Director: Doug Liman

Writer: Dan Bryant, Christopher McQuarrie

Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Budget: $178,000,000

Plot: A soldier fighting aliens gets to relive the same day over and over again, the day restarting every time he dies.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton

Review: Edge of Tomorrow was the first time this summer where something happened in the plot and I got pulled in, not knowing what would happen next. It’s a nice feeling that should have happened in blockbuster movies more in this hollywood safe summer, but nonetheless I’m glad to have it.

Tom Cruise the actor, rather than Tom Cruise the action star shows up to this film. A nice surprise for a movie that had faded off my radar until the glowing reviews started coming in. Strangely like the various writers and filmmakers involved with multiple re-writes and a re-shoot that happens whenever big money is involved I think this is a film various people will have different opinions on. In short some people will see it as good and others as great. Like my Dad and I.

My favourite previous Doug Liman film “The Bourne Identity” is one that grows on you, both as you see it and after you see it again. Like that film this movie has good replay value and like any favourite type of movie of mine it is of course an action movie.

It’s disappointing that so far this year this is the closest we’ve come to an original movie. Looking at the broad slate Deliver Us From Evil, Sex Tape and Let’s Be Cops as far as original premises is not a good sign. This not being a sequel but an adaptation of the japanese manga “All You Need Is Kill”, I am surprised many people had enough confidence to put $178 million into this movie regardless of its quality.

The editing by James Herbert and Laura Jennings for is one of its strongest suits. (For the record the lumbering mechs these soldiers operate are called ‘jackets’.) They say failure is the greatest teacher and through its unique live die repeat structure, the movie manages like a video game to move the plot forward as its character learns more about the world around him.

Emily Blunt is great in another strong sci-fi role. If you have seen The Adjustment Bureau you will know she is better than anyone at generating strong chemistry with her co-star who in this case is 20 years older. Despite less screen time she is Cruise’s equal in presence and charisma.

If there’s a caveat to this otherwise splendid sci-fi adventure it’s that it cheats its logic in favour of sentiment towards its ending which at least reminds you of how much you have grown to love these characters in 113 minutes. Good acting, well paced and plotted and somewhat original by Hollywood standards, it adds up.

Rating: 8.4/10