EDGE OF TOMORROW

US/UK, 2014, 113 minutes, Colour.
Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleason, Noah Taylor, Bill Paxton.
Directed by Doug Liman.

If you are not a computer games player, give Edge of Tomorrow about 20 minutes and then you may enjoy it more than you expected. Those first 20 minutes are military minutes, aliens invading Earth, worldwide military trying to contain the invasion, troops coming from Asia towards Europe, troops moving across the English Channel towards France which has been devastated (some grim views of a destroyed Paris) as have other countries of Europe.

This is a Tom Cruise science fiction (his 2013 Oblivion was very interesting and enjoyable). He is Cage, an American in London, a PR man, who is commanded by the general (Brendan Gleason) to go to the front. He refuses, but is arrested and sent to the military base where he is given the rough treatment, called maggot, put down, clad in huge armour, put on a plane where he has to drop with others, a bit like an airborne D- Day, on the Normandy beaches. When he lands, he confronts the Alpha Alien, and is killed. But he does not die, rather, in a scenario like Groundhog Day, he lands again at the military base and goes through the process again, again, again and again.

Each time he makes a bit more progress in his mission. The key is that he meets Rita, named The Angel of Verdun, because of her heroism in the battle there (echoes of World War I). Her photo appears on the side of London buses to promote patriotism and for recruiting. Cage encounters her during his mission and she tells him to contact her when he goes back to start again. He does so and she puts him through his paces so that he is well-trained to continue with the mission, accompanying her. She has had the same experience as he but has lost her powers whereas he still has – to confront the Alpha Alien. They are helped by an eccentric but visionary scientist (Noah Taylor).

This may sound more than far-fetched. But, the screenplay is well-written, Cruise develops his character from reluctant PR man to very fit combat soldier and Emily Blunt, as Rita, can stand her ground against Cage as well as with him.

Most of the film develops the further steps in the narrative, step-by-step, returning to the start again and again, knowing better how to deal with the further steps until there is a confrontation, with rather spectacular special effects, between Cage and the Alpha Alien.

The film is geared towards the science-fiction and futuristic scenario film fans and should satisfy them – and, most of the critics around the world, liked it.

1. The title? The original novel: All you need is kill?

2. The first part of the film, resembling computer games, combat games, audience identifying with this or not?

3. After the combat, Carter and Rita and the explanation of the situation, the war, the attack of the aliens, the science behind the aliens, Carter’s hypotheses, and the possibilities for destroying the Chief alien? The credibility of this science? The aliens and their being able to reprogram a day?

4. The reprogramming of the day, the Groundhog Day experience, how used, the many repetitions, Cage having to die every time, yet further steps forward each time the day started again, enabling tension as Cage and Rita move further in the plot?

5. The locations, the city of London, the military base, the continent, the desolation of the combat fields, the desolation of Paris destroyed, the snow and ice at the dam? Under the dam? Under the Louvre? Whitehall, the military centre and offices? The laboratories? The musical score?

6. The overtones of World War I, Verdun, and the D- Day landings of World War II?

7. Cage, his life, publicist, in the military, going to Brigham, the job, his refusal, his arguments, the arrest?

8. The beginning of his day, the soldier calling him Maggot, meeting Farrell, Farrell confronting Cage, his words about combat, seeing him as a deserter? The training? The equipment? The men in the squad, their individuality, Farrell’s speech, discovering the cards? In the plane, Cage and his fear, experience, the explosions, having to drop? Landing, the battles, the aliens, the equipment, seeing the man crushed with the falling machinery, the confrontation with the Alpha Alien, Cage and his blood, his death? And starting again? The number of times this was repeated?

9. The important be seeing Rita, knowing that she was on the poster as a recruiting incentive, her being known as the Angel of Verdun? Her telling him to contact her the next time? His doing this, finding her with the machines, the buildup and her training him, the repetitions, the initial failure, success?

10. Rita, the experience of the war, at Verdun, her losing her power after repeating the days, the grief for the man who was killed? Meeting Cage, the training, the repetitions, the machines, take him to Carter, the explanations, the maps, trying to locate the Alpha, Carter, his personality, at Whitehall, his theories, his being fired?

11. Cage and Rita getting further on the ground with each attempt, Cage flying and looking at the dam, its vastness, below the dam, his search, the Alpha not there, his vision, seeing the Alpha in Paris, under the Louvre?

12. Getting further along in the story after many repetitions, in the car, taking the trailer, talking with Rita, being taciturn, conversation, her middle name – and her later giving it, Rose? The helicopter, the rest, the coffee, her determination about the helicopter, his warning that it would fail, her igniting nonetheless, the explosion, her not dying?

13. The decision to go to see Brigham, the many visits, the explanations, the information and the coincidences, his secretary, his authorising the equipment?

14. The continued pursuits, Cage being wounded, hospital, losing some of his blood? The need to destroy The Alpha more quickly?

15. The mission, going to the squad, giving them the information about themselves, their agreeing to help? Getting the equipment, flying to Paris, landing, the fight with the aliens, the explosions? Going to the Louvre, and using the equipment to cross the river? The plan, Rita to lure Alpha, Cage with the grenades, into the water, the underwater sequences, the pursuit of the Alpha, throwing the grenades, the explosion?

16. The special effects for the creatures, for the Alpha, for the action in the war?

17. Peace, Cage and his promotion, the squad still alive and his watching them march? Meeting Rita again? Peace?

18. The blend of action, science fiction, apocalypse, the saving of the human race, the future?