While the story, characters and development there of is cliched and predictable, the ending is so good that it leaves you with a good feeling about the rest of the picture. As far as a 1950's sci-fi short story, this was a good adaptation. I think it should have gotten more recognition and positive reviews than it did. It probably could have made and excellent Twilight Zone one hour story. As a feature sci-fi film, it tends to fall into the pitfalls of dragged out cliche. But given how old Philip K. Dick's story is, I find that this is forgiveable. PDK wrote it before others copied him...before his style became something we've grown used to by copies ad nauseum. What I'm trying to say is that this is an original...one others have copied and copied...hence our reaction to it. Anyway, it's worth a look. The "new protected urban world" versus the "marginalized zone of refugees" is an idea repeated time and time again in sci-fi. Perhaps this PDK story is one of the beginnings of that juxtaposition. Like I said, worth seeing.
