Minority Report

Starring Tom Cruise, Colin Ferrell, Samantha Morton, Tim Blake Nelson, and Max von Sydow

Directed by Stephen Spielberg

Release Date: June 21st, 2002

In a world where psychic humans known as "Precogs" can determine the events of a murder before they occur, how can Tom Anderton be guilty of killing a man he doesn't know?

Adapted from a short story by Philip K. Dick, Director Stephen Spielberg crafts a world based on the belief of fate and predetermination rather than free will. The entire world seems to have given into a system of structure and order just to make the world a safer place.  Everything is done by machines: all transportation is achieved through cars that can move up buildings, doors are opened by eye scanners, and the "Precogs" keep Washington DC free of murder.

However, the film does have a few plot holes regarding technology and there were a few too many product placements (good to know Tom Cruise shops at the GAP, I guess). But, the film has a great balance of suspense, sorrow, action, and drama. If you're a fan of Dick or Spielberg, you'll enjoy Minority Report.

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Rating; * * * * of 5 

Super 8

Starring Kyle Chandler,  Elle Fanning, and Noah Emmerich

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Release Date: June 10th, 2011


An entertaining collaboration between J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg. Super 8 definitely feels like a similar movie Spielberg had made during the 1970s, such as "Duel" or "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". The movie certainly makes great use of the child actors, making the conversations feel authentic and the character development that much more important in relation to the plot. Although the movie does have Abrams overuse of lens flare, Super 8 is certainly a suspenseful and entertaining movie about learning to accept the difficulties of loss and appreciating what you have now.


Rating: * * * * * of  5 


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Duel (Collector's Edition), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition) [Blu-ray], E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (Widescreen Edition), Jaws (30th Anniversary Edition) Star Trek (Three-Disc Edition) [Blu-ray] Star Trek (Single-Disc Edition) Lost: The Complete Collection

Paul

Starring Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Kristen Wiig, Jason Bateman, Bill Hader, Joe Lo Truglio, and the voice of Seth Rogen as Paul

Directed by Greg Mottola

Release Dates:

14 February 2011 (2011-02-14) (United Kingdom)


18 March 2011 (2011-03-18) (United States)
 
A love letter to Science Fiction, comic books, and Steven Spielberg movies. Paul is a gleefully hilarious movie starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost as the Graeme and Clive, two British geeks traveling across Amcerica at all the Alien landmarks, hoping to come across the real thing. Soon, a little green man named Paul (voiced by Seth Rogen) has stumbled in front of their RV asking for their help to return home. Soon, the trio are followed by Special Agent Zoil (Bateman) and two inept cops (Hader and Lo Truglio).


Co-Screenwriters Pegg and Frost are without, for the first time, without frequent collaborator Edgar Wright. While Wright was off writing and directing Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World, Pegg and Frost co-wrote and starred in Paul. As with Shaun of the Dead, Spaced, and Hot Fuzz, Pegg and Frost continue to showcase their wonderfully complex and hilarious "bromance" between the characters they play. It is unfortunate, then, that the rest of the human characters are not as fully developed as Graeme and Clive. I had just wished that Ruth hadn't been such an obvious caricature of anti-evolutionists or that the antigonists our bumbling heroes come across were less two-dimensional. However, Paul the alien is a wonderfully humorous, if somewhat lewd, character makes the film a joy to watch. Also, I have to give it up to Seth Rogen for making Paul into a funny, even somber character that makes you relate to his dilemma.

Rating: * * * * of 5

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Hook

Directed by Steven Speilberg

Starring: Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, and Bob Hoskins

Release Date: December 11, 1991

London: 'Pirate' lawyer Peter Banning has returned to see his children kidnapped and a note to reclaim his children signed "Hook". Now, Banning (Robin Williams) must rediscover his youthful days as Peter Pan if he wants to reclaim his children from his old nemesis, Captain Hook (Hoffman). This is a fantastic adventure, full of whimsy, comedy,and a lot of heart. Also, it doens't hurt that Spielberg crafts Neverland as a gigantic playground, full of amazing sets and brillliant designs (such as Hook's pirate ship). The casting is superb, from Wiliams playing Banning as a man trying to discover who he is, who he was, and how to be a good father to his kids, Juila Roberts (having a gleeful performance as Tinker Bell), and Dustin Hoffman as the vllainous, boastful Captain James Hook.

Rating: * * * *1/2 of 5

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