Pleasantly Surprised

Rating: 8/10 (11 April 2013)

I'm not sure why some people seem to utterly hate this film. Although there are some bad points, there's nothing that would merit a score of 0/10. It's unfortunate that some people would prefer to make an attention seeking statement rather than fairly rate a movie.
I was expecting to be disappointed by this film - big budget, Tom Cruise, heavy on special effects - it seemed inevitable that it would be a damp squib but it wasn't.
There's very little novel about the story, which seems to be an amalgam of concepts from many other films. Luckily, though, they are all good concepts from good films - Independence Day, The Matrix, Moon, The Terminator, 2001 all make an appearance.
The pace is good for the most part, perhaps a little slow in places, and the special effects are well executed and visceral. The story is interesting if not groundbreaking and the twist is not exactly what you'd expect; although very early on you will realise that all is not as it is made out to be.
You shouldn't walk into the cinema with unrealistic expectations. This isn't a cerebral film. Your mind won't be blown. You won't see stunning performances or deeply moving dialogue. If you are looking for "art" then stay away. If you are a sci-fi fan looking for a bit of decent escapism then I would recommend Oblivion. The best £4 I've spent at the cinema in a while.