Edge of Tomorrow

*****
UK Release Date: May 30th 2014

An officer finds himself caught in a time loop in a war with an alien race. His skills increase as he faces the same brutal combat scenarios, and his union with a Special Forces warrior gets him closer and closer to defeating the enemy.

Director: Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jumper)

Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Bill Paxton, Brendan Gleeson

Tom Cruise's career has taken a huge turn. He was in drama after drama in his early days, but since the 2000's he's become one of the biggest action heroes there is. It seems that he has an interest in sci-fi, with Oblivion and a new Van Helsing falling either side of Edge of Tomorrow. EoT is a welcome sight in an industry full of sequels and do-overs.

Cruise completely shocked me by playing a character who's not cocksure and not arrogant from the beginning. Instead Lt. Cage is a cowardly fool that, after disobeying orders, is forced in to the front-line of an all-out battle with aliens. It's definitely Groundhog Day science fiction style. Cage has to replay the same day again and again, but has to die each time in order for the day to start again.  

Edge of Tomorrow is filmed and scripted so well that even we are left out of the loop, constantly wondering what Cage and hardened battler Rita (Emily Blunt) have already experienced, if they've experienced it at all. It works amazingly well as Cruise and director Liman keep the loop spiced up so we experience something different every time Cage's day resets. There's a level of humour too; Cage's deaths all vary. The next one is always gorier than the last. Cage goes through the same day so many times that he says or does things before others do. A very annoyed Master Sergeant Farell (Paxton) is one to watch out for.

Emily Blunt gets to kick as much ass as Cruise. The limelight is not being hogged by Cruise this time. Rita AKA Full Metal Bitch plays a vital role, helping Cage until the end. Their relationship works surprisingly well under circumstances. Cage knows Rita well but Rita has just met Cage for the first time (again and again).

The ending (set in Paris) may feel a little rushed but that's a little gripe from a film that's fresh and one of Cruise's best since 2011's Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. This is a film that should be put on repeat.