By Dennis D. McDonald

This movie expands upon the dazzling realistic-future-world special effects of Spielberg’sA.I. but wastes astonishing technical and artistic virtuosity on a hackneyed, uninvolving murder mystery. 

Philip K. Dick penned the original story about “pre-crime” arrests of people before they commit murder. This is obviously a fascinating concept. But it does not rescue the movie from a humdrum plot and uninteresting characters. Opportunities to explore the significant social and ethical issues are buried under the juggling of too many unexplored plot lines and issues. 

The two-disc dvd does provide a wealth of extras. The usual pre-production, production, and post-production aspects of the story are touched on. 

Missing is a commentary track along with the movie itself. Unfortunately, commentary tracks on Spielberg movies on DVD seem to be as scarce as a stereo soundtrack on a Woody Allen film. This is a shame since Spielberg is so central to the movies he directs.

Technically, what we see in this movie is probably the most sophisticated imagining of the future since Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.  Architecture, city design, computer interfaces, advertising, and transportation are imagined and visualized in ways that again emphasize that just about anything is possible in movies. But let’s hope that Spielberg’s next film is a more human drama that focuses more and doesn’t let the details run the show.

 Review copyright (c) 2008 by Dennis D. McDonald