All you need is thrill...

Rating: 8/10 (17 June 2014)

What if, in an almost video-game-like fashion, a soldier could respawn after death over and over again and relive the same day? Surely, he would learn and alter the events over and over, and continuously hone his skills until victory is achieved. Based on the Japanese novel All You Need is Kill, this film brings this unique premise to life on the big screen.
The film wastes little time in the set-up, before the big battles commence that pit armored men against crazy tentacled aliens. It is a pretty hectic and hard-hitting struggle as is. You'd think these scenes would get repetitive if the main character keeps having to relive this, but the film keeps the backtracking short, so that it always explores new directions in the narrative. As a result, the action remains frequent, but is always varied. All the different tangents lead to a suspenseful and satisfying finale.
Given the film's premise, it is an inherently interesting idea. It probably could have come off as generic, clichéd, or repetitive in lesser hands. Fortunately, the story is well-built and well-told in this film, not only because it keeps things brisk and varied, but also because it has endearing characters and a strong attention to detail. There are a few instances where I questioned the plausibility of certain things, but it doesn't stop the plot from holding up.
The film features good and straightforward photography. Editing is pretty good, especially in the way it can string together multiple recurrences of a scene (to show progress, or sometimes for humor when the character dies a stupid death). Acting is not bad; Tom Cruise isn't always endearing to watch, but he does have moments that help us sympathize with his situation. Emily Blunt delivers a solid performance. Everybody else is alright. Writing is not bad. This production has pretty good and gritty-looking sets, props, costumes, and special effects. Locales are surprisingly interesting. Music is alright (the end credits song seems out of place though).
This is kinda like what you get if you cross The Source Code with the Resistance: Fall of Man video game. It's a pretty solid piece of military sci-fi that's certainly better than average, offering its fair share of intriguing storytelling and rip-roaring action.
Recommended!
4/5 (Entertainment: Good | Story: Good | Film: Good)