Edge Of Tomorrow

Live. Die. Repeat.

The sci-fi genre and time travel go hand-in-hand together just like Michael Bay and explosions. It’s a plot device that has to tread carefully because it can either make or break a film depending on how it’s used. Edge of Tomorrow handles the subject matter brilliantly as it sends Tom Cruise back into the past to relive the same sequence of events over and over again in order to stop an alien invasion from decimating the entire human race.

It’s the near future and the world is being ravaged by an alien race known as Mimics. To combat this deadly force, the world’s army has created powerful exoskeleton “jackets” that provide soldiers the extra firepower and agility needed to even stand a chance. At the front of the war efforts is Special Forces soldier Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt) who became a symbol of victory after being responsible for humankind’s first victory against the Mimics at the Battle at Verdun. The army decides to take an offensive approach and catch the Mimics off guard by surrounding them off the coast of France. The inexperienced Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) has been placed on the front lines as part of a publicity stunt, but soon finds himself face to face with the enemy when the mission goes terribly wrong. It is with sheer luck that Cage manages to kill one of the elusive Alphas in the ensuing chaos and thereby gaining the ability to reverse time, making him mankind’s best chance at winning the war once and for all.

Live. Die. Repeat.

Edge of Tomorrow centers on the same 48 hour or so time period where Major Cage wakes up in the middle of army base camp and where he dies on the battlefield the next day. The first time he lives this experience everything is new to him and he has no idea what’s going on or what’s going to happen, but when he gains the ability to start the day over again upon his death with all his memories intact he learns quickly that he can alter the future. The time looping is handled perfectly by incorporating plenty of action and even a little bit of comedy into shaping Tom Cruise into this sci-fi action hero.

The film is very much like a video game in which Tom Cruise is trying to reach the end boss but mainly ends up dying during every step of the process while only getting just a bit further each time. While that premise could quickly become stale and boring, director Doug Liman, most famously known for The Bourne Identity, does a great job at keeping things fresh and interesting. In one version of the events Cage may sweet talk his way out of a situation only to be hit by an oncoming truck the moment after. There’s no telling what may happen once he gets to a new moment that he hasn’t repeated over before and it’s exciting to see Cage learn from his past mistakes and developing into this expert Mimic killing machine. It’s an entire lifetime of a character whittled down into a two day section repeated over and over.

Live. Die. Repeat.

Standing confident alongside Tom Cruise is the excellent Emily Blunt who brings all kinds of badassery to the film. Her character is someone who had the ability in the past, so she knows what Major Cage is going through and teaches him the skills needed to win. There’s a bit of a relationship between them, but it never feels forced and doesn’t get in the way of the action.

Edge of Tomorrow is a smart, funny, and action-packed sci-fi film that showcases the best of Tom Cruise. There’s never a dull moment during the film, and while the ending left a little more to be desired, don’t let that discourage you from going. There’s a brilliance to its repetition; one that makes it worthy of multiple repeat viewings.

Live. Die. Repeat.