Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise pair up and the result is a nightmare!

Rating: Null/10 (4 February 2003)

Minority Report is a film full of complex questions. For instance, is it believable enough to think that by the year 2050 scientists and the law will be able to stop crimes from being committed? One doesn't think so. However one wants to do it, crimes will be committed, there is no way in getting around it. Once again, Mr. Spielberg has done a bang-up job on what his vision of the future is seemingly going to appear but however, it seems to me like all of his visions are patented so the look the same in film after film of his. My only hope for Mr. Spielberg is that now that he has done about four Science-Fiction films, he can begin to turn his sights on other things, like a period historical epic or a light romantic comedy. Has he ever done one of those yet? I must admit the reason that I was so gung-ho on seeing this film was simply because of the pairing of Cruise and Spielberg. Finally, I thought to myself, it's about time. I was beginning to wonder when these two would join forces for a blockbuster, something that this film certainly has written all over it.
Even though this film achieved blockbuster status, its acting abilities are sorely lacking. Tom Cruise as usual cannot act his way out of a paper bag and basically I thought of him only being there for what I like to call "eye candy". If anything, the majority of the performances were weak with the standout one going to Samantha Morton as the Pre-cog Agatha (named cryptically after the great British mystery novelist Agatha Christie). Seeing how Colin Farrell has "arrived" by now, it is interesting to watch his portrayal in this film: it didn't stand out that much and every time he appeared on the screen I began to find his character slightly if not overtly annoying, even though he received second billing. I give kudos for Mr. Spielberg putting in an appearance by Max Von Sydow, but even putting in big names like his can't begin to save this film.
This is a perfect example of a "summer release", it's chock-full of action, visual and special effects, but the story and the acting abilities are sorely lacking. The film has enough twists and turns to give a viewer a very bad case of whiplash!
My rating: 1 and a half stars