9. Edge of Tomorrow
In “Edge of Tomorrow,” the concept behind the classic “Groundhog Day” is given a deadly spin, making for an unpredictable and incredibly entertaining sci-fi action movie thanks to its narrative velocity and clever set pieces. After the Earth is assaulted by an alien race with the power to reset the day, a military officer, Cage (Tom Cruise) acquires their power and must relive the same day repeatedly every time he dies in that day’s battle. Director Doug Liman presents the film with visual finesse, as each battle is a riveting display of sci-fi spectacle, blending realistic, brutal violence with monster-movie computer-generated imagery. With each iteration, both Cage and the audience think of ways to overcome the challenge of the previous battle. It seems like a video game level we keep losing for two hours straight, but it’s one we’d all love to play.
– Naftali Burakovsky, Staff Writer