Ellington

After a somewhat odd movie trailer, I was skeptical and hesitant to invest time in "Edge of Tomorrow." To my surprise, the film turned out to be nothing short of spectacular.

In "Edge," an alien race called Mimics occupies mainland Europe. The continent is in total desolation, and the war rages on as the militaries of the world unify for human survival. Tom Cruise plays Major William Cage, an American near-celebrity PR person who just happens to be in military uniform.

Cage reports to the London office of British General Brigham (Brendan Gleeson). Cage's condescension is evident as he informs the general he needs to rebuild his public image in the wake of huge lost battles. Brigham isn't enthused and has different plans; he orders Cage to embed himself in the first wave of the next-day invasion into northern France. Realizing the general is serious, Cage freaks out, tries to escape the building, but Brigham has him arrested and tasered unconscious.

"Wake up, maggot!" Cage awakens handcuffed on the tarmac of Heathrow airport, which is now a gigantic staging area for the impending invasion. Master Sgt. Farell (Bill Paxton) isn't interested in Cage's manipulative talk and throws him in with a unit of misfits. Untrained and unprepared, the anti-hero Cage is forced to suit up, though he doesn't even know how to turn off his weapon's safety.

The futuristic trooper-loaded choppers and sea craft cross the English Channel and make landfall in northern France—Normandy to be exact. Not only does the scene eerily resemble the infamous opening scene of Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan," but "Edge of Tomorrow" was actually released on the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

In a complete daze, Cage stumbles around the beach while carnage engrosses each film frame. He recognizes a woman soldier, the Special Forces legend Rita Vrataski (Emily Blunt). Cage stops and pauses as she walks out of a downed chopper. There is an abrupt explosion, and she dies. Moments later, Cage is wounded and comes face-to-face with a rare Alpha Mimic. He grabs a fallen soldier's clamor and detonates and kills the Alpha Mimic along with himself.

Yes, you read correctly. Cage, our protagonist, dies. "Edge of Tomorrow" involves a daily time loop; think Bill Murray's "Groundhog Day" with fewer jokes and added explosions and aliens.

Cage, however, awakens to a brand new day every time he is killed.

Director Doug Liman, the man who successfully launched the Jason Bourne series into a creative, critically acclaimed and moneymaking cash cow, truly has a great cinematic technique and a penchant for suspenseful storytelling—both of which shine bright in "Edge."

The script is precise and clever. Writer and occasional director Christopher McQuarrie, who penned "The Usual Suspects," joins screenwriting brotherly duo Jez and John-Henry Butterworth, who scripted the upcoming Mississippi-filmed James Brown biopic "Get On Up," for a tight assembly of wit, action and an abundance of surprise.

Tom Cruise is a fantastic and believable driver to the film. Cage is an affective character, morphing himself from a cowardly anti-hero to just the opposite, and Cruise certainly earned his pay. Emily Blunt's ability to emotionally deepen her character is not only truly impressive but adds subtle yet great value to the film.

With so many positives, "Edge" has few letdowns. The subject matter of the film—the futuristic killing of a machine-like alien race—is a bit out there and will likely not appeal to a huge demographic. That's a pity because it's so much more than that.

Also, the ending is questionable. It's a head-scratcher no doubt, but I accepted it because I can only imagine how tough it was to write a credible ending to an incredible movie. I highly recommend you put the seat of your pants in the seat of the chair and give this one a go.