Edge of Tomorrow (2014)

This review is sponsored by

BUY IT

General		Extras
Category	Sci-Fi Action	Deleted Scenes Featurette-Making Of-2
Rating
Year Of Production	2014
Running Time	108:50
RSDL / Flipper	RSDL (64:01)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	4	Directed By	Doug Liman
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Tom Cruise Emily Blunt Bill Paxton Brendan Gleeson Jonas Armstrong Noah Taylor
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Junkie XL

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 5.1 English Descriptive Audio Dolby Digital 2.0
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	2.35:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	2.35:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English for the Hearing Impaired	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

     The glut of quality science fiction movies continues with this blockbuster sci-fi action film starring Tom Cruise. This is certainly one of the better recent science fiction action films with an interesting concept, high quality effects and action, a good cast and an engaging story. It was directed by Doug Liman, probably best known for his involvement in the Bourne series of films starring Matt Damon.

     The concept is that some time in the future earth has been invaded by aliens known as The Mimics. The earth bound governments have been forced to work together to fight the alien invasion forming the United Defence Force. General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson) of the UDF is tasked with re-invading continental Europe from the UK to recover it from the aliens. The US Army sends him Major William Cage (Tom Cruise) who is from the marketing department and believes he is there to sell the invasion to the human races. Unfortunately, General Brigham disagrees and decides to send him in, in the invasion force. Cage professes to know nothing of actual fighting and tries to escape, however after being captured he wakes up at an airport where the invasion force is getting ready. He runs into Master Sergeant Farrell (Bill Paxton) who has been told he is a deserter and will be sent into battle in the front lines. Before Cage knows which way is up he is being dumped onto a Normandy beach via helicopter troop carrier with a platoon of foot soldiers. They have fitted him out with an exoskeleton style suit which includes weapons and technology to help him move and fight. He does not survive long before he is killed by one of the aliens. Bizarrely he wakes up again what seems to him like the next morning and goes through the whole routine again including meeting Sgt Farrell, getting dumped on the beach in Normandy and getting killed. Then it happens again and again and again. As each day goes by he tries different ways to survive, lasting longer and longer. One day he meets a famous soldier, Rita Vertaski (Emily Blunt) who is also known as the Angel of Verdun, a previous battle in the war with the aliens. He decides that he must team up with her in order to survive longer and longer each day. Can they team up together and work out how to defeat the aliens and stop the day repeating? Other cast members include Dr Carter (Noah Taylor), who has been studying the aliens, and Skinner (Jonas Armstrong), a member of the platoon Cage joins every morning.

     There are certainly some great action sequences in this film, which when combined with the interesting story and concept make for quality entertainment. To my mind the film loses its way in the final third a little and becomes just another action film, although certainly still an entertaining one. The other factor which increases the entertainment quotient here is the use of comedy in terms of how Cage starts out as a character and the relationship between him and Rita which develops slowly and not without some pain for Cage. The cast is great with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt making a good and non-clichéd partnership. Paxton is also good in a different role for him, convincing as the gruff but amusing Master Sergeant. The special effects are awesome and very believable with the aliens, exoskeleton suits and the various interesting military vehicles making for a lot of visual interest. The dialogue is snappy and the story moves along quickly. The look of the film is certainly reminiscent of many D-Day landing films of the Second World War which is on purpose. This brings a realism to the film which is sometimes lacking from sci-fi. If it wasn't for the slightly disappointing final third the film would certainly be near the top of the list of sci-fi action films.

     Recommended.

Video

     The video quality is excellent for DVD but not without some minor issues.

     The feature is presented in a 2.35:1 aspect ratio which is the original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     The picture was very sharp and clear for DVD. Shadow detail was generally very good but a couple of scenes towards the end were a little murky.

     The colour is excellent.

     There is some mild motion blur and a little digital background noise at times.

     There are subtitles in English for the hearing impaired which were clear and easy to read.

     There is a layer change at 64:01 which causes a slight pause.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     The audio quality is excellent but I am sure a Blu-ray version would be even better.

     This disc contains an English soundtrack in Dolby Digital 5.1 plus an English Audio Descriptive track in Dolby Digital 2.0.

     Dialogue was clear and easy to understand throughout.

     The music is marvellous, suiting the film well and adding tension and excitement. The score is by Junkie XL with Hans Zimmer acting as Executive Music Producer, whatever that is.

     The surround speakers were active constantly creating a surround soundscape above the calibre of most DVDs. I am sure the Blu-ray version would be awesome.

     The subwoofer was also excellent with the action scenes, battles, gunfire, explosions and more all prominent.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

     A disappointingly small set of extras.

Menu

     The menu features music and motion.

Operation Downfall - Adrenaline Cut (2:27)

     An alternate version of a scene in the movie with different music.

Storming the Beach (8:37)

     The pick of the extras. This is a making of featurette which covers the link to WWII films, cast & crew interviews, sets, shooting challenges, VFX and where real action was used.

Weapons of the Future (8:04)

     A featurette focused on the exoskeleton suits used by the soldiers, what they were like to act and film in, the design, the training and preparation required, etc. Worth a look.

    This film is available in other regions on Blu-ray and DVD and the Region 1 DVD release seems to be the same.

    The video quality is excellent for DVD.

    The audio quality is excellent for DVD.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall