Diggedy Dave Reviews Doug Liman's EDGE OF TOMORROW

Edge of Tomorrow is a 2014 science fiction film starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. The US-backed production is directed by Doug Liman and based on the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka. The story unfolds in a near future in which a hive-like alien race, called Mimics, have hit the Earth in an unrelenting assault.  Major Bill Cage (Cruise) is a PR officer who has never seen a day of combat when he is unceremoniously demoted and then dropped untrained and ill-equipped into what amounts to little more than a suicide mission. Put into the squad of misfits, “J-Squad”, Cage is killed within minutes, inadvertenly managing to take an Alpha down with him. But, impossibly, he awakens back at the beginning of the same hellish day, and is forced to fight and die again and again. Direct physical contact with the dying alien has thrown him into a time loop dooming him to live out the same brutal combat over and over.

THE GOOD

By now you’ve seen the commercials on TV, touting this as the summer surprise hit.  I’m in total agreement with that.  What you get here is the rare chance to feel you are watching something fresh and new.  To further that, I would say watching this movie feels like eating a Big Mac.. except not made by McDonalds, it’s made by someone who cares.  So they use the freshest of ingredients, the best cut of meat, and fresh baked buns.  Oh that taste you know so well has just been re-invented and it tastes like magnificence exploded in your mouth.

As we left the theater, this awesomeness was explained by all of us (my review crew) as.. Man, I bet they just sat around a table watching Groundhogs Day, drinking and smoking saying.. dude.. What if we made a Sci-Fi version of this movie.. that would totally rock..  The other guy goes.. whoa.. mind blown.. and the other guy says.. yea let’s do it!  And they did it, VERY well.  It evokes so many emotions in a good way.  Not to mention the movie is very funny in the beginning.. It’s lighthearted but not a mood killer.  But as soon as it comes time to be serious, it is.

The visuals look fantastic, the CG on the aliens actually took a fresh approach, except for one scene that felt so reminiscent of the Matrix, but you’ll know it when you see it.  You forget that these mech suits they wear are CG, it’s just gotten to a point now that great CG is just to be expected, and it doesn’t disappoint.  You actually feel as though you are playing a video game that is so hard you literally have to play it over and over again remembering every obstacle until you get to the end.  It’s AWESOME!

You see Tom Cruise here in top form, which I think he pretty much does in all of his movies.  Whatever he believes and does with his personal life is irrelevant to the fact that this dude is a stellar actor.  He smoothly (and effortlessly) embodies 3 completely different types of people through out the movie, and no he ‘s not schizophrenic (hope that wasn’t a spoiler).  You barely even notice it until the end of the movie and realize.. that guy rocks.  The fact that he also does the majority of his own stunts is also just awesome.  This is the guy from Top Gun in the 80′s and he’s still crushing it in action movies.  Very few can still do that and do their own stunts to boot.

Emily, Emily, Emily, ooooooooohhh Emily.  She’s not only HOT in this movie, but we’ve got another top form performance here.  You can’t take your eyes off of her as you watch the movie.  There is a pose that you see her in over and over again because the day repeats.. and it NEVER gets old.  But I digress..  What we have here is the makings of our next B.A. Heroine (A-Team reference).  She sells the hardened, no nonsense, stone cold soldier, but miraculously sells the fact that she has a heart..  How she do dat???  She’s up there with Linda Hamilton, and I can easily see why Marvel wanted her so badly for Black Widow.  We all know how that turned out, but if you ask me.. I’d love to see her take on another hero, possibly Captain Marvel/Carol Danvers?

Bill Paxton…  Who doesn’t love seeing Bill “Beg for Buttermilk” Paxton.  He rocks in everything he does.  He provides some comedy relief, but it’s not forced and flows well with the movie.  He doesn’t have a huge part but I think I rather enjoy calling him Bill “Beg for Buttermilk” Paxton.

Edge of Tomorrow is going to be a big surprise for many going to see it in the theaters.  I came out loving this movie a lot more than I thought I would.

THE BAD

Nothing much to see here folks.  My only complaint is that the Hollywood-ized ending wasn’t really necessary.  They had all the weight and gravitas of a great ending.. but I’m pretty sure the ending that makes sense didn’t “test” well among audiences.  Also some of the time conundrums if you really nitpick it will slightly bother you.  But other than that.. Solid.

Go see this movie.  You owe it to yourself to see something different for a change and this gives you “new” in droves.  You won’t be disappointed.  Thank you for reading this Edge of Tomorrow Review and remember…  Stay Dorky!