Directed by:
Doug LimanCinematography:
Dion BeebeCast:
Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson, Noah Taylor, Kick Gurry, Dragomir Mrsic, Charlotte Riley, Jonas Armstrong, Franz Drameh, Tony Way (more)VOD (2)
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Tom Cruise gets caught in a time loop battling savage alien invaders in this mind-bending sci-fi action spectacular! An unstoppable alien race known as the Mimics are swarming over the Earth, leaving a trail of total devastation. With mankind on the edge of extinction, the world's armies unite for a desperate last stand against this relentless onslaught. Lt. Col. Bill Cage (Tom Cruise) has never seen combat, but finds himself hurled into the conflict and killed within minutes. Then the impossible happens. Cage awakes at the beginning of this nightmare day and has to fight and die again. And again. But with each rebirth alongside Special Forces warrior Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), he finds his battle skills improving. Now victory finally seems like a possibility. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews (16)
Edge of Tomorrow helped me realize how visually and aesthetically groundbreaking and pioneering The Matrix was because even after approximately 10 years, it is still a huge inspiration and technically only advanced in the details, though it’s worth noting that the action in The Matrix seemed even better and more clear to me, even though it was much more "über fucking cool" in terms of effects and much more flashy. Edge of Tomorrow is more in the style of Saving Private Ryan, where they try to play with authenticity and rawness within the limits of sci-fi. Where it stands out, however, is in the great screenplay and timing of individual scenes – there hasn’t been something so original in a very long time. The way they deal with repeating sequences without boring the audience and making the whole seem repetitive (even though logically it should be) is also commendable. Tom Cruise gets better with age and the chemistry between him and Emily Blunt is excellent. The film will not be in history textbooks like the aforementioned trilogy, as it is not grand enough and is not taken on a wide and comprehensive enough scale. But it could easily handle being the action sci-fi film of the year.
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The best thing would be not to praise this film and not to raise great expectations... The key asset of Edge of Tomorrow, after all, is not its grandiosity or action, as we would expect. Rather, Edge of Tomorrow is great thanks to its script, which is the most imaginative among blockbusters in a very, very long time. And thanks to its director (I bow down before him). In terms of entertainment value, dynamics and working with the viewer, the film practically has no faults and succeeds on every levels. From the balance of seriousness and humor in the perception of the (visually appealing) postapocalyptic world, through the retention of the audience’s attention by mean of an unpredictable plot that will glue you to your seat with its speed, all the way to the likable characters to whom you can relate, which you don’t see that much in blockbusters. Tom Cruise is just great, the character played by Emily Blunt is impossible not to fall in love with and the chemistry between them works without a hint of a romantic kitsch. Edge of Tomorrow is for playful post-apocalyptic sci-fi action movies what Children of Men is for thoughtful post-apocalyptic sci-fi dramas.
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Some of the information in this review goes beyond what you might want to know before seeing the film. Edge of Tomorrow is clearly the most expensive example of silly gameplay to come along in a long time and possibly the most popular film among Cruise’s detractors, because in no other film does Tom die so many times. With its bold combining of the poetics of both films and video games, it underestimates the difference in the elementary principles on which the cinematic and gaming experiences are based. We go back to games because of the possibility to become (through our avatars) stronger, faster and more agile and to improve these abilities through repeated playing. Films take the element of interactivity out of our identification with the character and deprive us of the feeling that we are the ones who are becoming more capable (though in a certain respect, every viewing of a film is also an interactive activity during which we improve our cognitive ability). Therefore, films should strive to flesh out the characters and to support our emotional connection to them by gradually doling out information. In short, a well-thought-out story and believable characters should have priority over the more immediate “motion and emotion”. In this respect, Edge of Tomorrow falls critically short. The story is just as one-dimensional and dully straightforward as in any given action video game. The characters don’t put much effort into finding a solution that doesn’t involve a lot of shooting and corpses. Though we get into the protagonist’s head on a number of occasions and see the world through his eyes (the very game-like scanning of the space), the film does not give us enough clues as to why we should root for him. Besides the fact that he is a coward who doesn’t want to fight, we learn almost nothing else about him. His vague characterisation corresponds to the requirement of “open” video-game characters onto which players can easily project themselves. (Emily “Full Metal“ Blunt thus portrays the formulaic beautiful action heroine whom every second nerd can platonically fall in love with – though she is outwardly stubborn, tough and indomitable, the increasingly capable hero takes her under his wing as expected and she is thus transformed into just another fragile love interest). However, what works in a video game comes across as screenwriting laziness in a film. The most pronounced transformation that the protagonist undergoes consists in the improvement of his physical skills rather than in the reassessment of his opinions on war, fatalism and other issues that lend themselves to the story. But particularly because of the special abilities that he possesses, we don’t have any reason to fear for him through most of the film (the screenplay certainly does not sufficiently exploit the potential of the situation when Cage was only seriously wounded but didn’t die). We can thus only be amused by the various ways he dies and how he embarrasses the other characters with the scope of his knowledge. Not even the narratively important fact that in some scenes he sees farther into the future than the viewer does (and is thus explicitly used as the narrator of the story, or rather as a player who makes it through to the next level) was elaborated beyond simple gags and affected gestures. Liman was ironically least influenced by video games in directing the action scenes, which contain three times more cuts than would be necessary, so they are at least three times less clear than they could have been. Edge of Tomorrow is an entertaining summer lark that graphically demonstrates how counterproductive an excessive yet poorly though-out attempt to combine film and video-game elements can be. Simple imitation is not enough and, at least in my case, leads especially to thoughts about how much more fun it would have been to just play the game. 70%
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Very well executed concept known from Groundhog Day, Source Code and probably every sci-fi series ever made. At the beginning, the hero is introduced without any heroic attributes and the pandemonium of war that follows during the landing in Normandy sets the bar very high. And it holds there damn long. Edge of Tomorrow only stumbles a little by the end, where the thus far relatively reaistic battles (to the extent than a battle between people in exoskeletons and giant tentacled aliens can be described as “realistic”) abandon the realism and now they are falling from huge heights without any injuries and the entire final fight goes too smoothly, especially considering how important it is and how it goes straight down to business. That said, it’s an excellent action sci-fi blockbuster of the kind that has been missing in cinemas for a long time. The action is spectacular, Cruise and Blunt have good chemistry and the script also has a couple of nice moments.
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This technological blockbuster, which in the long post-production process was given a coat by the special effects artists that models would die for, earns points mainly with the merciless thrill of the war. This war borrowed all over the place to wring out a surprisingly clever, pleasantly black-humored (headshots!) spectacle, which is only shattered by the skeleton's lack of a more driving conclusion to bring the film's entire video-game architecture to an absolute climax; otherwise, it's flawlessly acted, musically compelling, and directorially as confident as few in the genre in recent years. 4 ½.
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I’m fascinated that the American viewer (the sponsor of the American filmmaking industry) prefers a commercial mishmash called Transformers to an imaginative sci-fi called Edge of Tomorrow, where the name essentially does not reveal anything and the movie can only surprise. The Japanese are known for always having great storylines in their stories and comic books, and I’m glad that finally one of those got this kind of interpretation with Tom Cruise in the leading role. For me, he will probably always be the actor who has signed up for sci-fi movies. Considering he’s a Scientologist, I’m not even surprised that he makes such films. I’m actually very happy that he’s the one to do it, because it fits him the most. As a result, after watching the film, I thought hard about whether to give it five stars. I had a slight issue with the camera, which blurred my vision in a similar way a decent 5 km run can. But that is Doug Liman for you. However, if not for his directing, I might not have seen such an amazing change in Tom’s role. So I can only add that this film has its pros and cons, but even so, it is probably my favorite one from this year’s movies.
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An amazing film separated from the fifth star only by the more intense finale. Otherwise, its an inventive mashup of Source Code, Battle Los Angeles, Groundhog Day and Saving Private Ryan, with an ever better Cruise and full metal bitch Emily Blunt. The Edge of Tomorrow is a great evolutionary link in the fusion of games and film. The model of the shooter checkpoint and RPG development of combat and social skills of the character are imaginatively exploited at the moment when there is an acute threat that the film’s wheels will fall off. They don’t. Simply the best Liman since the first Bourne (which doesn't necessarily mean praise) and quite possibly the sci-fi blockbuster of the season. Reset! [80%]
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Dark Souls? Aliens? Groundhog Day? Starship Troopers? Source Code? The Twilight Zone? Saving Private Ryan? All of the above (and not nearly just them) are clearly recognizable in this movie. Fundamentally, this has it all - almost - just a respectable and proper ending is missing. However, the mandatory blockbuster inoffensive finale is luckily preceded by a sufficiently playful and peculiar cocktail of the aforementioned ingredients and not just a mere distillation of what you have already seen countless times elsewhere.
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I didn't trust the film much at first, but now I can confidently say that Edge of Tomorrow is the biggest blockbuster of the year so far. A very smart and intense sci-fi spectacle that offers almost as much humour as it does thrills, along with the incomparable and likeable Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Five points for why you should see this film! 1: The storyline is perfect, a new story in the industry! 2: Excellent, dynamic and gripping action and most importantly almost nonstop! 3: There is no way to predict what will follow, believe me, you can't.4: No unnecessary romance, just a short and sweet kiss at the right moment.5: Awesome ending. PS: I'm still breathless and want to go to the cinema again. 100%.
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So what did I like? That there was a sense of Japanese sparseness in the narration and portrayal of the characters. The action/drama was subtly diluted with humor, or a little romance, but nothing that made you roll your eyes. I didn't see a single American flag, didn't hear the American national anthem, and there wasn't even anyone giving stupid patriotic obnoxiously cliched speeches about how important it was to man up and go out and fight and that we're going to show these aliens what for and blah blah blah. It just wasn't there, and I cheered. Plus the characters were portrayed as people, with their own problems, their own histories, so they weren't just flat characters with a gun in their hands and some catchphrase. But what I liked best was the interplay between Cruise and Blunt, just a joy to watch. Granted, it did lose momentum towards the end and it felt like the film was squeezing out the last drops (but maybe I was squeezing out the last drops because the theater was sweltering), but it ended well and I left very satisfied in the end. This is exactly the blockbuster I wanted – an unpretentious film, and yet it has an engaging story, a quality cast, a decent OST, and action that wasn't shot with a shaky camera, so the viewer could see something and enjoy it too. Nice, and I have no choice but to say – keep it up.
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A magnificently filmed entertaining summer sci-fi blockbuster about the war between human and alien civilizations, in which the most affected person is a failed advertising manager who is condemned by the war situation to the role of a military propagandist and an unmanageable conflict with his superior to the position of an ordinary soldier. He is most affected because his fate is not to die once and for all, as soldiers die in battles, but thanks to a time loop he experiences the same day over and over again with the same bungled battle, which ends in a horrifying massacre, and he repeatedly dies in the most painful and bizarre ways. The morbid concept, however, thanks to irony, black humor, exaggeration, likable cast, and detachment, is easily digestible, and when I think about it, I can't find a reason why it shouldn't have the highest rating out of the original 4 stars. Tom Cruise is in his element as a blockbuster hero, and by being a coward and a guy who wants anything but to save the world, he is more likable than usual. But yes, criticism of the illogicality of the initial situation and the whole story is certainly appropriate, but honestly, who would want to dissect inconsistencies in the playfulness with a time paradox in such a relaxing genre? Some scenes definitely remind me of The Matrix or related genre productions, but that's just the way it goes in the crowded world of cinema, and I certainly wouldn't accuse Liman of cheap plagiarism. Overall impression: 90%.
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Already a classic that you will gladly reach for when you’re feeling down. A great screenplay which borrows just enough, combines what we like from Aliens, Starship Trooper (more faithful to Heinlein’s book than the movie) or Groundhog Day. Amazing production design (reminds me of the Crysis videogame), it’s dirty as the sand on the beaches in Normandy (70th anniversary, hip-hip). Tom manages to get round both the yellow-bellied coward and the killer machine and Emily Blunt plays a tom-boy women’s hero in Ripley style, Paxton was pleasing. Clever, funny and mainly an entertaining blockbuster which suited me the most this season so far. Get up, you worm!
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It's a bit of a shame that the film, which was so incredibly imaginative, dynamic, funny and engaging from the beginning, became another clichéd spectacle that encompasses everything that is part of Hollywood popcorn flicks in the last minutes. So I take one star off for this finale, but otherwise, Edge of Tomorrow is all positives. Starting with Tom Cruise and ending with the fantastic technical aspects. It would take a long time to list all the things I was excited about - but if you've only played one video game in your life where you endlessly played through a difficult level (think D-Day in Medal of Honor), you won't be disappointed. Moreover, the film offers one extra (though unwanted) joke for the Czechs - especially for those who have seen the comedy classic of all classics How to Drown Dr. Mracek, the Lawyer.__P.S. I only just realized that I saw Edge of Tomorrow the day before the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.
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Edge of Tomorrow is undoubtedly one of the best and most imaginative science fiction films of the last few years, benefiting in particular from an absolutely superbly structured story. It's the same thing over and over again, yet different and a step further each time. Tom Cruise is kind of a wimp at first compared to his other action and badass roles, but war demands tough men, so you have to adapt or die sooner than normal. Emily Blunt is one of my favourite actresses, and this action role oddly suited her, when I compare it to Queen Victoria for example. From a technical point of view I have nothing to fault the film, the look of the aliens was perfect, the battles clear and well shot. I also have to commend John Newman's choice of the title song "Love Me Again". In short, total satisfaction on my part, a very well layered film in which you never know how it will end (or rather begin).
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After years, I can say with a clear conscience that there hasn't been a smarter, purebred action film in the last decade. Of course, the film offers a top-notch adrenaline ride full of stunning special effects that will leave your jaw on the floor, but surprisingly, the script might be even more impressive, which is almost unbelievable. The concept, which appears so straightforward and simple on paper, is executed with such craftsmanship and brilliance that I can only tip my hat. Given the film's focus on repeating the same day, everything had to be meticulously crafted, or else the viewer would lose interest, and Christopher McQuarrie nailed it. Various verbal cues, Tom Cruise's gradual attempts to change his future—which costs him a few lives—all contribute to the final verdict that you really want to see this film with your own eyes. The only thing preventing a full score is a slightly more elaborate ending. It didn’t disappoint me, don’t get me wrong, but after the previous barrage, I expected something more grandiose. Perhaps that's my mistake. But even so, it’s fantastic. I give it 85%.
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At the beginning, the film can be a bit tiresome with its repetitive scenes, and you don't feel like the plot is progressing anywhere. However, the film can't be faulted for having its own logic that actually works quite well. Moreover, it also works in the end, which might otherwise seem overly sentimental. Tom Cruise is still a great action star for me, and here he fully proves it once again.
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