The Best Original Film This Summer
I'm aware that this film is an adaptation of the Japanese novel, All You Need Is Kill, but my stance still stands. This is an original film in the sense that most audience members won't know that it is based on a book. There was no promotion of "based on..." in the trailers or promos and no huge outcry that the characters aren't Japanese or that the lead female is suppose to be American. So this is original to the general audience. Too bad the general audience doesn't like original... or Tom Cruise.
The Plot
When Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) gets drafted into the world's final strike against an alien invasion that has taken over Europe, he is one of the first to die during the storming of the beach. However, upon death he immediately wakes up the day before the invasion. He lives the invasion over and over again till he discovers that the resistance's greatest warrior, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), once had this ability to relive the day. An ability he has stolen upon a killing a rare alien among the invasion force. With this ability and Rita's training, Cage must continue to relive the horrific atrocity of war in hopes of eventually finding a way to save the world from an alien menace that can turn back time.
Analysis
Did that Plot Synopsis hurt your head while reading it? Yeah, I tried to explain the plot without giving too much away. But a point that I want to analyze is the need for more original films and why the general audience doesn't want them.
The current age that we live in is the age of remakes, reboots, and comic books. If it isn't a well established franchise then there is a high chance that it won't do well. This is no exception. Film buffs and the more informed general audience member desire original films with some blind belief that an original film will be loved by the audience. Yes, there are some cases when the name attached to project involves Christopher Nolan. But what Tom Cruise has going against him in this film is his last sci-fi effort before this was not well received. I like Oblivion, but if people ever asked me if they should definitely see it my answer would be, "See it when you got nothing better to do and want to pass some time." The film left a bad vibe in people's thoughts. And this film looks like the prequel to Oblivion even though this film has ACTUAL ALIENS, which Oblivion was lacking. That's a minor spoiler for Oblivion by the way.
Which is why original films usually need that name to pull people in. And because of Oblivion, Tom Cruise's name was no longer a solid pull to get people to watch an original sci-fi film. The same can be said about Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim. While it did do better than Edge of Tomorrow's opening numbers, it still didn't amount to what was expected. It did make enough to warrant the possibility of a sequel, but from the way Edge is tracking it doesn't seem like it might make back the budget for a long time. Which is a shame because this film is really good.
Review
This movie is good. I mean really good. It may not be knock your socks off good, but unless you can't stand Tom Cruise then you won't be able to see that this movie is good. The trailers don't really give an idea about Cruise's character. The trailers do show him being a badass soldier in an exo-suit and the concept of "Live, Die, Repeat." But what they don't show is that his character actually has a huge developing arc. His character is a coward. A deserter. Someone who was ordered to fight, but instead tries to find ways to run away only to wind up being put into the front lines of the battlefield. The ability to relive the day each time he dies and still retain his memories allows him to already know what's going to happen, making him seem like a badass who can kill several aliens without any training. It is actually nice to see Cruise play a role that is pretty much the opposite of the highly skilled and efficient Ethan Hunt character from his Mission Impossible series. And if you don't like Tom Cruise, you should know that he does get killed a lot in this movie.
Emily Blunt plays Rita, The Angel of Verdun or The Full Metal Bitch. I'll let you guess which nickname she hates the most. Given that the film is based on a Japanese novel that was adapted into a manga, I'm not surprised that the female character is the strongest or over powered. It is a common trope in Japanese fiction to have powerful female characters that are far more proficient than the male characters even to the point where they serve as their mentors. That is the case for Blunt's character in the film. The only thing that would completely have her fall in line with those female Japanese characters is if there was a scene in her underwear, which never happens. But she's still sexy. You'll know which part I'm talking about that showcases that fact. But back to the point, she's powerful and ultra serious. This is a role that Blunt has yet to play and she does it so well. She delivers a strong performance that convinces you she is the greatest soldier to walk the Earth. I don't even think she smiles at all throughout the whole film. Which one would think an ultra serious badass would just drag the film down, but it actually adds to the fun and humor.
Bill Paxton delivers a memorable performance as a commanding officer from Kentucky with Brendan Gleeson having a nice little bit of being the person responsible for Cruise getting into this mess. The rest of the cast come off as heavy cliches instead of the well thought out cliche characters that Cruise and Blunt portray. I'm being serious, the supporting cast besides Paxton and Gleeson were really nothing special because they're stereotypes. But their stereotypes doe help with the story... or maybe not.
The story is definitely an interesting one as it basically repeats the same two days over and over again at various different times. What is brilliant is the way it didn't feel like such a drag because it was repeating itself over and over again. Each time definitely felt different, mainly because of the journey that Cruise's Cage goes through from coward to near indestructible killing machine. It works out nicely despite probably a few moments when the whole repeating might get on one's nerve, but not on mine. So just fair warning. It does repeat.
I should mention the aliens real quick. To quote one of my favorite movie reviewers, these aliens are "metal tornadoes of death." While their designs may not be impressive the idea of them spinning and moving in an unpredictable fashion really does make them a very dangerous threat. You believe these things can kill you, unlike the stupid Chitauri in The Avengers.
Final Thoughts
This is a movie that has to be seen to believe. Sure I can say it is good, but to say more as to why it is amazing would probably spoil it for the viewer. Go see this film! I'm urging you. If you love sci-fi and hope for studio heads to take more chances on original films, then please support this film. It has a really good story, really good characters, and incredible action for action lovers. Plus, must I reiterate to Tom Cruise haters that he dies a lot in this movie?
SCORE: 8.9/10 - The best Tom Cruise Sci-Fi since his collaborations with Steven Spielberg
Analysis
Did that Plot Synopsis hurt your head while reading it? Yeah, I tried to explain the plot without giving too much away. But a point that I want to analyze is the need for more original films and why the general audience doesn't want them.
The current age that we live in is the age of remakes, reboots, and comic books. If it isn't a well established franchise then there is a high chance that it won't do well. This is no exception. Film buffs and the more informed general audience member desire original films with some blind belief that an original film will be loved by the audience. Yes, there are some cases when the name attached to project involves Christopher Nolan. But what Tom Cruise has going against him in this film is his last sci-fi effort before this was not well received. I like Oblivion, but if people ever asked me if they should definitely see it my answer would be, "See it when you got nothing better to do and want to pass some time." The film left a bad vibe in people's thoughts. And this film looks like the prequel to Oblivion even though this film has ACTUAL ALIENS, which Oblivion was lacking. That's a minor spoiler for Oblivion by the way.
Which is why original films usually need that name to pull people in. And because of Oblivion, Tom Cruise's name was no longer a solid pull to get people to watch an original sci-fi film. The same can be said about Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim. While it did do better than Edge of Tomorrow's opening numbers, it still didn't amount to what was expected. It did make enough to warrant the possibility of a sequel, but from the way Edge is tracking it doesn't seem like it might make back the budget for a long time. Which is a shame because this film is really good.
Review
This movie is good. I mean really good. It may not be knock your socks off good, but unless you can't stand Tom Cruise then you won't be able to see that this movie is good. The trailers don't really give an idea about Cruise's character. The trailers do show him being a badass soldier in an exo-suit and the concept of "Live, Die, Repeat." But what they don't show is that his character actually has a huge developing arc. His character is a coward. A deserter. Someone who was ordered to fight, but instead tries to find ways to run away only to wind up being put into the front lines of the battlefield. The ability to relive the day each time he dies and still retain his memories allows him to already know what's going to happen, making him seem like a badass who can kill several aliens without any training. It is actually nice to see Cruise play a role that is pretty much the opposite of the highly skilled and efficient Ethan Hunt character from his Mission Impossible series. And if you don't like Tom Cruise, you should know that he does get killed a lot in this movie.
Emily Blunt plays Rita, The Angel of Verdun or The Full Metal Bitch. I'll let you guess which nickname she hates the most. Given that the film is based on a Japanese novel that was adapted into a manga, I'm not surprised that the female character is the strongest or over powered. It is a common trope in Japanese fiction to have powerful female characters that are far more proficient than the male characters even to the point where they serve as their mentors. That is the case for Blunt's character in the film. The only thing that would completely have her fall in line with those female Japanese characters is if there was a scene in her underwear, which never happens. But she's still sexy. You'll know which part I'm talking about that showcases that fact. But back to the point, she's powerful and ultra serious. This is a role that Blunt has yet to play and she does it so well. She delivers a strong performance that convinces you she is the greatest soldier to walk the Earth. I don't even think she smiles at all throughout the whole film. Which one would think an ultra serious badass would just drag the film down, but it actually adds to the fun and humor.
Bill Paxton delivers a memorable performance as a commanding officer from Kentucky with Brendan Gleeson having a nice little bit of being the person responsible for Cruise getting into this mess. The rest of the cast come off as heavy cliches instead of the well thought out cliche characters that Cruise and Blunt portray. I'm being serious, the supporting cast besides Paxton and Gleeson were really nothing special because they're stereotypes. But their stereotypes doe help with the story... or maybe not.
The story is definitely an interesting one as it basically repeats the same two days over and over again at various different times. What is brilliant is the way it didn't feel like such a drag because it was repeating itself over and over again. Each time definitely felt different, mainly because of the journey that Cruise's Cage goes through from coward to near indestructible killing machine. It works out nicely despite probably a few moments when the whole repeating might get on one's nerve, but not on mine. So just fair warning. It does repeat.
I should mention the aliens real quick. To quote one of my favorite movie reviewers, these aliens are "metal tornadoes of death." While their designs may not be impressive the idea of them spinning and moving in an unpredictable fashion really does make them a very dangerous threat. You believe these things can kill you, unlike the stupid Chitauri in The Avengers.
Final Thoughts
This is a movie that has to be seen to believe. Sure I can say it is good, but to say more as to why it is amazing would probably spoil it for the viewer. Go see this film! I'm urging you. If you love sci-fi and hope for studio heads to take more chances on original films, then please support this film. It has a really good story, really good characters, and incredible action for action lovers. Plus, must I reiterate to Tom Cruise haters that he dies a lot in this movie?
SCORE: 8.9/10 - The best Tom Cruise Sci-Fi since his collaborations with Steven Spielberg
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