Oblivion Reviews

The action sequences are well-constructed, but forced: They're concessions to the marketplace, and they interfere with the movie's true interest in the routine rather than the extremes of postapocalyptic survival.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

Large-scale, original sci-fi is a hard thing to come by these days, and despite its familiar story Oblivion does dream up some great ideas

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Unfortunately, when the story seems like an afterthought and the audience can't follow the plot progression, the movie ultimately fails

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5

"The dream is always the same."

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

People who need anything remotely resembling an emotional anchor in their movies had best look elsewhere.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10

This big budget, epic science fiction film is engaging enough most of the way, although it does wander in the final act until it finally ends up where you thought it would after some plot twists that are mildly annoying.

Full Review | Original Score: B

Kosinki is no hack. He's made a gorgeous-looking experience, the kind they invented IMAX to accommodate. He's a pastiche artist, cribbing stylishness and building his own beautiful ice sculpture...

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

While the visuals in Oblivion are superb, the plot wanders into more than a few "are you kidding me?" moments, in particular the timeline, which doesn't make much sense.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

First and foremost designed as a platform for Cruise's physical skills. Which is not at all bad for us action fans and those of us who are suckers for concepts of advanced technology.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

Tom Cruise entertains in this intriguing sci-fi flick that is full of twists and turns.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10

Not all of Oblivion's big ideas stick - in fact some of them threaten to send the film spiralling into its namesake - but at its best, the film achieves something that is highly elusive in modern film: it is completely and utterly engrossing.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

40 years ago, the part of Jack would undoubtedly have gone to Charlton Heston.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

An ostentatious steak dinner in the special effects department never makes up for a story that tastes more like cheap ramen noodles.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.0/5.0

Digital effects abound, but they are in service to the story, to an idea, instead of being the point. Good, smart sci-fi like this is increasingly rare.

Full Review | Original Score: A

Extraordinary, if a little hard to follow at times. A jaw-dropping, exciting and the most visually stunning and innovative science-fiction thriller to hit the screen since 'Blade Runner' . Cruise delivers one of the best performances of his career.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

Only charismatic Tom Cruise could elevate this derivative, exposition-heavy sci-fi into a compelling adventure.

Full Review | Original Score: 6/10

Love the effects and Oblivion does have some interesting moments. For fans it will satisfy the sci-fi thirst for a short time until they start thinking about its many flaws.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5

Isn't as challenging as it imagines itself to be, yet its sophistication and interest in vulnerability is welcome in a genre that often avoids the subtle to go big with the boom.

Full Review | Original Score: B

This is the sci-fi movie equivalent of a pretty damn good cover band.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

Which brings us to "Oblivion's" biggest drawback; its lack of originality. The movie borrows from so many sources that you can spend the entire 125 minutes playing "Name That Movie."

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4