May 19: Minority Report

"In a future where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes, an officer from that unit is himself accused of a future murder."

Minority Report is one of Steven Spielberg's best movies. It's one of the best sci-fi movies I have ever seen and it paints one hell of a picture for a not-so distant future. Cruise is at his best, showing how big of an action star he is and how good of an actor he can be. The film tells the story of John (Cruise), a cop whose department (PreCrime) has the technology to see crimes before they happen, using the "precogs". When one of the precogs predict John will commit a murder, he goes on the run, doing whatever he can to prevent it from happening while trying to clear his name. 

The precogs are pretty much oracles in a bathtub. 

Besides the smart and original script (based on a story by sci-fi genius Philip K. Dick), the best part of Minority Report is the visuals. The special effects are mindblowingly good, and watching the film in high definition is a completely new experience. Spielberg's idea of the future blends so much of what is familiar today, with plausible ideas that could really happen within the next 50 years. This perfect combination only heightens the story, and it's never too over the top to be distracting. Minus the scary idea of a PreCrime police department, Minority Report leaves a future to be very excited for. Along with these incredible special effects, Spielberg crafts tight, fast-paced, and thrilling action sequences that remind you he's the same man who made Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones. 

He looks like my uncle, which means I'm totally almost kind of related to him. 

I would highly recommend Minority Report. It's one of the best sci-fi movies I have ever seen and it's crafted by a master story teller and adventure creator in Spielberg. With great special effects, a terrific cast (support by Colin Farrell, Neal McDonough, Max von Sydow), and an incredibly original story, Minority Report cannot be missed. Do yourself a favor and rent it, buy it, or even download it. It's worth it. Ah, the precogs just told me you certainly will do whatever it takes to watch it. And yes, I ended this review with a horrible joke. 

The Good:

great action sequences filmed in an amazingly creative idea of the future

The Better:

an intelligent and fresh story that shows a blockbuster action movie can be much more than explosions, giant robots, and hot chicks who can't act

The Best:

amazing special effects that create a future I'd love to see

Overall: 9.5/10

Trailer: