The most original pure Sci Fi movie I have seen in a long time. Original is a good way not a art house way like Cloud Atlas. Original like Planet of the Apes was.
Tom Cruise checks his ego for this one and puts in a compelling believable performance. Olga Kurylenko who we loved in Hit Man and to a lesser extent the Bond Movie is also credible but her role is mostly to look worthy of Tom's affection. Morgan Freeman adds a certain gravitas. Also a shout out to Andrea Risebourgh who makes the whole premise real. But the man mostly responsible for this triumph is the creator/director Joseph Kosinski. Expect him to become a force of cinema.
I was totally engaged. Usually I have a movie figured out in the first quarter, I did not figure out the big reveal until it was shown. While the ending was predictable it was also satisfying closure.
I really had low expectations for this movie, it had very little buzz, and was a moderate ($89 mil) draw at the box office for a film that cost $120 mill. Rotten Tomatoes was only 54%. Furthermore the things I liked best about the movie, the plot, and great direction were identified by most critics as its weaknesses. Wrong again RT, do not miss what may be the best Sci Fi movie of 2013.
Four Stars
(I strongly recommend you do not watch the trailer, to many reveals revealed)
I will most definitely rent this when it comes out on Redbox. I really enjoyed Joseph Kosinski previous film, Tron: Legacy, especially the visual aspect, so I am sure that I will enjoy Oblivion.
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I liked the film. The cinematography was totally gorgeous. I'm a filmmaker so these things appeal to me big time. I only had two problems with this film, and that was the pacing and Tom Cruise. I like the actor I think another actor could have done a better job... be more suited for the role. It needed someone more subtle and nuanced. I might do a review as well though as the film was a pleasant surprise. Enjoyed it more than After Earth ;-)
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