In Reply to: Good review of Minority Report posted by clarkjohnsen on June 26, 2002 at 07:31:34:
Putting aside the fact that Minority Report is based upon an excellent Philip K. Dick short story, this Steven Speilberg film isn't bad, however it does bear some of Mr. Spielberg's "trademark" sloppiness that occasionally compromises his artistry. I've mentioned this before about his Direction, that he covers up glaring flaws of logic and continuity gaffs with nail-biting, nerve-racking, edge-of-the-seat suspense. This is not necessarily a bad thing, like masking unpleasant body odor with a brisk deoderant, but over time odiferous mistakes will reveal themselves to the attentive filmgoer and become uncomfortably noticeable.The biggest failing of Minority Report aside from a continuity problem with clothing in one scene, is the whole eyeball segment. For one thing, it isn't logical that Tom Cruise would be able to get back into the secured facility using a retina scan after he was on the run, but even if he did, he wouldn't be able to sneak in unnoticed. Secondly, that surviving eyeball must've had one hell of a preservative applied (i.e., Spielberg's marketing department missed an excellent opportunity for a product placement endorsing the preservative qualities of zip-lock baggies!) because his remaining removed eye was never placed on ice and survived intact in so well that his ex-wife could use it to rescue him from prison! Oh, BTW, once again there seemed to be no problem with his security clearance.
Once mine quit rolling, let's look at the whole eyeball subplot for a moment. The reason he felt the need to have his eyes surgically removed was because retina scans revealed his presence to everyone through all the "personalized" advertising. Now that's an interesting concept until you think about it from a practical standpoint. How "noticed" would one be when all the advertisements are speaking to folks individually around you? Not very, IMHO! Then, if you can get around that one you have to explain, with crowds of folks around him being scanned and theoretically solicited in the same manner, why the advertisements only seem to speak to him! Hmmm, it just seems like sloppy filmmaking to me.
All that aside, it's still a good film, just not great. One other thing, there seemed to be more chemistry and connection between Tom Cruise's character and the female precog than with his ex-wife. As a matter of fact her character was the most interesting and sympathetic one in the film, IMO.
AuPh
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
Follow Ups
- Oddly enough, I think AI was a much better film. My impressions of Minority Report: - Audiophilander 10:23:26 06/26/02 (9)
- a couple of points. - sjb 14:52:04 06/26/02 (3)
- Just one correction..... - Joe S 08:24:14 07/01/02 (1)
- Re: Are you sure?!? - sjb 10:39:03 07/01/02 (0)
- WARNING several plot points revealed in the above post (nt) - sjb 15:20:39 06/26/02 (0)
- Re: Oddly enough, I think AI was a much better film. My impressions of Minority Report: - Doug Schneider 14:28:26 06/26/02 (1)
- LOL! I won't worry until they start sending electronic "spiders" to retina scan me! (nt) - Audiophilander 14:39:58 06/26/02 (0)
- Even more odd- I agree with you (Warning - Spoilers) - john dem 12:30:21 06/26/02 (0)
- Your points are well taken..but - EdM 12:25:17 06/26/02 (1)
- We're in agreement that the theme is interesting, ... - Audiophilander 13:46:10 06/26/02 (0)