(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.theatlantic.com%2Fstatic%2Fnewsroom%2Fimg%2Fmt%2F2014%2F06%2FEOT_FP_18r%2Flead.jpg%3Fn6ra42&hash=f67d8fdd72b12ddeda393f283ede4043e43a8f03)
Review:
Tom Cruise lands on a French beach, D-Day-like, and is torn apart by a glowing, tentacled alien.
Tom Cruise lands on a French beach, D-Day-like, and has a hole punched through his chest while protecting another soldier from enemy fire.
Tom Cruise lands on a French beach, D-Day-like, and is squashed by a helicopter falling from the sky.
It's not, in short, a good day to be Tom Cruise—or rather, Private William Cage, the character he plays in his new film Edge of Tomorrow. Nor does his day get any better: blown to smithereens, run over by a jeep, shot in the head—you name it, he suffers it. Forget last week's critically reviled Seth MacFarlane comedy-western (http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_million_ways_to_die_in_the_west/). It's Cruise's film that might all too plausibly have been titled A Million Ways to Die in the Future.
If you've read anything at all about Edge of Tomorrow, it is likely that two of the words you've read have been "Groundhog Day," and there's good reason for this. Director Doug Liman's sharp, infectiously entertaining sci-fi thriller offers a lethal spin on Harold Ramis's 1993 high-concept comedy (http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/03/reliving-groundhog-day/309223/): Rather than overcome existential ennui, a la Bill Murray's Phil Connors, Cage must embrace the certainty that before his very long day ends—if in fact it ever does—he is certain to die many, many more times, in many, many more ways.
To rewind a bit: Edge of Tomorrow (based on the Japanese novel All You Need Is Kill) is set in a near-future in which a methodical alien species dubbed "Mimics" has touched down in Germany and, over the course of five years, gradually overtaken most of Western Europe. The sole human victory over the invaders has been at Verdun—yes, that (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun_%281792%29) Verdun (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Verdun)—where a heroic soldier in a robotic exoskeleton, Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), single-handedly killed more than 100 Mimics and in the process became an icon of the resistance.
Enter Cruise's character, the callow William Cage. When first we meet him, he is an Army major, a principal TV spokesman for the war effort, and an exceptional coward. But after an ill-considered run-in with a superior officer, he finds himself demoted, sent to the frontlines, and, soon enough, accidentally imbued with the peculiar ability to reset his day the moment he dies. From there, the general contours of the plot are largely set: By a process of trial and (inevitably lethal) error, Cage must find a way to defeat the Mimics, learning more and making it slightly farther with each attempt. He's aided in his efforts by Vrataski, the "Angel of Verdun," who has her own insights into the nature of his powers.
The conceit may sound constricting, but Liman (like Ramis before him) gets exceptional mileage out of it. The director is in top form here, presenting his ever-revolving tale with visual style, narrative velocity, and a wonderful dose of dark humor. There are echoes of Cruise's last sci-fi outing, the less-bad-than-it's-remembered Oblivion, and still more of Duncan Jones's excellent 2011 time-travel whodunit Source Code. But Liman (Go, The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith) lends the proceedings a more playful edge, and directs the action sequences with true panache. The early battle scenes on the beach, in particular, are a riveting ballet of blood and sand and fire and metal. (And aliens.) And despite the inevitable inanities underlying its time-travel premise, the movie does a relatively good job of adhering to its own internal logic.
Blunt offers a clearer display of the big-screen charisma she hinted at way back in The Devil Wears Prada than she has at perhaps any time since. Moreover, the film is a nice exception to the customary damsel-in-distress narrative: this time out, it's Blunt who plays the battle-hardened vet.
Cruise, too, is better than he's been in a long while. As an actor, he's always relied overmuch on sheer intensity: a fiercer stare, a sharper grin, a more zealous commitment to performing his own stunts. But under Liman's direction, he takes it easier—at least on occasion—than he has in years. Having experimented with broad comedy (Tropic Thunder (http://www.newrepublic.com/blog/the-plank/the-mini-review-tropic-thunder), Rock of Ages (http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2012/06/the-void-of-rock-of-ages/258480/)) following the couch-jumping-and-Scientology derailment of his superstardom, he offers flashes here of a quieter, more ironic wit. There are even a few moments of understated tenderness (two words rarely associated with Cruise) between him and Blunt.
In its final act, unfortunately, Liman's movie veers a bit off course. To belabor the analogy: If the first three quarters of the film reinvent Groundhog Day, the final quarter recalls, ever so slightly, the saggy conclusion of Stripes. (The script went through many iterations, and the ending was reportedly always considered problematic.)
That said, Edge of Tomorrow remains one of the pleasant surprises of this summer season to date, boasting magnetic leads, a wickedly looping plot, and bravura direction. It might not be quite the cinematic experience you want to re-live over and over again, but it's well worth at least one go-round.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/06/the-unexpected-pleasures-of-edge-of-tomorrow/372335/ (http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/06/the-unexpected-pleasures-of-edge-of-tomorrow/372335/)
I wonder how Tom Cruise lands on the beach. :hmm:
Quote from: garbon on June 25, 2014, 09:07:21 AM
I wonder how Tom Cruise lands on the beach. :hmm:
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cgsociety.org%2Fstatic%2Fimages%2Ffeature%2Fedge05.jpg&hash=978cc49c2a7b2cf883b9f609ba0b484f020a5000)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fcdn.sheknows.com%2Farticles%2F2014%2F05%2FShooting-Monsters.gif&hash=737de9cec352483ec6fcc99fe3787ca9abd003e6)
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fm.cdn.blog.hu%2Fki%2Fkinodino%2Fimage%2Fholnaphat%25C3%25A1ra3_1.png&hash=527b567ab046a31ef10137c4a0e6a96725b5a926)
The end kinda sucked compared to the rest of the movie, but yes, good fun movie.
Oh, don't read the original book, All You Need Is Kill, by some japanese dude.
It is completely retarded with the worst and least imaginitive ending ever, clearly thought out by somebody that had never served.
The movie has a cheese ending, but at least it makes sense within the narrative.
If they're all transported in planes, why do they land on a beach? :unsure:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 09:42:24 AM
If they're all transported in planes, why do they land on a beach? :unsure:
Because: D-Day
Quote from: Valmy on June 25, 2014, 09:44:42 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 09:42:24 AM
If they're all transported in planes, why do they land on a beach? :unsure:
Because: D-Day
Basically, yeah.
It was a good popcorn flick and you get to see Tom Cruise shot, crushed, burned, disintegrated, maimed then executed, disemboweled and finally, run over by a truck, which is a plus.
I suspect the ending was changed because the test audience wanted a happy one but eh, that's really to be expected.
To be fair, I felt the characters deserved to have a happy ending after dying hundreds of times so the schmaltzy Hollywoodness of the ending seemed fitting to me.
Quote from: Syt on June 25, 2014, 10:08:34 AM
Quote from: Legbiter on June 25, 2014, 10:06:29 AMrun over by a truck
That scene was hilarious.
Yep, it's a great summer flick so long as you don't overthink it.
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 25, 2014, 10:10:44 AM
To be fair, I felt the characters deserved to have a happy ending after dying hundreds of times so the schmaltzy Hollywoodness of the ending seemed fitting to me.
Yeah, I thought that it would have been fine to quit after the final battle, but I thought after all they've been through (even though only Cruise and Blunt remember what was going on) they deserve a bit of a happy end.
Quote from: Syt on June 25, 2014, 10:14:09 AM
Quote from: FunkMonk on June 25, 2014, 10:10:44 AM
To be fair, I felt the characters deserved to have a happy ending after dying hundreds of times so the schmaltzy Hollywoodness of the ending seemed fitting to me.
Yeah, I thought that it would have been fine to quit after the final battle, but I thought after all they've been through (even though only Cruise and Blunt remember what was going on) they deserve a bit of a happy end.
And really, only Cruise remembers what's going on. She keeps finding out every day for the first time. I'm glad they didn't go hard on a love story.
Quote from: Neil on June 25, 2014, 11:29:07 AM
And really, only Cruise remembers what's going on. She keeps finding out every day for the first time.
That's true, but she's the only one who'll understand is what I meant.
But yeah, not having the damsel in distress as mentioned in the article, and the love arc hinted at rather than front and center was great. And it made sense that he reaches a point where he kinda snaps because he's gotten to know her so well but can't bear to see her killed time and time again. (Again, something she'll understand.)
Also Emily Blunt is really hot.
I think she's bug-eyed and plain.
With pointy elbows.
The aliens though, are a copy from Orson Scott whatever's Enders Game.
There is only one thinking/self-aware alien and everybody else are cells of the central organism.
I think is more pausible if you look at it from a biotech point of view and see them as wi-fi connected to the central server.
By the way, in the book the Omega is called a Server, the Alphas are Antenae, and I forgot what the grunts were called.
:wacko:
She has nice eyes. Nice elbows too.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi41.tinypic.com%2F2uq2an9.png&hash=e8b53dde12a98667355ccdc65b8c210e52282e8d)
Quote from: Siege on June 25, 2014, 12:13:20 PM
There is only one thinking/self-aware alien and everybody else are cells of the central organism.
Well, it's a narrative device that's supposed to explain why the heroes have to fight their way through hordes of enemies on the way to the Big Bad, but once that Big Bad is defeated, it immediately solves the problem and destroys all baddies.
It's a way to get around having to mop up all the millions of aliens afterwards.
Quote from: Syt on June 25, 2014, 12:20:19 PM
Quote from: Siege on June 25, 2014, 12:13:20 PM
There is only one thinking/self-aware alien and everybody else are cells of the central organism.
Well, it's a narrative device that's supposed to explain why the heroes have to fight their way through hordes of enemies on the way to the Big Bad, but once that Big Bad is defeated, it immediately solves the problem and destroys all baddies.
It's a way to get around having to mop up all the millions of aliens afterwards.
Of course.
My point was Enders Game is the first instance in which this type of alien is used, in which it meant humans lost a lot of people while the aliens lost only one.
From a technological point of view, it makes sense to me to build a biomechanical army with individual grunts having narrow AIs connected through a wi-fi-like sytem to a strong AI in charge of the whole expedition. Of course, this doesn't mean they will all "die" when the strong AI is destroyed. Pretty sure aliens or future humans would use back-up systems, and narrow AIs would have to be tactically self-sufficient since the laws of warfare dictate the first target would be to sever the wi-fi connection to the strong AI by EMP, some sort of jamming, or some type of virus. I would say destuction of the strong AI would mean the collapse of strategy level planning and support, but whatever is happening on the tactical level will keep going until drone/grunts are destroyed or they run out of power.
Starship Troopers had brain bugs.
By the way, in the book the aliens are not an invading force, but rather a terraforming biomachine sent to terraform Earth to the needs of an alien race that did not bother to check if the planet was inhabited. They eat soil and release poisonous gas to transform the atmosphere. Humans of course attacked, and the alien machine started to build weapons.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 12:34:08 PM
Starship Troopers had brain bugs.
The book? I don't rememeber if they were all controlling like in Enders Game.
I remember the character of Flores was a man, and all the pilots were females, all the infantry were males.
The film for sure. Can't remember if the book did or not.
Wait wait, are we supposed to believe this? :yeahright: Siege knows how to read? :hmm:
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 12:44:05 PM
The film for sure. Can't remember if the book did or not.
Yet killing a brain bug did not magically disappear all the aliens.
Quote from: Siege on June 25, 2014, 12:56:47 PM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 12:44:05 PM
The film for sure. Can't remember if the book did or not.
Yet killing a brain bug did not magically disappear all the aliens.
This is probably true. If you lost your brain I wager you'd keep going for months maybe years without a problem.
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
Quote from: Admiral Yi on June 25, 2014, 12:02:21 PM
I think she's bug-eyed and plain.
I immediately knew who wrote this without scrolling over, because there's only one person here would post something so ridiculous.
Yi just exploded out that closest. You go, girl.
:lol:
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
Quick everyone! Refuse to see this movie!
Quote from: Barrister on June 26, 2014, 02:53:27 PM
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
Quick everyone! Refuse to see this movie!
Too late, already did. :(
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
and here I was going to watch it for reasons other than merely seeing tom cruise killed repeatedly
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
:hmm:
My boys really want to see it but you make a tempting offer.
Quote from: Barrister on June 26, 2014, 02:53:27 PM
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 02:52:13 PM
Quote from: Tyr on June 25, 2014, 06:21:56 PM
Suddenly I am dubious about seeing this film
If you don't watch this film I will never talk to you again.
Quick everyone! Refuse to see this movie!
I will wait until it comes out on Netflix or Amazon prime.
I thought Cruise did a good job in Minority Report. IMO his best sci-fi to date.
WEnt and saw this tonight. It was quite good, I thought.
I have an impecable taste in movies, beer, and women.
Quote from: Siege on June 26, 2014, 10:36:25 PM
I have an impecable taste in movies, beer, and women.
Given what I know about your taste in beer and women seigey, your endorsement of Edge of Tomorrow is immediately suspect. :P