journal features

movie review - The Edge of Tomorrow

the journal of Michael Werneburg

twenty-seven years and one million words

Toronto, 2016.08.18

This is a science-fiction piece with a clever premise - one heroic human must re-live a day of battle with an invading alien species every day until he "wins the day" and saves our species. That "heroic" human is anything but at the outset of the movie, trying to worm his way out of a combat role on the admittedly excellent basis that he isn't qualified. But humanity is losing the war and he's pressed into service. After countless failures, he learns the ropes and makes his way through the day. At this point he comes to realize that another human hero of the war is going through the same thing. They team up and take the battle to the aliens with a plan.

I enjoyed this for its premise and its execution. The plot's well done, the characters strong, and the tone is consistent. A favorite. Strongly recommended.

rand()m quote

The man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to such a pass that he cannot distinguish the truth within him, or around him, and so loses all respect for himself and for others. And having no respect he ceases to love, and in order to occupy and distract himself without love he gives way to passions and coarse pleasures, and sinks to bestiality in his vices, all from continual lying to other men and to himself.

—Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov