Prepare to live, die, repeat in the action-packed blockbuster Edge of Tomorrow.
Directed by Doug Liman (producer of The Bourne Ultimatum and TV’s Suits), the film sees Earth invaded by an alien race known as Mimics and humankind once again facing extinction as it struggles to hold back the advancing alien forces.
Its last hope lies in a new technology called Jacket Suits – metallic, armoured suits controlled by human operators. Army officer Cage (Tom Cruise) is responsible for promoting the suits and recruiting soldiers to the ongoing war effort. But the glorified spin doctor’s safe world is shattered when he is assigned to the front line in a battle his superiors hope will turn the war in their favour.
When he is killed moments after setting foot on the battlefield, a frightened Cage awakens to discover that he is trapped in a time loop, destined to repeat the same brutal battle over and over again. As his combat skills improve, he teams up with Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) and the two hatch a cunning plan to use the time loop’s power against the Mimics.
Cruise is surprisingly entertaining as Cage, a man whose courage (and sanity) is put to the ultimate test, and the film’s many unexpected comedic moments allow him to show a lighter side audiences rarely see. Blunt delivers a career-defining performance as Rita, the tough-as-nails soldier with an attitude to match. Brendan Gleeson stars as General Brigham, while a skeletal-looking Bill Paxton delivers a humorous performance as Master Sergeant Farell.
The vicious Mimics are brought to life with breath-taking special effects, and the 3D element adds another level of excitement to the bloody battle scenes, which see hundreds of soldiers decimated in seconds. Clever script-writing means the numerous repeated scenes never become tiresome, as Cage alters his behaviour each time he repeats and his attempts to convince others of his experiences lead to some funny scenes.
With its action-packed script, superbly crafted characters and talented cast, Edge of Tomorrow is a thrilling sci-fi adventure that is hard to fault. A great film from start to finish.
