A Pleasant Surprise!

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2017)

Starship Troopers meets Source Code meets Groundhog Day meets Mass Effect, with the Hollywood action treatment and gloss of a Tom Cruise piloted blockbuster. The film plays out like an incredibly challenging video game where the viewer is confronted by continuous 'game over' scenarios where the whole scene is repeated again from the perspective of Cruise's character Cage, this allows the film to be unpredictable and thus more entertaining.
It was surprising how engrossed I was by a film that appeared to be lacking originality and unpredictability after viewing the formulaic trailer. However, the pace of the film combined with the trial-and-error existence of Cage in the unforgiving alien war zone is intriguing and allows the film to shake off the formulaic predictability of the other high testosterone films in the Hollywood action genre.
The entire plot hinges on the magical, time-controlling powers of blue alien blood from the Alpha Mimic alien behemoths which infects protagonist Cage. This is essential to allow the plot to travel to its conclusion with the connection to the alien hive via the blood allowing Cage to see visions through the alien consciousness and locate the alien armies' Achilles heel. This enables the human army to win the war,when it appears that the human race is doomed to extinction by a far superior foe. The climax of the action is satisfying and hits the levels promised at the beginning of the film. The chemistry between Cage and Rita, played by the intense Emily Brunt is pitched correctly and their relationship has sufficient enough authenticity to propel the slower more reflective moments during the middle of the film until the climactic, Parisian crescendo.
Overall the film is an entertaining yarn, with enjoyable thrills, alien blood spills and unpredictable twists to keep the audience entertained until the curtain falls. It's a good Saturday night blockbuster with alien brains and even a bearded appearance from Locke from Game of Thrones!
Read my full review at: Wafflecast.wordpress.com