And then there are simple issues of credibility. Though we have all been trained to check our reality gauges at the threshhold of a movie, still I found the images of Tom Cruise keeping a literal grip on the sleek and no doubt slippery surface of those 21st C. vehicles unneccesarily pushing it. Though the transportation system of this future world did seem on eof the more appealing aspects of it.

Finally, if we are comparing this movie to Bladerunner, I must put in my vote for the replicants as being far more deserving of our sympathy. They displayed real human emotion and desire. While Agatha was developed to some extent, the twins might as well have been written out of the story. And the sappy end contrived for them was just that, sappy and stupid. The Hallmark cards conclusion.

I enjoyed Minority Report. I recommend that people see it. But I don’t think it’s a “masterpiece”. It’s not film noir (I loved the Statesman’s line “Noir lite: more action, less thrilling.”) Minority Report is eye-candy. We went home and popped in the laserdisc of Bladerunner just to get the sacharine taste out of our mouths.

Besides, one should not have to engage in such mental gymnastics to justify plot flaws.
Also, why don’t the pre-cogs have any rights? Even wards of the state should volunteer for such all-emcompassing and horrific.

And I don’t know what he was sniffing, but they should legalize it since it didn’t seem to impair him too much. He was in top physical condition, and able to outwit an ultra-modern police force, and didn’t even seem hungover.

Overall though, I loved it, and was entertained. The spiders were creepy. Actually the whole future was kind of creepy as was Artificial Intelligence.