Movie Review: Oblivion

Oblivion is set in the distant future in the year 2077, where Earth has been invaded and destroyed nearly 60 years earlier by an alien species known as "Scavs". Among the known remaining humans, there is drone repairman Jack Harper, or Tech 49 (Tom Cruise), and his partner Victoria (Andrea Riseborough). Together, they work to secure and send Earth's remaining resources to a massive tetrahedral space station – called the Tet – that was humanity’s escape vessel. Their mission control commander, Sally, helps guide them in Jack's recon and repair trips. Later, while on patrol, Jack discovers a downed spacecraft with five passengers in sleep captivity. Among them, is Julia (Olga Kurylenko), a woman out of Jack's recurring dreams. After rescuing her from a rogue drone attack, Jack is captured by Scavs and brought back to their hideout. The Scavs' leader, Malcolm Beech (Morgan Freeman), tells Jack the truth about the alien invasion and insists he program a drone to detonate the Tet. When Jack refuses, Beech releases him and urges him to seek the truth about himself and the human race in the restricted "Radiation" zones that surround the Earth's surface. As the story progresses, Jack discovers more secrets and lies about his past and the fate of the human race.

Oblivion was a modern marvel in my opinion. Overflowing with amazing effects, detailed costumes, and advanced weaponry, Oblivion delivers a masterpiece of science fiction with twists and turns at every corner. Set in a post-apocalyptic future on a war-torn Earth, this film screams sci-fi with its advanced technology from fancy jet-propelled helicopters to its floating drones equipped with murderous lasers. Even with a confusing and jumpy plot, this film kept me at my seat and full of buttery popcorn with its dazzling sights and mind-numbing technology of the future.

Once again, Tom Cruise, the ultimate forever-living actor legend, has made yet another amazing movie. His latest, Jack Reacher, found Cruise as a deadly detective out to catch a murdering sniper. Now we find him blasting his way through armies of vicious drones and strange "look-a-like" clones (One of the many twists we discover in this film). Tom Cruise has been one of my favorite actors since he flew with the fighter jets in Top Gun in 1986. Ever since then, films like Mission Impossible, Minority Report, and Rock of Ages have been winners in my opinion all because of Cruise. With all the talent he has, Cruise could pull off almost any role the directors today throw at him. From Lt. "Maverick" Mitchell to rock legend Stacee Jaxx, Tom Cruise has proved once again that he can deliver an outstanding film about a repairman who discovers the mysterious truth about the history of Earth and what he must sacrifice to save it.

I gave this film a 8 out of 10 because, while it did have fantastic visuals and some of the coolest props ever, the plot dragged on a bit and strayed from the true focus of the film...although, who doesn't love a movie that makes you think? I know I do.