Rating: 
Summary: "MINORITY REPORT" A VISUALLY STUNNING, BUT UNEVEN WORK
Review: Spielberg has really lost his touch. This film could have been directed by anyone. "Minority Report" is visually stunning, mildly intriguing, but just too episodic and overlong by about 50 or so minutes. The film climaxes in several places and really has a good pace up to the part where Cruise gets his eyes replaced. Cruise is his regular self, albeit without the killer smile, but there are plenty of scenes of him grimacing and looking stressed as only HE can. "The Matrix" and "Logan's Run" tell similar stories with much more panache.
Rating: 
Summary: Critics say this is five stars. For once they're right!
Review: I probably would have waited until Minority Report hit the rental stands if it weren't for all the five-star ratings critics have been giving this movie. After being digitally assaulted by the current crop of high-budget special effects films like Spiderman and Attack of the Clones, I was already weary of acting and storyline taking a backseat to gee-whiz computer graphics. I underestimated Spielberg's ability.So what is the plot exactly? Well, dear reader, take comfort in knowing I will not spoil the movie for you. In the year 2054, Americans are subjected to Gap clothing stores (that scan your retina and hard-sell khakis by your name) as well as USA Today newspapers with animated front page covers that update in real-time. Tom Cruise is John Anderton, Washington D.C.'s top-cop in the experimental pre-crime unit that seeks out and eliminates would-be murderers through the use of precognitive beings that are able to sense murders shortly before they happen. The premise sounds wonderful until John discovers he's about to murder someone he has never met. This is the story on the surface yet it is not the story. I fear many will avoid this movie because this is all they will expect. I will stump for this movie because it's not just an action-thriller and it's not just a thinking-man's science-fiction movie. What lies beneath the story is much deeper and darker. You see, even in knowing the future, Mr. Anderton is confronted with an awful dilemma. How can he prevent himself from killing the person he is supposed to murder if he has never seen the person he is supposed to kill or the location the murder is supposed to take place? Is the future preordained or does man create his own destiny? As Anderton uncovers the answers to these questions, viewers will find that this is not the underlying story either. Minority Report is a dark and disturbing vision of the future made believable with Cruise's much more human characterization of Anderton than his previous Mission Impossible persona. Samantha Morton, Colin Farrell, and the incomparable Max von Sydow all serve to effectively help and hinder Anderton's quest. Are there flaws in the movie? Perhaps. The action scenes are impressive and appropriate, but one particular scene in the LEXUS factory contained so much eyeball-jarring camera manipulation that I felt I was hit by a "sick stick." And speaking of brand-names, reviewers complain of the blatant commercialization of the movie. Without question, an obscene amount of advertising permeates almost every frame. Did Spielberg sell out to the highest bidder or is he making a statement about the not-so-distant future, or even the present? I'll let you decide. Finally, the fact this movie received a PG-13 rating is a statement in itself. I remember all the controversy generated by parent-groups when Poltergeist received a PG rating. It seems so long ago... Yet credit must go to Steven Spielberg as there was much of this movie that could've been done ineffectively. After the disappointing box-office numbers of A.I., many (including myself) were expecting a dumbed-down formulaic hack to swing alongside the rest of the massives. Instead, Spielberg shows he's master of the technology as the impressive display of visuals serve to add to, not overwhelm the story. By the time the movie ends, you may find yourself pondering the kind of questions only philosophers argued over.
Rating: 
Summary: What I Expected
Review: 'Minority Report' was exactly what I expected, which wasn't a bad thing. Yeah, perhaps I'm a bit biased due to the fact that Spielberg is by far my favorite director, but I'm one of the toughest film critics around. Rarely do I see a film that deserves a four-star rating, and I have only given one film a five-star rating. (That being Spielberg's 1998 epic 'Saving Private Ryan'.) Overall I award two films--if that--a four-star rating per year. 'Minority Report' is one of those choices. This should be your typical summer blockbuster, but unfortunately it will not reach that status. Why? Because we refuse to think when we go to the theatre, and settle for mindless tripe Lucas throws at us with 'Attack of the Clones'. Yes, Spielberg's film is packed with awesome special effects, but they are used as a backdrop for the film, not as the film itself. We think while watching this film, unraveling the mystery that Spielberg presents. And oh yeah...this film does have a plot and solid acting, unlike the OTHER sci-fi film out this summer. No, it's not as action-packed as 'Spider-Man', a decent film, but it is better a better movie as a whole. Many films will be released this season and this year, many of which will leave 'Minority Report' in its dust. But remember this: Frank Darabont's 'The Shawshank Redemption' was a flop back when it was released, and is now considered to be one of the best films released in the 90's. If you want to think this summer, watch 'Minority Report'. If you want to waste a few bucks watching some guys run around with lightsabers for a few minutes, go see 'Star Wars'.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful piece of sci-fi artistry
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the best sci-fi movies i've seen. The special effects were outstanding. The plot was twisting and very exciting, keeping me on the edge of my seat through the whole movie. I had heard that this movie wasn't going to be too good, but those people who said that are idiots. The only part of the movie that failed for me was the punching sound effects during the fight scenes. Other then that it was a wonderful must see.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful piece of sci-fi artistry
Review: This is undoubtedly one of the best sci-fi movies i've seen. The special effects were outstanding. The plot was twisting and very exciting, keeping me on the edge of my seat through the whole movie...The only part of the movie that failed for me was the punching sound effects during the fight scenes. Other then that it was a wonderful must see.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing effects, great plot idea, horrible movie
Review: Of the 2.5 hours of this movie, I would say that 30 minutes are actually enjoyable. The effects are stunning, and the plot seems to have an excellent twist-until the end where we get the standard Hollywood ending of 'happily ever after'. This would not be an issue if the rest of the movie was better. The movie proceeds along slowly with a few excellent action scenes and a few good dramatic scenes-the jet pack chase, the Lexus car chase and the scene in the greenhouse come to mind. However there are many long empty parts of the movie where nothing happens. No suspense, no commentary, no acting-nothing. The characters are a mixed bag: Tom Cruise is better than he was in MI2, but most of the other actors are sub-par. I could go on, but then this review would be just like the movie-too long and not worth your time.
Rating:
Summary: Twisted
Review: This movie really had some great, and classic, movie scenes. It was not how Dick would have written it though. It had scenes which were not in the book, but better still! The beginning wasn't as slow as I would have thought it to be, the climax was filled with action and crazy images, and in the end you did not know what would happen, but you would have a guess. The plot was flawless in action, some romance, perfect characters, and yes, it did have some mistakes. So, a great movie overall!
Rating:
Summary: Snuggly-Wuggly Speilberg
Review: My friend put it best when he said that Spielberg is indeed a genius, but a genius with no imagination or originality. When it comes to World War II, there are few better. But as we've seen with his science fiction entries, Snuggly-Wuggly Spielberg always manages to rear his corny head. What could have been a great movie was dragged [down] by an ending that we've all seen before. ...I swear my eyes were bleeding. This man's movie making license must be revoked.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible vision of the future.
Review: Before I go on and nitpick about this film, I will say I really enjoyed this film. It's a murder-mystery/action film that ends like a fairy tale. There's also definitely some humor injected into the script. It's not cliche like other movies set into the future where it's all doom and gloom. The future in Minority Report only takes place 50 years from now. Technological advances abound, but it's only in addition to daily life as we know it. Detective John Anderton (Tom Cruise) is head of the pre-crime division. He processes pre-cog (genetically altered humans that can see visions of the future) images to obtain information to stop murders from being commited. We've all seen films with virtual reality (VR) interfaces to computer systems. But this film kicks it up a notch. (Recall Disclosure and Johnny Mnemonic?) In Minority Report, video stream manipulation with VR is just an everyday type of skill like typing. They can do it convincingly and effectively. Also, forget video tapes, in the future, data is stored on thick plastic sheets. One of my Amazon Friends appreciated the candidness of my reviews, and I intend to keep it that way. Even though the movie had a good plot and set-up scenes to answer questions we might have later on in the movie, there were nevertheless some holes in the story. There's a causality loop (aka chicken and egg problem) in the plot that isn't readily explainable. Would John have gone after Crow had he not seen the precog visions? Would the precog visions have occured had John not gone after Crow? As we see in the trailer, the largest of the subplot is determining whether there is a flaw in the system. The system prevents murders by alerting the cops to visions of the future. It is then the job of the police to determine the location of the crime. Turns out you can influence the precog images by setting up (premeditating) a murder. In the movie, a device known as a "halo" was introduced. At the mention of such a device, the perpetrator of the pre-crime shudders and cries for mommy. I was expecting this device to do a lot more permanent damage than just to put you to sleep (I was thinking lobotomy or paralysis). But Spielberg used it just like a pair of handcuffs. Nothing to panic about. Archiving is also reversible, which, in itself is a scary thing. (You'll understand my statement after watching the film.) There are blatant problems with the precrime division's security system. We're talking about half a century worth of technology and they can't even keep a guy out of a building. Not only that. In the trailer, we see John getting washed away with a precog in his arms. That room with the pool they were in is known as "The Temple". My question is: Why would you install a friggin' man hole for such a tiny pool if your most valuable assets (the precogs) can just get washed down the drain? I mean, "The Temple" ended up being just a glorified Toilet. (As an aside, the Lexus that Tom Cruise drives around in in the movie is an actual road-worthy vehicle. Tom Cruise was being interviewed on Jay Leno last week and they went to the parking lot behind set to take a look at the car. It's an electric vehicle that is supposed to be very uncomfortable to get in and out of, but atleast it works and it's his. Speaking of cars, I don't understand the highway system in the movie. If the cars are all mag-lev (short for magnetic levitation), then how can he drive the darn Lexus with wheels around? This is where my friends tell me to just enjoy the film and assume that in the future cars can go on mag-lev roads in the city and regular roads in the country. Suspend my disbelief.) I still liked the film a lot though. :) LEAP rating (each out of 5):
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L (Language) - 4.5 (everyone seems to narrate their lines, there's an eerie calm to the whole movie even when the pace is quick)
E (Erotica) - 0.5 (n/a)
A (Action) - 4 (Tom gets chased down an alley, a Lexus factory, a shopping mall)
P (Plot) - 4.5 (all the major "huh?" questions are explained, but a closer look reveals plot holes the size of the one in The Temple)
Rating:
Summary: Great Sci-Fi Thriller
Review: Futuristic sci- fi thrillers tend to be one of two extremes: entertaining or silly. We all know the plot of this film by now, courtesy of all the hype, so I won't re-hash it. It will suffice to say that Speilberg turns a potentially hokey premise into something magical. Exactly how he does it is difficult to explain, but it works. I guess what makes this film truly great are the performances and Speilberg's unique vision. Good stuff. Go see it!
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