awful film, great disappointment

Rating: 1/10 (2 July 2002)

I walked out after the first hour of this film. With the great reviews it had gotten (Ebert, et al), I was looking forward to it. Instead, I got a vehicle for Tom Cruise, who's an okay actor, except I don't dissolve merely at his looks. The movie quickly deteriorated into action-explosions-shooting-jetpacs-vomiting-punching-snot-strangling...you get the idea. This was followed by more dizzying "action." The basic premise of the film was fine, intriguing in fact. But what I saw was an action film made for lonely 11 year-old boys or Tom Cruise fans. As I left, I stopped at the popcorn counter, and the woman told me many people had also walked out. It's amazing how this film can be called "the best film of the year." By what measure? By the amount of money spent on its promotion? A big, big disappointment. Read the short story, instead.