What's up with so many thinking person's mainstream flicks this year?

Rating: Null/10 (7 June 2014)

Not just for the masses this one, and its a fantastic trend to see big studios put their faith in talented film-makers to churn out thoughtful cinema in the mainstream milieu.
Emily Blunt can do no wrong, and with this, Liman can be forgiven 'Jumper'. Cruise has always been serviceable, but this one's perhaps his best work in a long, long time (never doubt his sincerity - it shone through even in 'Oblivion'). Also, sci-fi, of the good variety, seems to fit Cruise like a second skin. I'm all for it if he manages to keep churning out flicks like this one.
Quite a bit of thought has been put into the central macguffin, and though it does have a (kinda) cop-out of an ending, the journey there is enormously satisfying, perhaps to a fault. I know the nitpickers are out there trying to second-guess all the work that's gone on into this masterpiece of an action yarn, but I'm happy, and was along for the complete ride even though I was wiped out when I stepped in to watch this one (marathon meetings - don't ask).
Everyone know the groundhog day motif on this one, so no spoilers there. But the reason for its existence was something more interesting than I'd have given credit for from its trailers (even 'Lost' copped out when it came to explaining away stuff, but this one's strangely satisfying on that score). I did Not see that coming, though the final denouement is not all that surprising, and is simple to a fault at the end of it all.
The look of the film is suitably muted in keeping with the milieu and the context, but the converted 3D is some of the best I've seen on-screen thus far. I know the subtleties will be lost on most, but I had fun with all the depth on display, and for once, it was built from scratch, from an in-depth graphic novel that got turned into a suitably dense screenplay.
Bill Paxton, after a long time, has got a real powerful supporting role to play, never mind 'Million Dollar arm'. With lesser screen time, and almost no action scenes to boast of, he owns each and every line he speaks.
The action is supremely spectacular, and the CGI's so good that you won't know where reality ends and effects begin. Never in-your-face, used as much as its needed to be used. I've watched 'Days of future past' one time too many, but I know that I will enjoy re-watching this one over the next few weeks.
And if someone was indeed wondering, the creature design for the aliens is very, very good. Suitably menacing, with almost 100% stopping power, though they're categorized differently for narrative purposes, each and every model is poison.
With 'The Winter soldier', 'Days of future past' and this one, this summer's turned out to be one of the best for nerds and people who prefer a little meat with their bones. Always a welcome sight. Now, to 'Dawn of the planet of the apes'.