How prescient this movie was for 1992 still blows me away.

**Martin:** I keep thinking about something Greg told me. He said that our codes were based on an entirely different system than Russian codes, so this box really wouldn't work on them. The only thing it would really be good for is spying on Americans.

**Mother:** Sure, with a box like that, they could read the FBI's mail.

**Whistler:** Or the CIA's, or the White House's.

**Crease:** No wonder they don't want to share with the other children.

Nine years before 9/11 would embolden the American government to break loose of the shackles they felt held them back from discovering the plot, and 21 years before Snowden blew the whistle on PRISM, XKeyscore, Tempora, and other worldwide global surveillance efforts to spy on citizens.

The scene before, with Marty and Cosmo on the roof of PlayTronics was already prescient for 1992, what with Cosmo's understanding of how important data was about to become on a global level, but Marty and the team recognizing why the [spoiler]NSA _really_ wanted the box, and paid for Janek to develop it,[/spoiler] was scarily accurate for an early 90s heist thriller with a comic slant about aging phone phreakers and hackers.

Abbott responding to Whistler's request for peace on earth and goodwill toward men with "We are the United States government. We don't do that sort of thing" is still as hilariously and sadly accurate in 2024 as it was in 1992.

A great night in with a top cast having fun.

"I could have joined the NSA but they found out my parents were married!"

The DVD box proudly proclaims that the film is one of the most satisfying suspense films ever! Naturally this is hyperbole from the marketing department, but it's stuff like that that can make or break the chance of a viewers expectation level being achieved.

I opened this write up with a funny line spoken by Robert Redford because having just finished the film I feel all jolly, and that is a priceless thing after watching one of the most suspenseful films ever! (groan). This film is a multi genre offering, it has pretty much most bases covered and features a cast of actors from different eras clearly enjoying the work that they are doing. There is no earth shattering twists or performances to match, it's a tight and intelligent script that's written to provide two hours of pure entertainment. It does have suspense, and it does make you think about how technology can be an incredible tool/weapon, but chiefly the film is one that you all can watch during a night in and be safe in the knowledge that your rental or TV time hasn't been wasted. 7.5/10

Footnote: The ending is fabulous, I really should go for a higher rating purely for the incredulous looks that James Earl Jones gives as the final reel draws to a close.