Tom Cruise
Emily Blunt
Bill Paxton
Brendan Gleeson

Christopher McQuarrie
Jez Butterworth
John-Henry Butterworth

113 mins.
Action, Adventure, Mystery
June 6, 2014

Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of sci-fi action and violence, language and brief suggestive material. (MPAA)

“Edge of Tomorrow” is a great summer action film. It’s an all-around very good film, as well. It does linger a bit too long, just a bit: While the development of the relationship between Blunt’s and Cruise’s characters was necessary, just before the very end of the film (the final major sequence involving what’s called the Omega Mimic, more on that later), the writers and director could have trusted the audience a bit more and shown a bit less.

However, the middle of the film is flawless in pacing and narrative drive. The very beginning of the film presents an effective introduction to the impetus for the events to come: The use of cuts among news footage is nothing new, but still, it’s used well here. That opening is brisk and appropriate.

This film’s next section is necessary but nothing stands out. During that section, we’re told who Cruise’s character is: a PR man who recently lost his firm and joins the United States Army as a media talking head in order to exploit the invasion of an alien species on Earth. He’s unwillingly thrust into actual battle, instead. There’s humor in that section, which helps to add a good rhythm to the events, but it’s not actually funny. We’ve seen and heard stuff like this before. Still, it’s competently executed, and I liked the story in and of itself. Also, while the ideas may not be new, you may not expect this kind of character (especially played by Cruise at this point in his career) to be in this kind of movie.

After that section, when the battles and repeats start, “Edge of Tomorrow” soars. Also, the humor begins to work a bit better, as a result of the well-chosen bits of repetition. 3D added a clarity to the battle sequences with the aliens, called Mimics. You don’t have to see it in 3D, but I’m very glad that I did. The Mimics look great (they’re like a hyper-version of the Sentinels from “The Matrix”), and the 3D really adds a welcome depth to not only their movements but also the human soldiers’ movements (including Cruise and Blunt) in their exoskeletons, which include weapons and enhance the soldiers’ strength and power. The color template of the battle scenes reminded me of “World War Z” and a bit of “Saving Private Ryan.” This was expert, thrilling stuff. I could feel my guts churning with excitement.

If you’ve seen this film’s trailer, then Cruise’s first repeat in time will come as no surprise; but it’s still a true thrill. The subsequent repeats are edited effectively and add solid layers to the story. This film really hits its stride throughout those repeats, and the pacing is textbook perfect. The logic of the repeats is that, since Cruise killed an Alpha Mimic during his first time in battle and was bathed in its blood as a result just before he died, he was able to tap into the Omega Mimic’s (think Mother Alien from the “Alien” series) ability to control time. He can’t control time other than to repeat the same day every time that he’s killed. This power goes away, as it did with Blunt’s character, when the Alpha Mimic’s blood is transfused out of the infected person’s system in some way. So Cruise must figure out a way to stop the Mimic before that happens to him.

He seeks Blunt’s help (per her request during one of the repeats) in order to figure out how to do this. She trains him and makes him the best soldier on the field (after being the worst in a blundering sort of way, but not overly so or in an overtly comedic manner). There’s more to the story, but that’s enough for the purposes of this review.

Blunt was cast perfectly as a celebrity female soldier who was successful at defeating the Mimics during a previous battle. I believed her at all times. When she simply says, “Come and find me when you wake up,” you get it; this is no joke. Cruise does a fine job, too. He doesn’t get in the way, and director Doug Limon uses Cruise’s natural charisma effectively during the opening moments. His performance in this film is a cousin to his work in “Minority Report.”

I really enjoyed “Edge of Tomorrow,” even during its slower sections. Yes, the ending’s nothing much, but there’s enough action, story, and character development throughout the film to fully satisfy. I really wanted to see this film, and, thankfully, it delivers.

Verdict: Very Good

About: (Source: edgeoftomorrow)

OSCAR® NOMINEE TOM CRUISE (THE “MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE” FILMS, “COLLATERAL,” “JERRY MAGUIRE”) AND EMILY BLUNT (“THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA,” “THE ADJUSTMENT BUREAU”) STAR IN WARNER BROS. PICTURES’ AND VILLAGE ROADSHOW PICTURES’ SCI-FI THRILLER “EDGE OF TOMORROW,” UNDER THE DIRECTION OF DOUG LIMAN (“THE BOURNE IDENTITY,” “MR. & MRS. SMITH”).

THE EPIC ACTION OF “EDGE OF TOMORROW” UNFOLDS IN A NEAR FUTURE IN WHICH AN ALIEN RACE HAS HIT THE EARTH IN AN UNRELENTING ASSAULT, UNBEATABLE BY ANY MILITARY UNIT IN THE WORLD.

MAJOR WILLIAM CAGE (CRUISE) IS AN OFFICER WHO HAS NEVER SEEN A DAY OF COMBAT WHEN HE IS UNCEREMONIOUSLY DROPPED INTO WHAT AMOUNTS TO A SUICIDE MISSION. KILLED WITHIN MINUTES, CAGE NOW FINDS HIMSELF INEXPLICABLY THROWN INTO A TIME LOOP—FORCING HIM TO LIVE OUT THE SAME BRUTAL COMBAT OVER AND OVER, FIGHTING AND DYING AGAIN…AND AGAIN.

BUT WITH EACH BATTLE, CAGE BECOMES ABLE TO ENGAGE THE ADVERSARIES WITH INCREASING SKILL, ALONGSIDE SPECIAL FORCES WARRIOR RITA VRATASKI (BLUNT). AND, AS CAGE AND RITA TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE ALIENS, EACH REPEATED ENCOUNTER GETS THEM ONE STEP CLOSER TO DEFEATING THE ENEMY.