Oblivion

A science fiction film about a post apocalyptic world starring Tom Cruise directed by the guy who directed Disney's Tron: Legacy. Doesn't sound very enticing on paper now, does it? When I saw the list of cast and crew, I was very disheartened. Then I saw the trailer. The trailer gave me hope for this film. It promised that Oblivion would be a visual odyssey through a gorgeously designed science fiction world, similar in style to the great science fiction films of the past, such as 2001 or Blade Runner. So how did it actually turn out? Visually, it's gorgeous. So much care was  taken with every single shot and effect. The CGI is probably even better than Avatar. Every destroyed building, every wrecked monument looks very real. I highly regret not seeing this in IMAX. These are the kind of movies that they should shoot in IMAX, not films like The Dark Knight Rises. Sure, that was visually interesting, but there was nothing really amazing in it that would make me want to see it on a huge six story screen. Oblivion, on the other hand, is very impressive in that respect, particularly in the last couple minutes, when the audience gets to glimpse inside the triangular mother ship that is constantly floating in the sky. The plot is also a strongpoint of the movie, being very original and at the same time paying homage to old classics. Throughout the film, many references are scattered to classic science fiction films, particularly to Star Wars and 2001. Those were employed very subtly and very cleverly. The director also did a nice job of creating a distinct tone. The film isn't without problems, however. The screenplay is not the best, and some of the actors are miscast. Morgan Freeman in particular doesn't fit the role, and accordingly gives what I would consider a bad performance. Also, a lot more is given away in the advertising than I would have liked. Don't worry, there are still plenty of surprises in store, but it just would have been that much better if they didn't give away anything. Tom Cruise is actually alright in this, giving what is probably his only good performance since Eyes Wide Shut. Overall, I would highly recommend seeing this.

8/10