Rating: 
Summary: Roller Coaster Ride
Review: Spielberg's "Minority Report" is a riviting roller coaster ride. The DVD version with the extra disc shows how much care and thought went into developing each shot sequence. Spielberg hired a team of futurists to help project what might be the reality in 2054 when this film is set. As a result, we have magnetic cars that can climb up the sides of buildings and park right next to your living room. Tom Cruise does a good job of working as the precrime director, until the precogs detail that he will commit a murder. The supporting roles are well done. Samantha Morton who was in Woody Allen's "Sweet & Lowdown" with Sean Penn does an excellent job as the elf-like precog Agatha whose "minority report" regarding the death of her mother is the trigger to make the plot spin apart. TV stars have great supporting parts as "The Practice" has both Steve Harris and Spielberg's stepdaughter Jessica Capshaw as crime cops as well as Boomtown's Neal McDonough. Colin Farrell who blew me away in "Phone Booth" does a great American accent as Danny Witwer. Kathryn Morris has a multi-leveled role as Cruise's wife. Lois Smith who was Aunt Meg in "Twister" does a spooky job as Dr. Iris Hineman; although why she kisses Cruise on the lips remained a mystery to me. Max von Sydow's Lamar Burgess is brooding and deceiptful. Philip K. Dick's short story brings interesting themes about personal privacy, identity theft and intrusion into our homes to the fore which make this a film with issues that affect us in the present. Spielberg attempted a film noir style which he achieved with the stark cinematography. Hearing the detail of air boosters the cops wore to fly makes you appreciate the complexity of the staging. My impression is that this is an Alfred Hitchcock-style thriller set in the future with a high-tech film noir look. This is a great rainy day film to have in your collection. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: Complex Sci-Fi tale with beautiful Spielbergian futurism
Review: Steven Spielberg translates a short story by the late Science Fiction legend Philip K. Dick to the big screen. Tom Cruise stars as John Anderton, a policeman from the Pre-Crime division of 2054 Washington, DC. Anderton's division uses future visions of murders from three waterbound "precogs" to arrest the perps before they commit the crime. No one can successfully commit premeditated murders anymore in the DC area without being caught, so all murders are the sudden, "act of passion" variety. When a precog's vision shows that Anderton himself will commit the next murder, he flees, expecting a conspiratorial set-up, and the chase is on through Spielberg's version of the future, where technology is shown to be fascinating and wonderful. The complex nature of the plot may be hard to follow and off-putting to those unaccustomed to the machinations of complex Science Fiction, but the images of the future's advertising and transportation technologies are compelling and realistic. The film also provides an opportunity to see one of the greatest living actors, Max Von Sydow, in a bigtime Hollywood action flick.
Rating: 
Summary: Spielberg goes cyberpunk
Review: I'll skip summarizing the story of this film, as other Amazon reviewers have done that quite well. I'll just state that I only give 5 stars to a film that I'd want to watch again, that surprised and entertained me, and that held my attention and sucked me into its world. These are things Spielberg usually does quite well, but in this case "Minority Report" does not look or feel anything at all like a Spielberg film until the very final wrapup scenes post action.First, the whole 2-1/2 hours is loaded with futuristic glimpses of a society whose technological fast forward has gone into hyperdrive. There are so many of these ideas put forth that if you'll blink you'll miss one or two---even if you're using your own eyes and not someone else's that you bought on the black market. Where many SF films insert two or three such ideas, and usually milk them for all they're worth, Spielberg's writers have so many that some just blink by the corner of your eye (again, whosever are in use). The story is compelling, and so fast-paced you have to really pay close attention in several places or you'll lose track. For some viewers that may be a drawback, but I like a challenge. That pace does cover two or three plot holes, but it plays fair by also letting a couple of red herrings zoom by you too. All in all the script is plausible and intelligent, a warning against surrendering one's civil rights. In fact, it does this so well that at film's end I found myself seriously questioning the fate of the Precrime Division in spite of its shortcomings. Spielberg is being subversive in this, and although his preaching is a bit heavy-handed as always, and even though the multiple endings of the various plot lines feel contrived and tacked on, the first 2 hrs 20 mins of the film are so incredibly compelling that I'll certainly be watching again to see how much I missed the first time through.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Movies I've Seen In a While!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: When I first saw Minority Report, I knew I wanted to see it again. I really liked the beginning of the movie. The precogs were, in my opinion, the best characters in the movie, especially the brains of the three of them. If you like action and suspense and if you don't mind a little cursing, I recommend that you buy this movie. If you have young kids, you might want to wait a few years before letting them watch with you.
Rating:
Summary: Will keep you on your toes
Review: In the year 2054 the Justice Department has set up it's first Precrime unit in Washington DC. Through the visions of three psychic "precogs" who can see homicides before they actually occur, members of the precrime unit (precops) can arrest people before they commit murder. Murder has literally become non-existent in DC. Chief of the Precrime unit John Anderton (Tom Cruise) believes in the system 100%. Six years ago his son disappeared and now he pours himself into his work in hopes of preventing what happened to his son from happening to others. It makes no sense that Anderton's name comes up in the system as a murderer-to-be. He desperately tries to prove his innocence, but if this premonition is a lie, then the system he believes in and lives by is a failure. I don't predict any awards given for this film. However, credit must be given to the brilliant creativity and vision of director Steven Spielberg. I noticed definite influences from the late Stanley Kubrick here. This future world that Spielberg creates is extremely well thought out and detailed, some real brilliance here (I can't say too much). This is a typical role for Tom Cruise. Max von Sydow wonderfully plays Cruise's boss, Lamar Burgess, Director of Precrime. This is a fast-paced film, not just with action, but also with dialog, ideas and new concepts. It doesn't leave you in the dust, though. Everything comes together nicely.
Rating:
Summary: Good blend of sci-fi and thriller
Review: One of the things I've admired about Steven Spielberg is that he doesn't necessarily stick to the same genres that made him who he is today but when he returns to them he does so in a manner that is stylistically and creatively much different from his original attempts. Obviously the improvements in technology make this much more possible, but Spielberg, for all the special effects in a film like Minority Report, manages to keep the characters at the forefront and everything else in a supporting position. A lot has been said and written about this film so I won't rehash old news, but here's what I thought made it an enjoyable viewing experience. First, it was completely believable. Even though it's set 50 years in the future, there's nothing so incredible or far-fetched to force a viewer to disrupt his/her suspension of disbelief. Enough familiar elements remain to think that this could be a logical future. Second, the story, originally a creation of Philip K. Dick, is very well done because it takes a complex situation and turns it on a very simple premise - what happens when you arrest people for crimes not yet committed and then discover that you yourself are a suspect? We've seen Cruise in this type of role before but now that he's getting a little older we're seeing him bring nuances to the role (i.e. the death of his character's son) that simply wouldn't work a few years ago. Lastly, the numerous plot twists, including what turns out to be at least two false endings by my count, keep you on the edge of your seat. Okay, it does drag the film's running time to well over the 2 hour mark, but it ties all the loose ends up very nicely and provides a satisfying ending. If anyone recalls when Spielberg received the AFI Lifetime Award he mentioned that his directorial output was far less by a large margin from other recipients and he had to "get off his ass". With Minority Report (AND Catch Me If You Can AND A.I.) it looks like he's off to a pretty good start.
Rating:
Summary: Chilling and satisfying.....
Review: "Minority Report" is a must-see movie and perhaps the adult blockbuster of the summer. It gives Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg a chance to work together, and to redeem themselves after a few missteps. Cruise, a box office draw in the manner of Tom Hanks, and Harrison Ford, really needed a winning film after a couple of mistakes with excellent directors (Cameron Crowe's "Vanilla Sky" and Kubrick's "Eyes Wide Shut"). I feel he wants the success right now not only financially and artistically, but perhaps to keep up with the superior acting skills of Ms. Kidman. Because of his appeal, Cruise gets his choice of directors. Spielberg had been toying with the idea of bringing the science fiction short story of author Philip K. Dick to film, and I think I understand that Cruise added character motivation by supporting the plotline with the addition of a kidnapped child for the main character, a child that colors his decision-making process for the rest of his life. The loss of this child and his marriage gives Cruise the empathy and humane qualities he needs to deal with Agatha (one of the PreCrime unit's "pre-cogs", see below).The combination of Cruise's confident turn as John Anderton, a detective in the year 2054, and Spielberg's vision and special effects to give the film a chilling landscape of what the future holds. In the future, the problem of wanton homicide has been solved in Washington D.C. by the creation of a "PreCrime" division. PreCrime uses a complicated mental/visual process to identify murders before they occur, and give the detectives enough time to locate the scene of the upcoming crime and stop the murder. As a result of this strategy, premeditated murder almost never happens in D.C., and the unit has managed to stop all the murders that would have occurred due to "crimes of passion" by their quick diagnosis and high-tech tools that deliver them to the site of the crime, in time to stop it. The film opens with a demonstration of the technique that is so well done, fearlessly led by Cruise, that viewers have few questions of the complicated mechanisms of the process. How do the murders get predicted? Mysteriously, three humans with highly trained precognitive powers (The "Pre-cogs"), join mental forces to project and even act out the crimes. How the criminal justice system handles the pre-cogs, and how it handles the criminals convicted of "premurder" is the most chilling part of the movie. The viewer is drawn inescapably into a plot to frame Anderton himself for a future murder of a man he doesn't even know. The investigation of his own crime will draw you in and keep you paranoid about the action and the outcome until the film concludes. Cruise is perfect for this film - a film chameleon; he gives us an action hero that is believable and empathetic. He's not trying for an Oscar here, in this action adventure flick; he's just making the movie work. His flawed and grieving character is really the only well developed of the movie's many roles - Spielberg correctly lets the astonishing special effects drive the film. Spielberg also has been seeking redemption. His "Artificial Intelligence" was a huge disappointment. Paired with cinematographer Janusz Kaminski (who will probably win an Oscar), with whom he has worked successfully in recent years, Spielberg gives us special effects worthy of the Indiana Jones series. Colin Farrell plays the FBI agent who is Anderton's nemesis (a role originally planned for Matt Damon, who would have been more successful). The incredible career of Max Von Sydow continues as he has his biggest and best role on the big screen in years. Von Sydow has, of late, turned to cable television to find the haughty, regal and demanding roles for which he is known ("Citizen X" on HBO, "Solomon", and his turn as a humble Jew in "Nuremburg"). Prior to those, he was appearing with frequency on the big screen but in sleepers like "Druids", the Eurohorror flick, "Sleepless", and the endless "Snow Falling on Cedars". Von Sydow is impeccable in the role of Anderton's mentor, Director Burgess. His passion for the PreCrime experiment is exceeded only by Anderton's own passion. Steve Harris ("The Practice"), Daniel London and Samantha Morton are notable, but perhaps my favorite character role went to Lois Smith, a crusty genius with a greenhouse that will make you lose sleep. You've seen Smith everywhere, and just didn't know it (Helen Hunt's Aunt Meg in Twister, Susan Sarandon's mother in "Dead Man Walking", to name two). Her character, Dr. Iris Hineman, helped Burgess create PreCrime, and it is she who gives Anderton the clue needed to deal with his impending doom. A movie that will really hold your interest, potentially a boxoffice and DVD smash!
Rating:
Summary: This 'Report' Deserves an A+++++
Review: I was very nervous and reluctant about seeing this movie. I heard continuous comaparisons to A.I. which I did not like because I found it disturbing and cruel. And I really have not been impressed with what Tom Cruise has been churning out lately (Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, Mission Impossible 2). He's Hollywoods' King actor and no one ever bad mouths him so I was a bit skeptical about all the hype sorounding the movie. But for once you can really believe the hype. No doubt you've already know the premise so I won't bother to re-hash it. But I will say this film is not what I expected. It is filled with twists and turns and subplots which really makes you pay attention. The smaller roles in this film, such as the prison guard, Dr. Hanigen and the Blackmarket physcician, are excellent and manage to say more about the society than any of the gadgets up on screen. Tom Cruise does a great job he plays a complicated character without any of the pretentiousness displayed in the other mentioned movies.One of the reasons I love the character he plays is that he does so with a great deal of assurance without the overbearing machismo that is so often shown with other action heroes. The pain and lonliness he feels inside is actually pallitable. It makes him much more human, believable and easier to relate to. If Tom deserves an Oscar nomination (and to win) it should be for what he did in this movie. I have seen this film twice since its opening on Friday and it already is becoming a fast favorite.I'm happy I invested money in buying the banner. Word of warning; this film is mostly plot and character driven. If you are looking for wall to wall action and don't like science fiction then this film is not for you. But if you are looking for a good (and for once) satisfying film that is worth your time and money this film is for you!
Rating:
Summary: Another Spielberg success!
Review: Tom Cruise is John Anderton, a cop in this futuristic thriller. Together with Burgess, they developed PreCrime, a state-run programme which utilises biological and technological advances to predict crimes even before they happen. Three "precogs" (human "mutants" with extraodinarily acute psychic-like abilities) are at the center of this technology. One day at the swimming pool, John's young son is abducted by a mysterious stranger, whom John has never been able to trace. Through a string of premeditated circumstances, John ends up killing a man who was responsible for abducting and (he assumed) killed his son. He gets put away, but that is not it. One of the "precogs" keeps having flashback memories of a woman getting killed, but nobody has been able to trace the killer. Eventually, (I don't want to spoil this for you!) justice is served :) This movie is about the future, but it does make you think : what if one day we can all predict everything that's going to happen,and change them before they happen? Can that be a good thing? I think not. Life is full of choices and possibilities. Once these choices and possibilities are taken away from us, then really, why should we even bother to live it? Premeditating the future is an interesting idea but imagine if someone told you you're gonna kill someone tomorrow. Given the right circumstances, you end up at the point where you are going to kill someone but haven't yet. If you recognise the fact that life is about choice, you know you can prove the prediction wrong by not killing. But if you do not recognise the fact that you can choose what you do and change what they predict about you, then you have really lost the plot - i.e. you'd be just a pawn in someone else's game. Great sci-fi thriller. Very fast paced, very meaningful theme, you never really know what's gonna happen, and great special effects.
Rating:
Summary: Better than I thought it
Review: This movie is not science fiction the way I thought of science fiction. The movie is very suspenseful, and it's action packed. This movie is about a cop who is dealing with the loss of his son, but trying to be on top of his game in his field. He is a cop, who can pick out the clues of a crime BEFORE it happens, and stop that crime. That in itself is an interesting concept. When Anderton, becomes one of the criminals he is in the fight of his life!!! Watching this movie you are led to believe one person has framed Anderton, but then you will find out you are wrong. I was really into this movie, and if you don't have super high expectations, you will find this movie to be a really good one. I was very impressed. The precogs were a nice twist in the film. The other aspect of the movie that grabbed me was "choice". There is a certain part of the film where choice plays a huge part in the film. You can make the right choice, or you will make the wrong choice. How will that choice truly affect your life? I really liked that philosophical aspect of the film.
|
