Books2Movies Club discussion

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Another example of Philip K. Dick's genius, Minority Report is a story tackling free will, crime prevention, paranoia and societies of future, the themes he liked to return to a lot.

The same-name movie made by Steven Spielberg and starring Tom Cruise in the main role, was also a huge success, offering its own take of the story, to put it mildly, considering it nearly completely altered it. For better or for worse, we'll see now, after reading the story first, and watching the movie afterwards, preferably sooner than later, if we wish to analyze them properly, before time turns our thoughts to dust :)

Your thoughts and feelings about the main themes of the story and/or the movie, the story and/or the movie themselves and/or the comparison between them, they are all the most welcome.

This was great story, that raises some really good questions. (view spoiler)[The first being, is the crime prevention really so good idea, if there is a bit of chance the system isn't so perfect; and the second, is it really all right to use human beings as precogs that way, for higher good? (hide spoiler)]

The premise was so confusing and convoluted - something not really unusual with P.H.Dick - but rewarding in the end. It is impossible to say what impressed me the most without spoiling the story to those who haven't read it. (view spoiler)[Things that were predicted happened right because they were known to those who weren't supposed to know but as they were they could change the prediction but didn't right because they knew, but on the other hand, hadn't they known, that chain of events wouldn't ever happen, and... What did I say? Impossible even to retell! (hide spoiler)]

Movie is quite but not so much different. The protagonist isn't fat and bald, the epilogue definitely isn't the same, but the basic moral questions are the same. Let's be honest, Spielberg isn't the kind of director to do the film in P.H.Dick's dark mind fashion. The merits of the movie are the stunning visuals and really good storytelling on its own. Despite some cheesy moments, one definitely doesn't have to read the original to enjoy it greatly.

So I just joined the group, this was my first book with you guys and I have to say I literally breezed through it this morning. I really enjoyed it, and I've already collected a copy of Divergent as well as Rear Window. Just wondering, has anyone read Philip Dick's Androids?

Justin wrote: "Just wondering, has anyone read Philip Dick's Androids?"

Oh yes, it was one of the most interesting reads in the group! There were two threads about it, one for the book and one for the movies. Freely check the links and comment :)

Ah, thank you! I will be delving into those opinion boxes later as I am about to get off of work and enjoy what's left of my weekend. Androids was absolutely brilliant though, left me in disbelief after thinking how many times I had seen Blade Runner and how staggeringly different the two are. Alas, both are masterful.

Hi guys,

My name's Natasha and I haven't been active yet in this group but I've been a member for some time since the name and concept attracted me.
I'm kind of new in all this group stuff but now I have some experience at 2 other groups.

So, you're the 3rd and the you know how they say, the 3rd's a charm ;)

I'd like to join in on THe minority report.
Are we reading this in March or April? Sorry,maybe it's a stupid question but every group has a completely different set of rules.

If it's not too much to ask if someone can post a few words for me:)

Thanks and good night to me (haven't slept all night, it's 7:20 here) or maybe I should better say good morning lol

Natasha

Hey Natasha! Minority Report was for February... but feel free to comment on this thread whenever you've read it...

Ok... so I just finished the book (a bit late, i know!)... It just didn't grab me so it took me forever to finish it (I could only do a few pages at a time since something would just annoy me and i'd put it down)...

So, seeing the movie first, the book ended up being quite disappointing for me.... i understand that this is a novella and that it's short, but 110 pages are quite enough for some things to have been properly explained... Everything was haphazardly written and the ending unsatisfying... For example, when accused of committing a future crime, Anderton immediately blames his wife?! Why?! This is never explained... Only for him to side with her again, a few pages later... And this wife doesn't even mind that he accused her of plotting against him?! They just continue interacting as usual?! Truly unbelievable and silly - what kind of a relationship do these people have?!... Similar issues arose between Anderton and Witwer... After a major conflict and accusations, they randomly ally with each other?! What ?! Why?! My biggest problem with this story was the unrealistic interaction between the characters! How everyone just accused everyone one moment and then believed them blindly the next...

While it was such a great and unusual idea and plot, there were lots of unclear things in terms of the precogs and the minority report. Movie followed the same general idea, but was completely different in terms that it was MUCH more satisfying and everything was explained... At the very least - the movie had a point... the short story seemed pointless... (view spoiler)[Anderton seems to be a bad guy in the end (just so he could prove that his precog system works, even though, realistically it may not!!), but suffers very little consequences! (hide spoiler)]

I think you're looking for answers to questions that don't need asking. Everything you complained about was intended by the author.

Justin wrote: "I think you're looking for answers to questions that don't need asking. Everything you complained about was intended by the author."

I don't understand... why would the author intend for the human interactions to be unrealistic ?! plus, how do you know that the author intended this?!

If you read dicks other works you will see a trend of detachment. His characters are all hollow vessels wary of everyone including themselves as they battle identity crises so much sometimes that one can have a difficult time caring much beyond the general plot. Dick was in and out of mental institutions with a track record for instability. The guy was borderline schizophrenic, and toys with the identity crisis concept as well as just raw mystery with no rhyme or reason.

ahhh! that does explain a lot :)

I enjoyed the story (although I read it quite awhile ago and have forgotten many of the details) but I do recall feeling a bit lost reading it, despite having a vague idea from the film. The ending and storyline in the film is very different, and while I enjoyed the two as separate entities, I actually enjoyed the movie better on this one. I still rewatch it occasionally and it's still brilliant every time.