‘Minority Report’ 4K UHD Review
Stars: Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton, Max von Sydow, Steve Harris, Neal McDonough, Patrick Kilpatrick, Jessica Capshaw | Written by Scott Frank, Jon Cohen, Philip K. Dick | Directed by Steven Spielberg
Two Hollywood heavyweights – Steven Spielberg behind the camera and Tom Cruise in front of it – have surprisingly only collaborated twice. Despite their towering status in the industry, their partnership was limited to Minority Report in 2002 and War of the Worlds in 2005, which feels almost hard to believe given how perfectly their styles aligned.
Now, as Minority Report celebrates its 23rd anniversary, the film arrives on 4K Ultra HD for the very first time. This long-awaited upgrade gives physical media fans the chance to own Spielberg’s sleek, visionary sci-fi thriller in both HD and Ultra HD, and revisit its gripping, future-noir adventure as it was always meant to be seen.
John Anderton, a Washington, D.C. detective in the year 2054 working in Precrime, a special unit of the police department that arrests murderers before they have committed the actual crime. Precrime bases its work on the visions of three psychics or precogs whose prophecies of future events are never in error. When Anderton discovers that he has been identified as the future killer of a man he’s never met, he is forced to become a fugitive from his own colleagues as he tries to uncover the mystery of the victim-to-be’s identity.
Minority Report is, for me, one of Steven Spielberg’s very best films – high praise when you consider the sheer depth and quality of his filmography. Anchored by a razor-sharp screenplay and packed with thrilling, expertly staged action sequences, the film never loses momentum, with not a single dull moment from start to finish.
Paramount Home Entertainment has transferred Minority Report to 4K in 2160p, presented in widescreen format. There are several audio tracks included: an English and a French DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1, and an English audio description. There are also English and French subtitles.
Minority Report is presented here in stunning clarity, with bright, vibrant colours and clean, well-balanced audio throughout. There are no distracting digital artefacts or audio anomalies to speak of, making this 4K presentation feel like watching the film anew. Crucially, Paramount Home Entertainment hasn’t settled for a bare-bones release. Alongside the 4K Ultra HD disc, a Blu-ray packed with bonus features is also included. Here’s a look at everything on offer:
Special Features:
- The Future According to Steven Spielberg
- Inside the World of Precrime
- Philip K. Dick, Steven Spielberg and Minority Report
- Minority Report: Props of the Future
- Highlights from Minority Report: From The Set
- Minority Report: Commercials of the Future
- Previz Sequences
- From Story to Screen
- Deconstructing Minority Report
- The Stunts of Minority Report
- ILM and Minority Report
- Final Report
- Production Concepts
- Storyboard Sequences
- Trailers
Beyond the extensive bonus features already listed, Paramount has also included a redeemable digital copy of the film, allowing you to watch Minority Report anywhere you have an internet connection. While the convenience of a digital copy is always welcome, it’s worth remembering that digital libraries can disappear without warning. That’s exactly why physical media still reigns supreme – when you own the discs, you truly own the movie.
***** 5/5
If you enjoy sci-fi thrillers as much as I do, I highly recommend Minority Report. If you’re in the US, head over to Amazon and order your copy today. Or UK readers can wait till February 2nd and grab the film on 4K Steelbook.
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