Edge of Tomorrow

When I watched Tom Cruise in a mech suit punching aliens in the face with one hand and spraying machine gun ammo with the other, I had just one thought in my mind – why was Edge of Tomorrow marketed so poorly? Because Edge of Tomorrow is a terrific film, and perhaps the most satisfying action movie I've seen this year.

Despite borrowing bits and bobs from many films including Moon director Duncan Jones' grossly underrated Source Code, Liman still succeeds in delivering a film that skillfully melds a high-concept premise with thrilling action and even spurts of unexpected black humor. For a film about repetition, it never feels tired.

In a summer brimming with annihilating monsters, vicious aliens and assorted villains, Edge of Tomorrow just isn't dazzling enough to stand out.

... entertains in its narrative playfulness — another entry in the burgeoning fad of puzzle-making sci-fi, as seen in Inception and Looper. Few filmmakers have Liman's knack for smart plotting; his much earlier Go inventively connected three intertwined stories.

Writer Hiroshi Sakurazaka's story has solid sci-fi credentials and Cruise proves that he still has the chops to pull off mega action movies. Edge of Tomorrow is one of his most compelling and nuanced performances in this genre.

The zippiness does fade in the second half of Edge of Tomorrow. And the title (perhaps the most belabored way possible of saying tonight) could also use a replay. But among countless sequels and remakes, the high-concept Edge of Tomorrow - both a Tom Cruise celebration and parody - is the right kind of a rerun.