The Tomorrow War

In the first minutes, it looks like an original hybrid of Edge of Tomorrow, Independence Day and some post-apocalypse flick, but in the final reckoning, it's at most an upgraded Battle Los Angeles, and even that I'd rank higher due to the important factor of "great value for money", which definitely doesn't apply to Amazon's creation. That said, the visual effects sequences are fantastic, likewise with the design of the aliens. This being the main reason to watch Tomorrow War, because the script is a patchwork full of illogical moments and clichés, and the casting is also not good. Star Lord shouldn't get too involved in serious roles, because he’s fine when he’s wisecracking, but when the tone gets more serious, he is not so good. (14/07/2021)

(Possible spoilers!) Chris McKay's film certainly doesn't escape comparison to the (for me) famed sci-fi film Edge of Tomorrow, with the makers of The Tomorrow War also taking a slight nod in the direction of The Thing and Prometheus. The film's biggest negatives are its overblown running time and the sometimes reprehensibly deadpan build-up of the plot, which goes hand-in-hand with a number of typically American scenes (kids and the next generation being the top, the heroism of ordinary people, the blatant political correctness within the cast, etc.). Yet, I'm willing to rise above these aspects to enjoy the decent load of action and a sci-fi level that definitely had potential, albeit slightly buried by the family-themed dialogue. I liked the look of the aliens, the locations, and one almost comic book-like shot that made me think of 300. If the editing had omitted the unnecessary "weeping scenes", which would have shortened the running time, I would have been comfortable with a higher rating. (04/07/2021)

Pure-blooded military sci-fi for dads and their daughters. An interesting story structure, where things don’t follow one after the other and the biggest punch up doesn’t come at the end; it works well and you don’t get bored. McKay successfully surfs on the waves of humor and pathos, but manages to shoot serious scenes too. Surprisingly the biggest strength of The Tomorrow War lies in the emotional sphere. The action is excellent, only at places it seems rather video-game like, but it’s mainly the small scenes which go against the pulse of today… about the traditional family values and about the fact that wanting more is bad for a relationship and can kill you… these scenes carry the whole thing along nicely. (03/07/2021)

In 2021, these alien derivatives may only entertain bacteria and other single-celled organisms. If it wasn’t for the bombastic CGI here and there, it would have nothing. And Chris Pratt's dumb attempts at expressing deeper emotions are quite comical. As Star-Lord he's fine, his awkwardness doesn't matter there, but otherwise he’s very far from a character actor. (06/07/2021)

A strange film indeed. Its better parts felt like a thrilling video game I wished I could control. However, this lack of control took away from the overall impression. The weaker moments felt purely American, with a handful of individuals saving the world in typical fashion, the team composition changing based on current trends. In these weaker moments (well, more than moments...), there was an excess of melodrama and flying over Russia on board a Hercules aircraft. The 90s have long passed, yet here we are, with Americans still saving the world just like they did back then. It's getting a bit repetitive. However, I did appreciate seeing Yvonne Strahovski and Betty Gilpin again, which added a certain spark to the experience. (11/10/2021)