Spielberg said it: "Gourmet Popcorn"

Rating: 8/10 (22 June 2002)

SPOILERS! He was correct.
Positives:This futuristic Hitchcockian mystery is entertaining for almost it's entire length. Cruise is grave and intense and not allowed to mug here. There is excellent acting by even the bit players, many of whom have served adequately in other Spielberg franchises such as the "Jurassic Park" series. The integration of design, concepts and human interface with technology is superb throughout the film. Repeat for emphasis: The integration of design, concepts and human interface with technology is superb through the film. Some of the action sequences were fantastic and lacked the cliches of many modern action films. Spielberg showed he is back to his old form as a master of the medium. The future world is neither Blade Runner Hell nor Star Trek Federation Utopia, but it appears reasonable, believable and real. {Side note: With Episode II being watchable and this film it appears Lucas and Spielberg have something left in the tank.}
Nitpicks: The filmmakers included a few moments such as an extended exposition by the old woman (who invented the "Pre-Cogs")to bring the slow members of the audience up to speed. Personally, I felt that it was unecessary. I felt that the inclusion of Cruise's wife as a member of the good guys didn't quite ring true. The epilogue message from Cruise that "Pre-Crime" was shut down was not needed. In fact, this is the issue that was almost completely ignored. Of COURSE it was shut down!!! You can't hold people, even talented individuals, sedated in a tank of warm milk against their will! The people using the "Pre-Cogs" in this film were no different from the computers in "The Matrix" . The end does NOT justify the means.

The first climax of the film was Cruise's character "Anderton" defying the "precognition" and choosing a new future thus confirming his free will. This should have been the end, in my opinion. After this, the audience is spent, we are emotionally invested in the Anderton (Cruise) character. We don't need a formulaic "conspiracy uncovered" sub-plot but we get it anyway. By the way, if the writers can understand such an important and vital concept as free will why would they need to explain that the "Pre-Crime" unit is shut down? How could it continue? Also if the pre-cogs saw the man's wife and her lover killed by the angry husband why not just remove the "other" man? One last nit pick: What was with the Verhoeven-esque commercial for Pre-Crime? It was beneath Spielberg.