Home Comics/Books Review: Edge of Tomorrow
Review: Edge of Tomorrow

Review: Edge of Tomorrow

0
0

Edge_of_Tomorrow_Poster

Directed by: Doug Liman
Stars: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxon

Europe has been invaded by aliens but they have been kept from crossing the English Channel.  Now an all-out attack is set for the next day on the beaches of France to rid the alien presence. William Cage (Cruise), a spokesman for the American military, is ordered by General Brigham (Gleeson) to join the troops and capture the precious moments as they deliver victory. Cage refuses to go to the front line and is demoted and sent anyway. Cage is killed within a few minutes of landing, but wakes up alive a day before the battle.  He soon discovers he is caught in a time loop, forced to live out the same failed mission over and over. He then meets Rita Vrataski (Blunt) who had suffered the same affliction as Cage before losing it. She helps him train and become a better soldier, and together they devise a plan to stop the aliens before the impending doomed assault.

Tom Cruise fought aliens in War of the Worlds Tom Cruise fought aliens in Oblivion.  Both movies were given a lukewarm reception.  But I guess third time is a charm.  Tom Cruise fan or not, Edge of Tomorrow has everything you want to see in a summer blockbuster.  This is one excellent sci-fi actioner.  Running just under two hours, Doug Liman brings us on a rollercoaster ride filled with thrilling battle sequences, engaging characters, and top notch story telling again and again… and again.  It’s Groundhog Day, if Ground Hog Day were about invading aliens. 

Edge of Tomorrow is an exceedingly well paced film, balancing action, plot, humour, and character development seamlessly.  The movie boasts some impressive special effects.  And the set pieces are incredible, and reminiscent of the D-Day landings (there are several references to the Allied Invasion of 1944).  Liman gradually unfolds the story through multiple loops, using them to their greatest potential.  He’ll have us believe Cage is living through a new moment only to pull the rug from under us and reveal he’s actually lived through it several times before.  Clever tricks like this are used throughout the movie and it really helps move the story along, and keeps it fresh and interesting.  It is a really well structured movie and I was pleasantly surprised by the presence of humour.  I have to admit, that threw me for a second.

ibfoHjvPDV4vS4

The trailer had me believe this was a no-laughs sci-fi movie.  I was expecting something in the vein of Battle: Los Angeles. But I found myself laughing. Some of the scenes in which Cage tries to adapt to his new ability are the most fun.  And when he begins training with Rita, well, let’s just say, I have never been amused by someone being shot over and over. I think Tom Cruise might even give Sean Bean a run for his money for the most onscreen deaths.

Tom Cruise is excellent as William Cage.  He brings his usual Cruise persona but plays each loop with fresh eyes.  He is able to maintain a certain charm and humourous deposition despite his circumstances.  And the amount of energy he brings to the screen cannot be measured by any means.  Whatever you may think of his personal beliefs his commitment to a role is rarely equalled.  Emily Blunt brings a welcome change to the female action hero as Rita, suiting up in metal armour and carrying a rather impressive, and intimating, blade.  Think Commander Shepard from the Mass Effect series.  She is strong, agile, athletic, and fierce.   She does have a soft side that eventually emerges, hidden under a thick skin of war, but we only get a glimpse.  Cruise and Blunt have a wonderful chemistry together and their relationship is developed nicely, never feeling forced or contrived.  Predictable, maybe, but that’s Hollywood.  

_1373935068 (1)

CQs5R

 Although the story is well told it is let down by its originality.  I know it is based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s ‘All You Need Is Kill’ and therefore it is an adaption but don’t be a punk. I’m specifically talking about the mechanics in which the aliens operate.  Anyone who has seen The Avengers (which is the entire world with a cinema) and was not impressed by the invading alien army deactivating when their mother computer/ship was destroyed, will know what I mean.  And if you haven’t see The Avengers but you have seen Independence Day, you’ll still know what I mean.  Hollywood seems to have a refusal to come up something other than “kill the root and the rest will die” concept.  If the film were not handled as expertly as it was Edge of Tomorrow could have been another studio dud.  Luckily, that was not the case.

Overall, Edge of Tomorrow was a great cinema experience with simple, concise story telling with plenty of thrills, spills, and Tom Cruise being killed for about 80% of the movie.  It is nice to see fun returning to the blockbuster film. 

[easyreview cat1title=”The Arcade Verdict” cat1detail=”” cat1rating=”8″]

[Words, Brian Dunster]

Facebook
Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
SOCIALICON