Skip to main content

Lachlan Labere versus Edge of Tomorrow

Thank you Matt Bellamy for convincing me to get out the other night and see Edge of Tomorrow at my local theatre. Because of a terrific partnership between said theatre and my employer, I got to enjoy this latest Tom Cruise sci-fi spectacle fro $2. And in 3D no less.

The price was a bonus. Because of Bellamy's review here on WCFTB, I was prepared to pay the full cost of admission. And now I can admit, I don't feel I would have felt ripped off if I had.

That last sentence may be a side-effect of having just seen the movie which, I think is fair to describe as a mash-up of the cinema classic Groundhog Day and Aliens.

The movie is actually based on Hiroshi Sakurazaka's graphic novel, All You Need is Kill. I haven't read the whole book, but from the pages I have read, it looks as though director Doug Liman did a respectful job of representing the source material. (Sakurazaka actually showed up at the film's London premiere, which means he isn't being Alan Moore-ish about the translation to the silver screen.)

The story, in short, is this: Aliens invade the earth, and mankind is at war. Due to a mutually fatal encounter with a shiny blue invade, protagonist and reluctant soldier, Major Bill Cage, played by Cruise, finds himself in a death-life-death-life loop. The only way out is by killing a shitload of drone aliens (referred to as Mimics) to get to, and finish off their queen (the Omega). When the queen drops, so do the drones. (Which is more Ender's Game than Aliens, but whatever. Wanna fight about it?)

At the beginning of the movie, Cruise's character has more in common with Carter Burke than Ellen Ripley. He's a bit of a whiney dick who has to die a few times before you start to care anything about him. That attachment also comes with the necessary partnership he forms with Sgt. Rita Vrataski, played by Emily Blunt. She was killed by one of those special shiny blue aliens (an Alpha) earlier on, ad has been through what Cage is going through until she lost her "restart" ability. So, Cage lives and learns and dies and lives and learns and dies until he and Vrataski are finally able to kill the big baddies -- without the aid of mechanized fighting suit. (in your face Ripley!) OK, enough the movie comparisons/references.

Judged on its own merits, EOT is a high-action, high-suspense flick that does't necessarily keep you guessing, but certainly kept me entertained. My initial reluctance to see the movie is based on a personal aversion to Tom Cruise. Well, I can safely say Cruise does not get in the way of a good story. To be fair, he's pretty solid, as is Blunt. And of course it's always a pleasure to see Bill Paxton in action (you know, Pte. Hudson from that other movie I said I wouldn't mention).

I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the lazy filmmaking that, at times, is painfully evident in EOT. Case in point, the introduction -- a much overused approach that I suspected would happen -- and gritted my teeth when it did. But I got over it. And tried to ignore other things. And, overall, I really enjoyed myself.

Speaking in general, I found EOT to be a movie experience where the 3D treatment was totally unnecessary. I would have preferred the clarity and brightness of a 2D viewing. Sound was great and the FX terrific, but not overbearing.

So again, I offer my thanks to Matt Bellamy, and am of the same mind that Edge of Tomorrow deserves a Good.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

  Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends.  With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher.  When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up.  Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila!  Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink.  The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink.  The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices.   In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors.  The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort.  It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ".  I know I remember them.  This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present.  With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good.  It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters.  This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's.  In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking.  I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e