Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The advertisements for this movie really missed the mark, as there is so much greatness going on in this film. "Tom Cruise vs the aliens" or sci-fi "Groundhog Day"? Sure, those claims are true, but rather simplistic. There are several other really wonderful things to love about this film: 1) Kickass super-heroine - While many lament the absence of women from the modern superhero boom (and rightfully so,) this movie delivers that rare woman warrior. At the start, Tom Cruise is the puny wimp, while Emily Blunt is the fearless leader of Earth's entire army. She swings this ridiculously giant manga-style sword and crushes aliens like nothing. It's simply great and cool to see anybody doing this, but especially a lady. 2) Sci-fi D-Day - This movie showcases a classic "storming of Normandy" sequence where instead of Americans attacking Germans, it's power-suited humans airdropping onto the beach to make battle with alien enemies. It's big, epic, loud and thrilling. 3) Comedy - This movie's hysterical. The dark humor milks the premise of the repeating/neverending day for all the jokes it can, where things change in novel, unpredictable ways. 4) New aliens - Tired of the same old aliens that are humanoid with 4 limbs or look like big bugs? Just as this film offers fresh spins on other tired cliches, the bad guys here are the most distinct and unique creations in sci-fi cinema that I can remember for quite some time. 5) Big ideas - This film combines a plethora of heady themes: destiny, heroism, politics, morality, war, choice, etc. where the viewer has many deep things to contemplate while riding the roller coaster plot. Beyond the above, sure the movie has great performances (Bill Paxton's sassy and evangelical sergeant is downright poetic), killer action, majestic SFX, and interesting and intriguing plot. I know this movie was based on a Japanese graphic novel, but it still one of the most "original," cool and kooky films to be made in this era of remakes, reboots and sequels.