Solid Science Fiction Action Film

Rating: 7/10 (11 October 2014)

An excellent premise that is carried by Tom Cruise throughout.
If you don't know what the premise is, then go into the film that same way. That way, you can follow Cruise's character as he finds out what's going on himself. Even with knowing, Cruise sells the premise very well, and he is the key element in the film. Without him, "Edge of Tomorrow" would be good, but more of a standard science-fiction movie.
The other characters run from underdeveloped to one note. It's fun to see Bill Paxton as a tough Sargent, when many of us remember him as the freaked-out grunt from "Aliens!" Otherwise, everyone, including Emily Blunt, don't have much character or shading to them. It's up to Cruise to carry the film, and he does so very well.
This is the first Doug Liman movie I've liked since "Swingers." Most of his movies are colorless, passionless affairs that are more productions than movies with any soul. He does better here, driven probably by the presence of Cruise.
The screen writing is great, especially towards the beginning as the plot and the premise unfold. The editing is also very good. The trick is, once we know what's going on, and what needs to be done to fight the aliens, we're kind of just hanging out until the end.
So, the last half is definitely less interesting than the first. But, the opening is very good, and the film is worth a watch.
NOTE: The 3-D is good. But, Liman and cinematographer Dion Beebe are unfortunately too much into the shaky-cam thing for their own good. And, it makes the 3-D too jittery an experience, which is unfortunate.
******* (7 Out of 10 Stars)