Review: On the Edge of being a classic

Edge Of Tomorrow 3D (12A) review

Live, die, repeat. For once, the tag line for a film sums it up pretty perfectly – but that’s not to say Edge Of Tomorrow isn’t a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

Tom Cruise’s latest venture into the sci-fi genre isn’t a totally new concept, but it’s certainly one of his best movies to date.

You know the drill by now – an alien race have attacked earth and the human race stands on the brink of extinction. Europe is pretty much lost to the hostile Mimics (branded that because of their ability to anticipate human behavior), with the UK serving as base camp for the newly-formed United Defense Force (UDF).

Cruise plays PR guru Major William Cage, who is fresh from recruiting masses of soldiers for a major UDF assault on the beaches of France.

Having never seen a day of combat, his world is turned upside down when UDF General Bingham (Brendan Gleeson) orders him to document the attack from the front lines.

Cage, of course, attempts to wriggle out of it, but he soon finds himself waking up at base camp – and branded a deserter, no less.

Thrust against his will into a gigantic metal suit (see picture above) by Bill Paxton’s Master Sergeant Farell, he’s then dropped from the air onto the beaches of France in what is essentially a futuristic take the World War II Normandy landings.

There he meets the much-heralded Rita (Emily Blunt) and somehow takes down a few enemies…before dying inside 15 minutes.

From then on the film plays more like a video game with a really annoying checkpoint, as Cruise wakes up (alive) and lives the exact same day again. And again. And again. (I did tell you this was a live, die, repeat sort of thing).

Don’t be fooled by this Groundhog Day theme, though. On his second attempt at the battle, Rita tells Cage to “find her when he wakes up” – and the two set about figuring out just how to use the strange situation to their advantage and turn the war on its head.

Of course, this means Cruise actually learning how to fight, but thankfully there’s not a Rocky-esque montage of his rise up the warrior ranks.

You may think the concept would get repetitive. But it really doesn’t, with a little more of the puzzling plot revealed each time.

While he gets a lot of flak, Cruise often revels in this kind of role – and this is no exception. He’s superbly supported by Blunt (Looper), who is the true hero of the piece.

If I was being overly critical, the plot does get pretty far-fetched in the latter stages – especially when Dr Carter (Game of Thrones’ Noah Taylor) gets involved.

But the first hour or so is a real blast and help make this 2014’s latest action-packed success.

Rating: 4/5
Watched at West End Cinema, Boston

Showing from June 6-12 at West End Cinema, Boston

Friday June 6 only (8pm)
D-Day: 70 Years On

Thurs June 12 only (7pm)
A Small Family Business

MALEFICENT 3D (PG)
2pm (Fri-Sun), 4.15pm (daily), 6.30pm (daily)

EDGE OF TOMORROW 3D (12A)
8.45pm (daily)

**22 JUMP STREET (15)
10.30am (Sat), 1pm (Sat/Sun/Wed), 3.30pm (daily), 6pm (daily), 8.30pm (daily)

POSTMAN PAT (U)
10.15am (Sat/Sun), 12.15pm (Sun), 4pm (not Sat/Sun)

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST 3D (12A)
2.15pm (Fri/Sat/Sun/Wed), 8.15pm (daily)

X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST 2D (12A)
Noon (Sun/Wed), 5.20pm (daily)

MALEFICENT 2D (PG)
10.15am (Sat/Sun), 12.30pm (Sat/Sun), 8.40pm (Sat-Wed)

EDGE OF TOMORROW 2D (12A)
1pm (Wed), 2.45pm (Fri-Sun), 3.45pm (Mon-Thu), 5.30pm (Fri), 6pm (Sat-Thu)

GODZILLA 2D (12A)
2.45pm (Sat/Sun)

A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST (15)
6pm (Fri-Wed), 8.45pm (daily)

KIDS CLUB (Sat-Sun) 10.30am – Frozen 3D (PG)

SUPPORTIVE SCREENING (Sunday)
10am – Frozen 3D (PG)

SILVER SCREEN (Wed) 11.30am – Maleficent (PG)

**denotes free list suspended