Minority Report

[innerSpaceman]

Yeah, that was my first reaction, too. But in an homage to a certain genre, do you defy that genre by being smarter than it?





I decided otherwise. Dick and Spielberg apparently did, too (though, to be honest, I've never read the book).

[Boss Radio]

I enjoyed Minority Report for the pure sci fi thriller joy of it, and was able to overlook most of its flaws. Besides the enormous Tom Cruise-shaped drain in the pre-cog's bathtub, the part where the Chief got the tiny antique gun with tiny bullets that actually still worked was kind of a Scooby Doo ending.

I appreciated AI for what he tried to do, but it was kind of hard to watch.

I also liked the non-Spielberg Bicentennial Man, but thought it was about an hour too long.

They should release a cutdown called Centennial Man.

[Deebs]

Originally Posted by Boss Radio

I enjoyed Minority Report for the pure sci fi thriller joy of it, and was able to overlook most of its flaws.

Now that I have read this whole thread, I'm trying to decide if I even need to see Minority Report. I don't like Tom Cruise. I don't hate, but I don't-a like either.

I appreciated AI for what he tried to do, but it was kind of hard to watch.

We definitely agree about that. I wasn't expecting something so sad and uncomfortable to watch. I really kind of love Jude Law and would make excuses for him all day long, but AI was hard to watch.

Weren't we just talking about the Blue Fairy, you and me?

[Not Afraid]

Minority Report gets PK Dick points. I'm not sure if these points are then taken away by the negative points given for T. Cruise.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Now that I have read this whole thread, I'm trying to decide if I even need to see Minority Report. I don't like Tom Cruise. I don't hate, but I don't-a like either.

You need to see it, so you can complain along with us.


I remember the acting being poor, the lines being silly. The effects were spectacular but I just didn't buy this future. When they showed the holographic computer "screens" and Cruise moving really fast using it, I couldn't help but think, um, does he have some sort of speedy implant in his brain? Just because the visuals float instead of sit on a screen, it doesn't mean we can work faster. The plot holes regarding whether the machines can see your retinas or not were inexcusable...

I think it just comes down to not buying it, which is a nebulous sort of quality. After the first 15 min of a movie, you're either in or you're out. We just saw Crank and I was completely sucked in to the concept. Even when the girlfriend character wrecked the 2nd act, I still felt committed, and still felt satisfied. That movie had a pretty far-fetched concept, but it worked for me.

GD and I had a meeting of eye-rolling during the part where Cruise goes to the eyeball replacement guy. I remember feeling the whole bit was stupid. The guy's lines, his attitude, his overly-set-decorated-color-corrected room...it smacked of trying too hard and was nearly laughable. We discussed stopping the movie then, but continued. Again, it's been a while, but that's what I remember.

Regardless, I'm never seeing that again. It was one of very few movies where I wish I had those hours back and my memory erased. Indy 4 wasn't that bad...

[innerSpaceman]

Well, I hated Tom Cruise before Minority Report. Still not my favorite of actors, but I actually liked him in this, much to my astonishment.







ETA: Whether they were used consistently or not, the future hard and software depicted in Minority Report was the most realistic future imagining ever done for any motion picture in history. The research team was comprised of actual industrial futurists, and none of it was far-fetched for 20 years from now.

[Alex]

I'd say driving up the sides of buildings was pretty far fetched.

My recollection was that a lot of it seemed technically reasonable but still unlikely. Lots of things that were predicted became technically feasible but it just turned out nobody wanted them.

And I don't hate Tom Cruise. Of the big megalithic actors of the last 20 years he is hardly the most questionable of them and I like quite a few of his movies.

Collateral, Magnolia (an ensemble but I still liked his role), Born on the Fourth of July, Mission: Impossible, The Firm, Far and Away (I know, but I liked it) are all decent to good movies.

[Boss Radio]

And he was awesome in Rain Man.

[Boss Radio]

Originally Posted by Deebs

Weren't we just talking about the Blue Fairy, you and me?

Yes. And it was quite a derail from the original topic, which was about a hypothetical lesbian civil service.

[innerSpaceman]

Oh, btw, he's opinion-changing FANTASTIC in Collateral.




Yes, I agree the technology in MR is more of a feasible variety than what will be accepted in the Marketplace. I'm sure corporations want to regale you with personalized advertising everywhere your retinas go ... but I don't know if the public will quite go for that. Eh, maybe most people like the recommendations of Amazon and Netflix today. I hate that kind of stuff. But it's not my preferences that usually control ... as there's less money-making in them.



Yeah, the cars up the sides of the building was pretty far-fetched from the rather mundane Smart Cars freeway premise, but I'll grant it as dramatic license for a fun action scene. But in this case, I do see it as something future people of nearly 100% high density dwellings would desire.