A pretty entertaining Sci-Fi epic

Rating: 7/10 (30 November 2013)

This is far from a perfect movie, nor is it one of Cruise's best. But as far as Sci-Fi epics goes, it's a pretty entertaining two hours or so. This is not a very original Sci-Fi picture. It borrows from movies, such as Total Recall, 2001 Space Odyssey, among others. My argument to those bashing this movie is that many movies are derivative at this juncture. There are some movies that are original these days, but the problem is that so many things have been done. My advice is to ignore the plot holes, the derivative nature, and just try and enjoy yourself. If you manage to do that, you'll probably have a good time. It's fantastic visually. The damaged earth from the war is amazing to look at. The special effects are truly a sight to behold, and it's hard not to be floored by them. My favorite has to be the waterfalls. They were truly breathtaking to look at. The story is a bit jumbled, and a tad weak, I have to admit. I would have liked to see more background on Cruise & Kurylenko. We only get brief snippets from flashbacks a few times during this movie about their past love. More meat behind their love story would have really made this movie all the more entertaining. I did enjoy their chemistry, and the love story was above average, but considering how powerful they were trying to make it, more effort was necessary. Tom Cruise is as reliable as ever. He has a commanding presence that you can't help but enjoy. I wouldn't call it his best performance by any means or even in a Sci-Fi movie (That honor goes to Minority Report) but he has charisma to spare, and he carries this film like a champ. I don't really pay attention to his real life antics. He's one of my favorite actors, because of his talent, not his personal life. I felt his character did regain some of his memory a bit too quickly, but that's a minor carp. Olga Kurylenko is gorgeous, and does well for the most part. She actually conveys her emotions decently, and held her own very well. I enjoyed her. Morgan Freeman is one of the best actors of all time, but he doesn't have much of a part in this one. I relished every chance that I got to see him on screen, but I think he was just here to add star power. He did just fine with what he was given, but a better character would have been appreciated. Andrea Risenborough gave the best female performance here in my opinion. I felt she was excellent. Melissa Leo is fitfully menacing, and her character has a nice homage to 2001 Space Odyssey.
Final Thoughts: It has many derivative elements, I must admit. The story isn't as strong as I'd have liked, but I had fun for the most part. The action & visuals deliver. The more I think about it, the more I like it
7.5/10