Edge of Tomorrow (Action, Sci Fi, 2014) (12A) D: Doug Liman: P: W: Christopher McQuarrie (Screenplay) Hiroshi Sakuraka: C: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Tony Way 1h 53m. USA.
TAGLINE : Live. Die. Repeat
Synopsis: A military officer is brought into an alien war against an extraterrestrial enemy who can rest the day and know the future. When this officer is enabled with the same power, he teams up with a Special Forces warrior to try and end the war.
This epic sci-fi had the hard work already done, director Doug Limman (Bourne, Mr and Mrs) and Writer Christopher McQuarrie (Usual suspects, Jack Reacher), had an easy job bringing this unique Manga story to life. Edge of Tomorrow is based on the Hiroshi Sakurazka novel All You Need Is Kill, the stage set for a ground breaking sci-fi mystery story; originally casted with Brad Pitt as the lead. A reluctant and clumsy Cage (Cruise) is drafted into the army to fight a species of aliens who are always a step ahead in the war.
Scaling down the Japanese mega weapons, and reducing the need for large-scale destruction the film instead tests it laurels on the leading couple, while the other characters are strong they lose potency for the sake of Cruise who instead of battling with a team throughout spends most of the film going it alone or with just Blunt by his side.
The epic promotion of Live.Die.Repeat is a huge clue to the crucial groundhog day effect to expect in this film, while its essential the technique can be really boring but it’s made bearable through humor and kept to a minimum. But once this element is fully comprehended and done to death, the deeper mysteries of the plot start to unfold. WIthout getting too technical Edge of Tomorrow starts to become a real sci fi movie, playing on realms and alien elements that are actually alien! Too often do we find aliens that we can understand.. this isn’t so here, a brilliant twist.
Much in the same way that Snowpiercer (2013) tried to bridge the gap between east and west, while avoiding the misdemeanours and sensationalism both movies reduce the massive scale of the weaponry and warfare. It’s understandable as the audiences are very different but it would be commendable to exact or expand on what was there. A great opportunity lost.
Rita (Blunt) and her downsized buster sword and who sadly isn’t a Japanese teen, is formidable throughout as is Cruise, Paxton and Gleeson, despite their many battles they remain pretty faced in the sea of CGI robotics, which look impressive. I have to admit that the modern robot effects that have been perfected through such films as Transformers (2007) and Terminator Salvation (2009) and are looking more robust and evolving well, the same can’t be said for the mushy faced blue glowing aliens who looked very out of key, personally I feel that the non mecha approach should be done with real characters with enhanced CGI
Generally the film is good, it’s got the typical edge of the all american hero and therefore you can pretty much work out the entire plot from the beginning but it had elements that make it interesting to watch. It does broach aspects of the world of Manga in a slightly tame manner but what it lacks there it does make up for by introducing a strong element from the original book about the aliens battle techniques.. I can’t say anymore I’d give it away…
Rating : 7/10
V: Without knowing the great material that was used originally I could easily give it a higher score of an 8 but I gotta take a point off for weakening a great Japanese novel/comic series.
R: Looper (2012) , 12 Monkeys (1995) , Pacific Rim (2013), Patlabor (1989+),
Q: “There’s a Full Metal Bitch.”
L: Groundhog Day Effect, Time Travel, Mecha Movies, Manga to Hollywood
5B: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Tony Way
DGI: Knock a shot for every repetition
Kisha
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