One of the best films of the year. Certainly the best film of the summer. Granted I am a Tom Cruise fan but even people I know who don't like him loved it. I know several people who've seen it twice and I'm ready to go again. Whatever movie you think it is, it isn't. On the one hand it's a metaphor for becoming a better person in life, on the other it could be a spiritual metaphor (rebirth), on the third it could be the best video game movie ever made (but isn't based on an actual video game funny enough).
The cast is terrific. This is one of Cruise's best performances - the dude never phones it in but this time it's a role that contrary to his career IS NOT ALL ABOUT HIM. In fact that is the journey of the character. Major props to Cruise for doing this movie. I do feel it's him making a statement about how he is perceived and he tackled the theme with total abandon.
Emily Blunt completely holds her own and does not play second fiddle. I love that there is no romance, no mushy BS, no weakness, no teary 'but don't go' non-sense. A strong female character and Blunt knocks it out of the park.
Bill Paxton. Nuff said.
Director Doug Liman is known for Bourne Identity and other great films like Swingers and Go and more. What they all have in common are strong central characters and fitting the direction to the genre. For EoT he manages to make a very sci-fi premise that other studios would have balked at pursuing and making that premise accessible, believable, and crucial to the theme and journey of the movie. That could not have been easy.
Everyone I know who's seen this movie loved it. It's the sleeper of the summer and understandably so. There's no way to really explain the movie in a commercial and hell part of the experience is not knowing exactly what's going to happen. So it just came off as some weird Cruise generic future action movie. It's not. Go see it.
I can't imagine a starker contrast than Edge of Tomorrow vs. Transformers when it comes to expectations of the audience, entertainment, and cynicism vs. optimism. Transformers for all its bright colors and kid/boys with toys appeal is undeniably cynical in its expectations from its audience. Edge of Tomorrow for all its seeming dour and dire presentation is at its most meaningful when considered in context of who's watching and what they get out of it. The movie gives a sh*t. And that's why I continue to think about it and want to see it again.