Edge of Tomorrow

-
Edge of Tomorrow
Starring Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton
Directed by Doug Liman

Synopsis:
An alien race known as Mimics are taking over Europe, and General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson) orders Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) to cover combat on the beach where humanity is waging its last stand.  Cage, who serves as a public affairs officer, doesn't want to go to the battle, and is eventually forced to do so.

Completely inept and totally cowardly, Cage falls to the battleground and is subsequently killed by an Alpha, which is one of the stronger Mimics.  Before he does, however, Cage is able to kill it, and its blood absorbs with his.  Then he wakes up two days earlier just as he is dropped to basic training, and realizes that he's re-living the events.

Once again, Cage dies on the battlefield, but not before seeing Rita (Emily Blunt), who is well known as a mighty warrior who defended a previous battle and led to a Mimic decimation. Before he dies again, she tells him to find her when he wakes up, and when he starts the day over again he finds her and learns that she had also gained the power the Mimics have - the ability to reset time.  However, she lost the power and now Cage has it, and he must use it to find the Omega, which is the main hub of the alien species.

As she trains him and he dies over and over, his cowardice soon turns to bravery, as the two set out to destroy the Omega and end the alien uprising, or continuously repeat the same tragic events forever.

Review:
"Edge of Tomorrow" is based off the manga and novel "All You Need is Kill' by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.  Directed by Doug Liman ("Jumper," "Mr. and Mrs. Smith"), this Tom Cruise-led action film takes the idea of time travel and makes it something totally different.  The alien species attacking earth has the power to reverse time, which they use to their full advantage as they plan humanity's demise even when the humans think they're winning.

The story is intriguing and they mix in some moments of humor as well (especially during training when Rita keeps killing Cage over and over).  The chemistry between Cruise and Blunt carries the film and keeps you engrossed in the story, all the way to the bitter end.  Once again, Tom Cruise shows that he can headline an action film even at his age, and make it an enjoyable ride for the viewer.

Summary:
With a compelling theme, almost non-stop action, full character development and even moments of humor, "Edge of Tomorrow" delivers in every aspect, making for another spectacular summer action epic.

My Rating: A-

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Major Theatrical Releases May 2019

-
Image
Major Theatrical Releases May 2019 After the hype that is "Avengers: Endgame," May offers a massive collection of differing types of movies, enough to entertain everyone. Here are the major theatrical releases for May 2019. **THERE WILL BE NO SPOILERS** **DATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE**  The Intruder May 3 Dennis Quaid goes from starring the family-friendly "A Dog's Journey" to playing a total psycho in "The Intruder."  When a young couple purchases a home from Quaid's character Charlie, they didn't realize it came with an addition - Charlie himself, who can't seem to let his old home go.  I don't expect any twists or turns in this tale, and this looks like a film better fit for Lifetime than the big screen.  Long Shot May 3 Charlize Theron stars as Charlotte Field, the current Secretary of State and who's running for President.  Seth Rogen stars as Fred Flarsky, a...
Read more

Witch

-
Image
Witch Starring Russell Shaw, Ryan Spong, Sarah Alexandra Marks, Fabrizio Santino Directed by Craig Hinde & Marc Zammit Movies about witches are about a dime a dozen, and follow the same formula: typically set in a time period long ago (since now, fortunately, the stigma of witches has been lessened and the religious fervor has diminished), in a small Puritanical town, a girl is accused of witchcraft which spirals the town into a frenzy filled with suspicion, doubt, and murder until the witch is put to religious justice. While that's not necessarily a bad formula (Robert Eggers' "The VVitch" and Mario Bava's "Black Sunday" immediately come to mind), most films fall by the wayside. "Witch" is a small film that, at first glance, seems to follow the mold before completely shattering it in a second act twist that's daring, provocative, and works in a lot of levels, but could've been more pronounced if given a bigger budget. In the small ...
Read more

Special Review: "Midwest Sessions"

-
Image
Special Review: "Midwest Sessions" Directed by Mario Ricciardi Independent filmmaking is a fascinating concept, wherein the director and everyone involved sets out to make something unique, different, and go against the traditional status quo of what's defined as a "blockbuster." These films aren't usually seen by the masses and won't be included in the top ten highest grossing movies of all time, but they offer something those films don't: a heart and commitment by the people involved to craft something wholly distinctive that tell a story in their own way. Such is "Midwest Sessions," a local film directed by Mario Ricciardi that centers on the city of Youngstown, Ohio, and the captivating people who live there. Told in different vignettes that seem distinct and different from one another but coming together as a whole in the end, it's an engrossing film that utilizes its shoestring budget and gives great performances, decent effects a...
Read more