Thrill Ride with great performances..."Muuurrddder!"

Rating: 7/10 (22 June 2002)

Wow. What a rush. Two words to describe the film are "thrill ride", but not a thrill ride where all the loops and dips are seen, but one that keeps you guessing,
and can sometimes completely startle you. I was amazed, not only at the
amazing cinematography, the beautiful score by John Williams, and the pulse
pounding story, but by Tom Cruise. I normally can't stand him, but this film
allowed me to look at him differently. He didn't seem to be Tom Cruise in this one. He really embodied John Anderton. Plus, performance-wise, the
supporting cast is better then excellent, with Samantha Morton as Agatha the
Precog being the stand out performance throughout. Just her saying "Murder"
will send chills down your spine, no doubt.
One thing I will say is that this film is not for everyone. The intense nature of it may be hard for fans of Spielberg's more lighthearted fare to swallow. But, for those looking for a new Spielberg, the change is a welcome one. The cold dark future that is portrayed is one that is very, very possible, and sometimes
freightning to realize. Spielberg did a bang up job showing how technology's
advances will only increase our lack of privacy. Amazing, and very truthful
realization.
Plot holes aside (they are few, and far between, and most people wouldn't catch them), this film's plot moves so fast, that sometimes its hard to catch up. Each moment of it will keep you guessing, which keeps the audience always on their toes. You will never know what it coming, and that adds the the intrigue of this very film-noir-esque film.
One aspect of the film I found the most interesting had nothing to do with the actual film... It was the ad campaign that is seen on TV and in the Trailers. I applaud Spielberg for, how shall I say, diverting audiences attention. I won't say any more, but you may be pleasently surprised to find out that even before you even see the film, you really have no idea what its about. That's great
advertising, in my opinion.
My only problem with the film is that in the end, the plot is very familiar. You won't recognize it while watching it, but its there. I won't say what film this one almost parallels, but if you've seen this other film, you may recognize it after viewing Minority Report. But, there are enough differences between the two
films to not make it a real issue. It won't bother the average film viewer, but it kind of bothered me, but nothing to change my opinion of the film.
To sum it all up, this is not a film to be missed. If you saw A.I. and hated it, this one should redeem Spielberg for you. If you loved A.I., you should love Minority Report even more. I hope this film stands out as a breath of fresh air in the usually dull summer fare, and that it will be the surprise hit of the summer. 9.5/10