This week "Edge of Tomorrow", starring Tom Cruise and his freaky smile opens in theaters across America.
Yes, Tom Cruise has a freaky smile.
Yes, Tom Cruise has a freaky smile.
IMDB describes Edge of Tomorrow as:
A soldier fighting in a war with aliens finds himself caught in a time loop of his last day in the battle, though he becomes better skilled along the way.
Not having seen the movie, I describe it as:
A movie about time repeating itself that everyone will compare to Groundhog Day (the movie), but is nothing like it, except for time repeating itself.
In 1992, if you said to someone "Wow, I feel like this is Groundhog Day", people would say "Why did you say that? You feel like a day where a small, confused animal is pulled from a box, waved around, then put back in a box, also known as February 2nd?" and you'd say "Yep", and they'd say "That's an odd thing to say", and then they'd say "C'mon kids, we're going home. Stay away from the crazy person", and you'd say "But, the burgers aren't ready yet!", and they'd say "Don't invite us to any more barbecues".
Today, if you say "Wow, I feel like this is Groundhog Day", people say "Ned? Ned Ryerson?" or something else indicating that they too have experienced the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. "Groundhog Day" has become shorthand for a repetitive moment, or what feels like one.
It's kind of a fascinating development. Nobody says "This feels like Star Wars" or "This feels like Taxi Driver" or "This feels like Arbor Day, which is a movie nobody ever made, but should".
Today, if you say "Wow, I feel like this is Groundhog Day", people say "Ned? Ned Ryerson?" or something else indicating that they too have experienced the movie Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray. "Groundhog Day" has become shorthand for a repetitive moment, or what feels like one.
It's kind of a fascinating development. Nobody says "This feels like Star Wars" or "This feels like Taxi Driver" or "This feels like Arbor Day, which is a movie nobody ever made, but should".
I hope everyone involved with making Groundhog Day understands that they have contributed something to pop culture that few have ever done before. I'm confident that my grandchildren will have a different idea of Groundhog Day than I did growing up.
So I don't blame reviewers and others, if they compare Edge of Tomorrow to Groundhog Day. It's what we do these days (and forever more). But the concept reminds me more of a different movie: Source Code.
So I don't blame reviewers and others, if they compare Edge of Tomorrow to Groundhog Day. It's what we do these days (and forever more). But the concept reminds me more of a different movie: Source Code.
Buy it, watch it and prove me wrong.
Source Code stars Jake Gyyllnnhhaall as a military guy who has to keep going back in time to try to stop a train from being bombed. He lives the same eight minutes over and over again until he solves the mystery. There's another good twist or two that I won't spoil.
I like Source Code, directed by Duncan Jones, who also directed "Moon". I liked Moon, too. Moon has a twist that is given away fairly early, yet the explanation for it is unveiled slowly throughout the movie. If you like "modern classic" sci-fi like 2001, Alien or Blade Runner, you should check out either or both of these movies. They're quite well-done. Moon, especially, feels like it might be set in the Alien universe (it isn't, but if you told me it was, I'd believe you).
I like Source Code, directed by Duncan Jones, who also directed "Moon". I liked Moon, too. Moon has a twist that is given away fairly early, yet the explanation for it is unveiled slowly throughout the movie. If you like "modern classic" sci-fi like 2001, Alien or Blade Runner, you should check out either or both of these movies. They're quite well-done. Moon, especially, feels like it might be set in the Alien universe (it isn't, but if you told me it was, I'd believe you).
Buy it, watch it and prove me wrong. (Again)
When my nine-year-old daughter saw Groundhog Day, she was really upset that there was no "real" reason for Bill Murray's repeated day. "Because love" was an unsatisfactory explanation. (That's the result of showing her so many episodes of Doctor Who prior to watching the movie.)
Groundhog Day is not based in sci-fi. It's a romance. It's cute. It's funny. I like it! But please don't just say that Edge of Tomorrow is Groundhog Day with Tom Cruise. It can't be. They are completely different entities. It's like saying that "The Dark Knight" is like "As Good As It Gets" because they both take place in big cities.
(That's a horrible analogy, and I'm as disappointed in me as you are.)
Edge of Tomorrow may be a fine movie about a 51 year old army recruit (current US Army age limit is 42, a perfectly good sci-fi number) who is the only person on the planet who can save the planet (or galaxy). I bet there's a lot of action, a "good reason" why Tom Cruise is the only person who can accomplish the task, and a reveal at the end that will "shock" the audience.
But Source Code did all that first, with a smaller budget, less computer-generated action and (probably) a better "shocking" ending. And all Jake Ggyylllennnhlll does is save Chicago (not the planet (or galaxy)), but still...
Groundhog Day is not based in sci-fi. It's a romance. It's cute. It's funny. I like it! But please don't just say that Edge of Tomorrow is Groundhog Day with Tom Cruise. It can't be. They are completely different entities. It's like saying that "The Dark Knight" is like "As Good As It Gets" because they both take place in big cities.
(That's a horrible analogy, and I'm as disappointed in me as you are.)
Edge of Tomorrow may be a fine movie about a 51 year old army recruit (current US Army age limit is 42, a perfectly good sci-fi number) who is the only person on the planet who can save the planet (or galaxy). I bet there's a lot of action, a "good reason" why Tom Cruise is the only person who can accomplish the task, and a reveal at the end that will "shock" the audience.
But Source Code did all that first, with a smaller budget, less computer-generated action and (probably) a better "shocking" ending. And all Jake Ggyylllennnhlll does is save Chicago (not the planet (or galaxy)), but still...
QUIZ TIME:
Choose which photos are from military sci-fi time travel movies, and which ones are from the wacky romantic comedy? You have two minutes.
Choose which photos are from military sci-fi time travel movies, and which ones are from the wacky romantic comedy? You have two minutes.