Edge of Tomorrow [Celluloid Hero]

Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

I love time travel movies. I love the paradox of being able to change the future. Some movies like the "Back to the Future" franchise focus on the idea that the slightest change in the past will alter the future in unimaginable ways. Other movies like "12 Monkeys" maintain that the future is set, no matter what. "Edge of Tomorrow" obeys the rules of the former, in that we have the ability to change future outcomes by going into the past and doing things differently.

Things begin with an alien attack on Europe. Paris is Ground Zero, and the aliens spread across mainland Europe. When they threaten to cross the English Channel, the "United Defense Force" realizes human casualties are going to increase. United States Public Affairs officer Major Cage (Tom Cruise) is brought in to be the public face, declines the offer, and ends up labeled a deserter and thrown on the front line.

The initial attack is incredible, like a futuristic "Saving Private Ryan" attack on Normandy Beach. The inexperienced Cage quickly dies, but snaps back awake in the same place he was a day ago. He repeatedly goes through the day, reliving the invasion, being killed, and starting over. Each time he becomes slightly more adept, surviving a bit longer until he can begin to piece together what is happening. He joins forces with Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) who recognizes his ability and reveals she once had the same. The two train until Cage is an expert soldier (every mistake leads to Cage's death and reset), then formulate a plan to get further through the French invasion and get closer to finally taking out the aliens.

The movie is visually awesome. The mech-suits soldiers are equipped with look great, the aliens are unique, and the battle sequences are fantastic. Tom Cruise fits the role of the somewhat-smug Public Affairs guy, someone who became an Army officer without seeing any battle action, and nails the transition into a tested soldier. I'm still wavering a bit on Emily Blunt; she's beautiful, but at times felt too small to portray an ass-kicker. It made sense that in her countless resets she was able to become a skilled alien killer, so I can let it slide.

The first act felt like a video game, training yourself for when to jump or duck or whatever. The sort of games that become easier with repetition, where you know when a bad guy will pop out and you can start to clear the first levels with ease, but you still have to go all the way back to the beginning when you fail a hard level.

The combination of good action, good acting, and a fun unique storyline makes this worth a viewing.