Big loud fun

Rating: 8/10 (5 June 2014)

It is the near future, and an alien invasion is close to achieving world domination. Cage is a US Major in Public Relations, happy that this keeps him far from the front and actual danger. He is deeply upset to be railroaded into combat, particularly as this gets him killed. Before dying, however, he has been infected with the blood of a rare alien Alpha, which has the effect of resetting time whenever he dies: he starts to live the same day again. This may even lead to a plan to beat the aliens.
I'm sure others have said this, but this movie is essentially Groundhog Day meets Saving Private Ryan, only with the doodads from The Matrix instead of Nazis. Which doesn't make it bad. There is considerable entertainment to be had from seeing Cage (Tom Cruise) trying to worm his way out of being sent into combat, his sheer funk on his way in, and the repetition of his deaths, some of which are very funny. The special effects are astonishing, and the film is entertaining throughout.
If I was to be critical of it, I would say that it is a big flashy movie of little consequence other than immediate entertainment value, but that could as easily be an endorsement as a criticism. It is one of those films which, when it pops up on TV, you'll almost certainly sit down and watch it. Get out the popcorn and enjoy!