relationships/ the "human" side of things, and this is one of my all-time favorite sci-fi movies. It is satisfying on every level. I also liked the fact that while it deals with tough philosophical issues and the plot (of course) includes disturbing events, it does not toy with your emotions so much that it is overly upsetting to watch. It is clearly not primarily meant to shock or disturb, but to make you think. Simply a wonderful story that has been wonderfully told.
Rating:
Summary: Spielberg's Minority Report is nothing like he has ever done
Review: The year is 2054 and a system has been made to stop crimes before they are comitted. Steven Spielberg takes a huge U turn on his way of filming for Minority Report. For true Spielberg fans watching this movie feels weird. I have been a fan a Spielberg since his extraordinary work on Jurassic Park. People who are familiary with his work know that he always takes any old simple plot and makes it a box office succes. His movies are ground braking. But, In Minority Report the film has it's grand special effects of ILM but, the film feels like it is directed by a new teen director. Minority Report has an "ACTION GENRE" title by it. Unlike other Spielberg films which have the words "SCI-FI ACTION ADVENTURE".
It seems as though Spielberg wants to go to a new way of filming. The movie does not seem to be a movie that after the trailer it will say a STEVEN SPIELBERG film. Overall the movie is wonderous.It has stunning special effects. And director of photography Janusz Kaminski (The Lost World, A.I.) adds the correct tone with perfect lighting. The gadgets that are apart of this movie are wonderful. And I hope LEXUS really does release that car because I want it. Tom Cruise did pretty good for his first Spielberg film. I woud'nt mine seeing him in another. Colin Farell delivers a wonderful performance. The sets are magnificent. The story is a little hard to follow at the end. Maybe oscar winning screenwriter Akiva Goldsman ( A Beautiful Mind) does a good job adapting Memoir of Geisha Spielbergs next project. Washington D.C. is pretty good looking. There is a lot of blood in the movie (mainly in the begining). Even though it says PG-13 I would say you must be 13 or older to watch it. It's rated PG-13 for violence,thematic elements, sexual content ,and drug reffrences( I think it should be R). I'm only thirteen what do I know but, if your a Spielberg fan it's a little on the down side overall it was pretty good and I'm going to get it when it comes out on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Astonishing cinema sci-fi!
Review: Any viewer who's attended cinema sci-fi retro festivals knows they inevitably comprise four films (FORBIDDEN PLANET; 2001: SPACE ODYSSEY; DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL;WAR OF THE WORLDS). Jockeying commences: TIME MACHINE; INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS; ALIEN(s)often rounds-out the week...with THIS ISLAND EARTH or EARTH VS THE FLYING SAUCERS contending as back benchers. The point is...looking back over 50 years of cinema... great sci-fi is very DIFFICULT to make. (TRON is special case of recently re-regarded technical virtuosity.) Ironically the most certain additon to the narrow hall of undisputed sci-fi fame is BLADE RUNNER. It ran 10 days when released in 1982.Only now is the original (Non-Directors'Cut; 1st Person/Harrison Ford narrated) version being acclaimed milestone in story telling; art design;and visual fx it is. The second point is,in my estimate,MINORITY REPORT is of this ilk. Steven Spielberg has done an incredible job of (again) rendering Philip K. Dick's daring and dangerous visions of the human condition. THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE; THE DIVINE INVASION await the same kind of acomplished, directorial audacity Ridley Scott demonstrated in BLADE RUNNER and Spielberg manifests here. MINORITY world of 2054 is astoundingly rendered,but never allowed to ostentatiously overwhelm this challenging,thought-provoking tale of endangered humanity framed in(very)high-tech "police procedural". Multiple ironies of plot have been discussed elsewhere; as has been marvelous acting...especially by Tom Cruise as Chief Anderton, Fugitive of the Future; and Samantha Morton,as Agatha,the clairvoyant PRE-COG... The "purple-haze" glare much of the film is photographed-in creates--as BLADE RUNNER--ambience of INHUMAN "weather/whether" many Philip K. Dick stories predict and pose: Can HUMANITY survive forays into its own limits...if it recognizes None? In BLADE RUNNER, Replicant Nexus 6-- playing both Lucifer and Arch-Angel Michael--defends mankind against itself(arrogance of its gods of genetic engineering).A considered viewing of MINORITY REPORT will remind that Danny Wertwir--Cruise's antagonist,played by Colin Farrel--is son of a minister; ex-seminarian; and carries a "sacramental cross" the way Anderton wears his Pre-Crime Commander's badge. The "old" God has not yet been surpassed by PM adepts like Max Von Sydow. Or has HE? What are consequences of this WHETHER/MINORITY REPORT if HE has? Again: This is astonishing film employing full panoply of state-of-the-art wonders to tell a wonderous story; to give--in what amounts to THREE DIFFERENT ENDINGS---wonderous answers; and to pose a multiplicity of dazzlingly unanswered questions!(7 Stars)
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