Edge of Tomorrow Review
Man, I love the summer movie season, I know I have
said that before, but damn do I love the summer movie season. Most of all, I
love it when we are constantly bombarded by film brand after film brand, summer
after summer, but there is still room left for surprise. With all the
superheroes, fairy tales, and reboots that are constantly being thrown at us,
it can sometimes be hard to remember what it feels like to be wowed. It can
sometimes be hard to remember that spark of genius captured on film. I have
heard people say that we live in a world be over-saturated by genre fare and
they are not wrong. But I still firmly believe that the spark of originality in
this hot summer season is still alive and well. “Edge of Tomorrow” proves this.
“Edge of Tomorrow” is a high-concept summer movie.
It feels like pieces of other movies thrown into a blender, because that is
exactly what it is. There is some “Groundhog Day,” some “Pacific Rim,” some “Battle:
Los Angeles,” some “Source Code” and even a little “Saving Private Ryan” for
good measure. With so many influences in this pot, I am amazed by how much of
it felt original and felt like something I had not seen before. “Edge of
Tomorrow” is engrossing entertainment; it features everything you could
possibly want from a summer blockbuster. There is tons of action, great
one-liners, great humor, beautiful women (and men if you like that sort of
thing.), a pinch of romance but not enough that it is sappy and some great
music to top it all off. Best yet, there are tons of big twists and turns laced
within the entire film, which made that much better. Never once does the film
try to cheat the audience or pull some story thread out of the air for convenience.
Everything is well-told and well-made, and for a film not based on some other story,
that is a big deal.
“Edge of Tomorrow” begins in a similar vein to “Battle:
Los Angeles,” there are frantic news reports about an invasion by creatures
from another world. We learn that they have conquered Europe and everything
feels very bleak. But after 5 years of warfare, the Earthlings win their first
victory thanks to Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) and her use of a mechanized
exoskeleton technology. Because of the exoskeletons success, the armies of the
world are strapping every solider with one of their own. The marketing and discussion
of this weapon has been led by Major Bill Cage (Tom Cruise) and he believes
victory against the Mimics (as the aliens are referred to as) will be imminent.
Although Cage is in the army, he has never been in
combat. So when the British want them to help lead the charge into France, he
is hesitant. When he learns an underlying sinister truth about the reason for
his involvement, he tries to flee, only to be knocked out. When he wakes up, he
is a private and he nearly ready to be shipped to the beaches of France to
fight off the Mimics. Cage dies, but he discovers that he immediately appears
back to the morning before the invasion, as if everything that transpired
before was a dream. Every time he dies, he goes back to the same morning. It
does not take long for Rita and Cage to notice each other, and Rita makes it
clear that she knows what is going on with Cage. So they ally up to take down
the Mimics once and for all.
Of course, that isn't the whole story. But what fun
would it be to spoil it all for you.
What makes “Edge of Tomorrow” work is Tom Cruise. I
remember last summer writing a detailed piece about the death of the Movie Star
Vehicle. Still to this day, I feel that if your movie isn’t based on a popular
superhero or fairy tale or isn't based of a top-selling trilogy of books or if
it isn’t remake of something that was popular in yesteryear, your film won’t
sell. The use of A-list stars doesn’t seem to quite the same impact as it used
to. Well, it seems Tom Cruise is determined to prove us wrong. Say what you
will about the man and his personal life, but constantly sells everything he
makes. His charismatic charm is undeniable in this movie and he creates a
believable action hero. I like that his character never really feels like Tom
Cruise being Tom Cruise (except for a couple parts), and that he feels like a
real character most of the film. I have been a fan of Emily Blunt for a long,
long time and she does not disappoint here. She is able to successfully pass
herself off as an intimidating badass, and she looks great doing it too.
The film also features Brandon Gleeson and Bill
Paxton. Gleeson and Cruise previously worked together on “Mission Impossible II”
back in 2000, but their chemistry is much better this time due to actually
playing characters this time. I have always been a big fan of Bill Paxton, and
his turn on ABC’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” really raised his stock in my book.
I love that he is still somewhat channeling his character from that show, but
also creating somebody different. Both Gleeson and Paxton display wonderful
effort.
The special effects on the aliens are magnificent
and the action scenes are priceless. I have a deep suspicion that the crowds
will be jumping and hollering in their seats during several of the action
sequences in the film. I love that the aliens in this film kind of feel like
aliens we haven’t seen before. No walking penises with big heads, no octopus
men, no multi-tentacle monsters. These aliens have a fresh look to them, something
that looks like nothing I have seen before. I like that a lot about the film.
If the only thing I can really say that is bad about
the film is the constant use of going back in time, then I think that is quite
good. Yes, “Edge of Tomorrow” is very much a science fiction “Groundhog Day.”
But I remember never getting impatient with “Groundhog Day,” and I think I
slightly did with “Edge of Tomorrow ” Sometimes I felt the day would reset
simply to make a lame joke, and that got dry after awhile. Still I was so enthralled
by everything else that I didn't care and I don’t think you will either.
I really hope people are as surprised as I am by
this one. I hope everybody gets a chance to get out to the theater and support
this movie. For not being based on something popular, this will be a hard sell.
But no matter what, I love this movie. It’s a perfect way to heat up the summer
season and it’s a great outing for Tom Cruise.
FINAL GRADE: A
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