A Mix Of Cliché And Original That Works Out In The End

Rating: 8/10 (10 June 2014)

I had heard good things about this recently, saying that it was underrated, so I decided to check it out. I don't remember any raving reviews when it came out, so the sudden praise peaked my interest. I'm glad I checked it out.
The film is an interesting mix of original ideas and clichés. One minute you will be intrigued by the plot, the next you'll be saying "oh well I kinda thought that would happen", but I think it's a film that remains more on the original side. Sure, you'll see some of you're typical Hollywood movie clichés that will make you think this film is going in a bad direction, but if you stick with it until the end, you will be pleased.
This is quite a beautiful film at times. It has some mesmerizing shots that will leave you breathless. They help sell the futuristic feeling. But on the flip side, there can be some slightly boring and typical set pieces. The film kind of goes back and forth between inspired and unoriginal with it's visuals, but I think the good visuals left a bigger mark on me.
Tom Cruise gives a good performance, showing that he still is capable of being great. Olga Kurylenko gives an okay performance. I read about other choices for her role and I feel like maybe one of those other actresses would have worked better, but she gets the job done.
Overall, this is a film you should check out if you're a fan of sci-fi. It has lots of twists and turns and will keep you entertained for sure. It seems like it slipped under the radar a bit, which is a shame, but it's worth checking out.