The V7 Experience: Edge Of Tomorrow
Three movies in three weeks? I'm pretty sure I've never managed that before, but here we are with barely a week in May not dominated by a trip to the "pictures". This time, something a little unexpected: Edge Of Tomorrow...
Military "spin doctor" Tom Cruise gets sent in with the first wave in what might just be near-future mankind's last hope against an alien race that seems to know our every move. A reluctant combatant to say the least, our "hero" doesn't last long...
...but then he wakes up back at the start, the day before the invasion, and has to live it all again. And again. And again...
That's the premise for a somewhat unexpected entry in the Blockbuster listings for this summer - and, of all things, a Tom Cruise movie. Without the support of a big-name franchise, this one has no choice but to stand on its own merits, and one might offer the advice to "approach with caution" - but actually, such an offer would be misguided. This works, and works well with a pretty small cast for such a big movie - there's very little that could be said to be "wrong" about this (perhaps the exo-suits are a bit too "stompy" for dealing with such a fast-moving enemy). The story is pretty tight, Cruise makes a good "hero-you-hate" at the beginning, and you gradually warn to him as his predicament gets harsher and harsher, and he realises that not only is he not the only one to go through such an ordeal, he can actually save the world.
A project such as this could end up getting it in the neck for being humourless - unless it actually has humourous moments. A good deal of those are pretty dark, mind, and come at Cruise's expense, but there's just enough to keep the movie on that fine line between collapsing into self-parody and becoming a joyless black hole of "bleak-core". Effects-wise, we're treated to something in the way of aliens that hark back some to The Matrix or Skyline, but are presented in such a way that makes them just different enough, particularly in the way they move and attack. Oh, and the 3D works, too (mostly at the start, as is pretty much the norm)!
The film tries very much to be as grounded in the present day, or not long after it, as possible, which perhaps means that the visuals and the action have to work a little bit harder, or the story needs to be a bit above the norm. In the end, you find that this film has both, and manages to shake that "not a big property" monkey off its back from the start, giving you an enjoyable, baggage-free ride for your money. Not the best movie of the season, perhaps - and most likely not particularly high-grossing either - but if you've already seen the rest, this is worth the effort of seeing.
The Final Verdict... A non-franchise, and a "done-in-one", but still an enjoyable experience - and yes, you can watch Tom Cruise die a whole bunch of times... ;-) 8/10
Military "spin doctor" Tom Cruise gets sent in with the first wave in what might just be near-future mankind's last hope against an alien race that seems to know our every move. A reluctant combatant to say the least, our "hero" doesn't last long...
...but then he wakes up back at the start, the day before the invasion, and has to live it all again. And again. And again...
That's the premise for a somewhat unexpected entry in the Blockbuster listings for this summer - and, of all things, a Tom Cruise movie. Without the support of a big-name franchise, this one has no choice but to stand on its own merits, and one might offer the advice to "approach with caution" - but actually, such an offer would be misguided. This works, and works well with a pretty small cast for such a big movie - there's very little that could be said to be "wrong" about this (perhaps the exo-suits are a bit too "stompy" for dealing with such a fast-moving enemy). The story is pretty tight, Cruise makes a good "hero-you-hate" at the beginning, and you gradually warn to him as his predicament gets harsher and harsher, and he realises that not only is he not the only one to go through such an ordeal, he can actually save the world.
A project such as this could end up getting it in the neck for being humourless - unless it actually has humourous moments. A good deal of those are pretty dark, mind, and come at Cruise's expense, but there's just enough to keep the movie on that fine line between collapsing into self-parody and becoming a joyless black hole of "bleak-core". Effects-wise, we're treated to something in the way of aliens that hark back some to The Matrix or Skyline, but are presented in such a way that makes them just different enough, particularly in the way they move and attack. Oh, and the 3D works, too (mostly at the start, as is pretty much the norm)!
The film tries very much to be as grounded in the present day, or not long after it, as possible, which perhaps means that the visuals and the action have to work a little bit harder, or the story needs to be a bit above the norm. In the end, you find that this film has both, and manages to shake that "not a big property" monkey off its back from the start, giving you an enjoyable, baggage-free ride for your money. Not the best movie of the season, perhaps - and most likely not particularly high-grossing either - but if you've already seen the rest, this is worth the effort of seeing.
The Final Verdict... A non-franchise, and a "done-in-one", but still an enjoyable experience - and yes, you can watch Tom Cruise die a whole bunch of times... ;-) 8/10