Review by Jonathan Godfrey for Mr. Will Wong
Space Marines: soldiers of fortune fighting for the future. A concept birthed by pulp fiction, and an aesthetic sculpted by Gamers. In the beginning only Outcasts and Adolescents daydreamed of becoming Space Marines. Most saw it as a stunted counter-culture, but in time the culture grew. So much so that it’s burst forth from its bubble and run into the mainstream.
Elements of the Space Marine can be found in Films from Aliens to Elysium. However, none fill its exoskeleton quite as well as Warner’s Edge of Tomorrow. Based off of the celebrated Japanese Novel, All You Need is Kill, Edge of Tomorrow is the Story of a Man cursed with time.
Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) is a marketing strategist for the Military, employed to rally the public to join its dying Army. The enemy, Mimics: an Alien species capable of thwarting all human efforts to protect their planet, save for one. Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt), also known as the Angel of Verdun, also known as the Full Metal Bitch! Rita is the sword-wielding Poster Girl for Space Marines. Iconic in her stature, she casts a shadow that Cage manipulates to swell the ranks of the Military.
As the gears of war turn, so does Cage’s status. Double-crossed and demoted to Private, Cage is forced into battle, untested and unable to defend himself. Yet, as luck would have it, Cage stumbles into powers beyond the realm of reason. The power to control time; the ability to reset the War before it’s ever truly lost. It costs him his life, but before he earns his halo he is brought back to the realm of the living to fight another day. The same day. Over and over.
He fights it alongside Rita, and together the two unfold the Science-Fiction splendour that stitches its way through the narrative. Helmed by Bourne Identity Director Doug Liman, Edge is a worthy heir to the Space Marine legacy. The action is relentless and the mystery entertaining. Armed with big guns, bigger threats, and a bad ass babe, Edge of Tomorrow is easy on the eyes. It’s also good food for thought, as all Science Fiction should be. Its commentary on time invites the viewer to better regard their own. After all, time is relative, so it’s best to enjoy it intimately.
Bill Paxton and his southern drawl are demanding your attention this Blockbuster Season. Join him and the other Space Marines at the Edge of Tomorrow.
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release Edge of Tomorrow on Friday, June 6, 2014.
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This movie was awesome! An excellent adaptation of an excellent book (which I know you mentioned, but you should definitely read if you haven’t already – I think it’s right up your weirdo SF alley). I had such high hopes for this one and was not disappointed – I must see it again! ^^