Viewing Blog 2: Edge of Tomorrow-Groundhog!

Live, Die, Repeat & Groundhog! 

I wonder if Bill Murray ever saw Edge of Tomorrow? He probably thought to himself, "Didn't I do something similar to this in 1993?" Well, if he did ponder this question, he's surly right. Let's just take the concept, I mean the entire flipping movie plot of Groundhog Day and turn it into a science fiction story with action, romance, and don't forget the aliens. Yes, because every good Sci-Fi film needs the all impending doom-invasion evil-race aliens wanting to take over the world. Tom Cruise doesn't bring the slapstick humor that Murray brings so elegantly to the big screen, but Cruise strongly conveys big-budget action scenes masterfully. The story begins with Lt. Col. Bill Cage, played by our favorite our favorite action hero, Tom Cruise, is trying to get out of going to the front line of the alien battle. His superior officer didn't buy any of his arguments and had him arrested and then stripped of his rank. 

Long story short, Cage finds himself on the fateful front-lines, with scenes reminiscent of any film depicting D-Day. Cage is killed when he does the ultimate sacrifice by blowing himself up with a  bomb, right before an evil alien attacks him. The twist in the plot is when the alien's blood drenches Cage at the moment of explosion, he is sent back in time, exactly 24 hours back. Yes, I understand this goes against all laws of the known physics and theoretical time travel. Every time that Cage is killed in battle, he is instantly transported back to the exact time the day before. See? It's a plot similar to Groundhog Day, when Murray goes to sleep, he wakes up to the same song, "I got you Babe"! Thus, reliving his day over and over again. Cage utilizes his new found time loop to team up with the gorgeous Rita, played by Emily Blunt, who teaches his the art of fighting and war. Romance soon builds as Cage falls in love with his ill-fated partner. Over and over again, they both are killed; and Cage keeps waking up the day before the invasion with higher hopes of getting it right. They do, eventually.

The sci-fi connection to the human condition is that we all at one point of time wanted a do-over. When the universe plays a hand of trickery on us, we, hopefully, take the opportunity to positively develop one's character. Both movies hit the nail on the head with this concept. Murray must find compassion and humbleness. Cruise must find courage and wit. Both characters under go a massive change from their first appearances to becoming likable hero's of the day. The concept of character change and the do-over scenario is not new. It's just that Groundhog Day captured it in a wittily-funny type of way and Edge of Tomorrow build upon that in an action intense sci-fi aspect. Both films are highly recommended for watching. What situation in your life that you wish to have a do-over opportunity? As for me, my lips are sealed, or at least until I come up with just one really big thing I'd like to rectify. Keep the comments clean and G-rated. Peace!