A mixed bag

Rating: 7/10 (23 January 2003)

This movie could have been so much better had Steven Spielberg not been aping James Cameron at the wrong moments. Tom Cruise does a great job as the lead; always believable, always cool. Can't fault him. Interesting plot, if a bit strained. So, what's wrong? The action scenes are completely unnecessary. What's the point to either the rocket packs in the alley scene or the robotic factory fight scene? Ans: there isn't any. A waste of talent and time. So, what else? The opening sequence strains credulity that it would take so long to trace a name to a particular address given the obviously advancements in computer technology. This is the same basic error Spielberg committed in AI regarding David eating food at the table (what, no safeguards?) and David being allowed to run free without being tracked (what, no LoJack?). If you're going to paint a consistent sci-fi picture, you'd better make sure your hobgoblins of little minds fly their butterflies in formation. Yeah, Mr. Anderton's on the run and the lab doesn't bother to deactivate his retinal scans? Sure.