Spielberg has lost the magic.

Rating: 1/10 (28 June 2002)

Let me start by saying that I think Philip K. Dick is one of the best science fiction writers ever. Conceptually he is matched only by such greats as Frank Herbert (Dune), Robert Heinlein (Stranger in a Strange Land), and Isaac Asimov (Foundation). Typically, his books have turned into some pretty good movies. Bladerunner (based on his novel 'Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep) is one of the better Sci-Fi movies out there. Even the under-the-radar Screamers was a pretty good movie. That's why it's such a shame that Minority Report, which had a huge budget and big names, was so bad. I must admit that I liked the way the movie looked. The effects were certainly top notch and the 'washed out' look definitely made things more interesting. There were also a lot of great ideas concerning what advertising might become in the next few decades. But the movie just loses its focus within the first half hour. Let's not forget that this is based on a SHORT STORY, not a novel. At more than two and a half hours, the movie takes longer to watch than the story does to read. Why? Spielberg Padding. He just can't let it die. So, now you've got a really long movie that drags because it doesn't have enough story to support it. This would leave us with something mediocre that I would have enjoyed, just not enough. Unfortunately, ,it gets so much worse. At some point or another it was decided that this dark film noir-esque movie should have some slapstick humor thrown in. This is where things go from boring to painful. In one scene Tom Cruise has some eyeballs in a bag which he needs to sneak into somewhere. That part makes sense. It's just the shot of him scampering down the hallway chasing the eyes as they roll away from him that reminds me of the Keystone Kops which bothers me so much. How about during the intense jetpack fight when some burgers get singed from the action? These stupid scenes don't constitute a majority of the movie, just enough to make you really question what the hell they were thinking. And in the end, that's what I walked out of the movie asking myself. What the hell were they thinking?
Good: Special effects, film's look, some of the acting (not much though) Bad: Everything else.
If you thought Independence Day was a great movie, then go see this. If you though BladeRunner was a great movie, rent that instead.