Edge of Tomorrow

Director: Doug Liman
Writer: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth (Based on All You Need is Kill by Hiroshi Sakurazaka)
Released:  June 2014
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton and Brendan Gleeson
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Having recently reviewed Source Code – a sci-fi film starring Jake Gyllenhaal – I realised how similar that film’s concept is to Edge of Tomorrow. It was then that I realised that I have never reviewed Edge of Tomorrow! So here it is.

Disclaimer: The following plot you’re about to read may well put some people off of the movie because of the mention of ‘alien invasions’, ‘time travel’ and ‘war’. But the storyline is so gripping, that even the sci-fi and action film haters will enjoy watching the movie. (I promise!)

Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is sent to the front lines of war despite his lack of training. As soon as the troop land on the beach* (resembling Normandy), Cage is attacked by the opposition – the aliens. The alien’s blood causes Cage to have the ability to restart the day again and again.

He tries to tell authorities that landing on the beach is a suicide mission, but no one believes him until he meets Sergeant Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). She had the exact same thing happen to her, and they work together in a long Groundhog Day-like sequence to figure out how to win the war.

Rita: You don’t talk to anyone about this but me. The best-case scenario is you’re gonna end up in a psych ward. Worst case, you’ll get dissected for study. Are we clear?

I love Emily Blunt. Did you know she was pregnant during some of this film? Gosh. She’s so perfect, and great in this film. Have I mentioned that on at least two occasions people have said I look similar to Emily Blunt?

I was told that if I didn’t have crooked teeth or many of my current facial features, that I would look JUST like EMILY BLUNT! 🤪 *so proud* pic.twitter.com/VVF3u5Vy0T

— Jodie (@NZFilmFreak) 28 July 2017

One of very few drawbacks to this film is how Emily Blunt’s character has permanently perfect make-up and hair. A pet peeve of mine that I explain in this post here.

With a little sprinkling of comedy throughout the script, this action/sci-fi film is a fantastically entertaining watch. You’re on the ‘edge’ of your seat the entire time. Every time Cage dies – and he dies a lot and in all sorts of ways – you relive the day over with him, trying to figure out how to save the day.

While it does sound repetitive, the film develops quickly keeping you on board.

The problem with futuristic stories is of course the confusion and the problem of the audience’s suspense of disbelief, but information is drip-fed constantly to explain everything in a natural way.

Edge of Tomorrow has a somewhat complex concept, which makes a change to the boring combat-heavy action films where everyone’s shooting but no one gets killed. (In this film, everyone gets killed. A lot.) But it is a great watch for family movie nights for sure.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

*Um, I’d just like to say as a side note that I have visited the beach that they filmed some scenes for this movie. It’s Saunton Sands in Devon. I’m basically Emily Blunt, I know.