What sci-fi should be.

Rating: 9/10 (11 March 2003)

**Warning! Spoilers Ahead!**
Steven Spielberg does science-fiction, and the result is exactly what I hoped it would be. Not only does he provide a visual buffet of special-effects, but also gives us a solid story that is part action film, part introspective drama. Tom Cruise, perfectly cast as the falsely (?) accused John Anderton, gives the film a somewhat nebulous moral and emotional center. But the best part of the film is the world in which it is set.
Spielberg uses special effects as they should be used, so that you never think that they are effects. My favorite, the search-and-destroy spiders, which seem more like models or remote controlled mechanisms, highlight a film peppered with futuristic technology, all of which seems reasonably possible in the not too distant future.
The plot twist preceding the third act is solid. While I knew something off-the-wall had to be coming, I hadn't thought of that. The villain is a touch predictable, providing a mix of two movie staples: the "Most Unlikely Person" and the "Character who Disappears for a Long Stretch of Time." But despite that, the movie still flows well and holds up strongly upon a repeat viewing. Some didn't care for the ending, and while it could be considered cliche, I found it quite satisfying.
Bottom Line: Stellar sci-fi. A perfect molding of the future, technology, and humanity around a good story.