an interesting opportunity lost in special effects and glitz

Rating: 2/10 (17 May 2003)

This is the first time I've been happy for Philip K Dick that he didn't live to see one of his stories made into a movie. Androids and Electic Sheep -- Blade Runner -- got ruined with the Hollywood ending but was stunning and provocative anyway. And then the "director's cut" fixed it. Remember for you Wholesale -- Total Recall -- got expanded almost completely away from the story, and the interest groups as well as the individual characters got simplified to the point of nonsense, but watching Arnold Agonize (his tormented face alone was worth the price of admission) and then kick ass was still fun. But this one?!?!?
A fascinating approach to guilt and innocence, free will or determinism, individual rights (as we know them, anyway) vs. a policelman's view of how society should be run -- all mushed up with machines and men that fly through the air, ETs that float in water and see future murders -- And Tom Cruise, who elsewhere has been a fine actor as well as great eye candy, just mugs away. The whole thing is cheap trash. Too bad, Phil...