OK for a rainy afternoon

Rating: 5/10 (29 December 2005)

Definitely not one of the best sci-fi films. Apart from the basic premise it was extremely derivative - if it had included aliens you could have laid money on them being 'little green men'. It has all of the trademark Spielberg traits, including an enormous dose of sentimental schmaltz and appalling sound. Why is it that he thinks that we should have to struggle to make out what the characters are saying?
That said it wasn't a 'bad' film; just clichÃ©d with some glaring plot holes and a 'hidden' villain who was identifiable in the first ten minutes. Tom Cruise didn't do too badly with the part, but then he is at his best with vapid 'techie' action heroes. Think 'Mission Impossible' - it's the same character.
Don't bother paying money to see this - it's only worth watching on the TV when it's free. 5/10.