A Surprise

Rating: 9/10 (24 June 2014)

This films is strange from its inception. The idea of repeating one day over and over is something that isn't inherently original even though it is technically an adaption, but somehow this film makes it work. This film stars Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt and is directed by Doug Liman. The story is about Tom Cruise's character, William Cage, being put into this D-Day type attack against these alien creatures that are invading earth. During this battle he gains the ability to relive this day over and over again. So he embarks on this journey to stop this threat and save the world from it. So how well does this work.
I thought that Tom Cruise didn't seem like the perfect person at all to play this kind of role. I mean who would believe this guy as somebody who gets off the boat fresh and ready to battle, but the play on that aspect a bit and he isn't a fresh faced because he was just put into the fray of this war either. You also see how he changes through going back and back in time and you can see how it affects him as a person and how it changes. Emily Blunt plays a character who helps him along this crazy journey and knows what is going on for a couple of reasons that I don't want to go into. She is just so good in this role and her character isn't written as a week character, but a strong woman who knows what she is doing and seems to be a lot smarter than our protagonist. It just seems like a nice change of pace.
I was also surprised to see Bill Paxton in a supporting role. His character was hilarious as his commanding officer and really gives a great performance. He is just so funny and I just love his character. Brendan Gleeson is also in this film as the general and he gives a really good performance that really has some great screen presence. And he needs it when he has to show how commanding he can be as a general.
This film is also hilarious. The live, die, repeat aspect to me didn't get old at all. They really play up him waking and knowing what people are going to say and do and Tom Cruise handles it so well. He also dies a lot and there are a couple kills that are hilarious and you can't help, but chuckle when you see him get shot by Emily Blunt when he breaks his leg while training.
The action is also really well done. I was surprised on how much it felt like D-Day. In the trailers I was imagining something similar to the opening D-Day scene in Saving Private Ryan and really has that effect. You watch people getting slaughtered on this beach and it holds a lot of weight. And with the amazing special effects this film really stands out. You can tell that a lot of money did get put into this thing and every buck is seen on screen. The mechanical suits they where are really cool as well.
I don't think every joke hit and the beginning also starts slow, but the performances are so good from not only Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt, but the surrounding cast members as well. It also has some great action that is so similar to D-Day that it carries a lot of weight. I am giving this film an 3.5 out of 4 stars.