Warning! Spoilers ahead!Amazon Prime has turned up the marketing power for its sci-fi blockbuster, starring Chris Pratt. But how does it rate? It was clear from the trailer that "The Tomorrow War", would be somewhere close to similar popcorn presentations such as "Battle Los Angeles", "Battleship", and "Independence Day". This movie, like the others, has some good ideas and some cringeworthy clichés.The world is shocked when time travelers arrive from 2051 to send a message. They inform the world that mankind is in danger of losing the global war against an alien species 30 years later. Only way to survive is for civilians and soldiers from the past to be transported into the future to join the fight.High school teacher and father Dan Forester (Chris Pratt) is one of those recruited. However, in disappointing fashion, we are shown through the opening lines of the movie that under his everyday cardigan-wearing exterior, is the mind of an ex-military Special Forces soldier.Pratt was also an ex-Navy SEAL on "Jurassic World." Ex-Navy SEAL Tom Cruise appears in "The Mummy" reboot. Vin Diesel is an exNavy SEAL from "The Pacifier." Toby Stephens was a former Special Forces soldier in "Lost in Space." This clichd plot device is used in almost all action movies. It indicates that the character has a particularly impressive skill set.The message of the time travelers, or "cry for assistance across time", is sent to the world during the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar. It will take place 18 months from now, between Brazil and an unidentified team (probably a rights problem). With about 90 seconds remaining, the score is tied at 3-3. The pitch is suddenly transformed into a time portal in front of the Lusail Stadium seating 80,000. The entire world watches as a team made up of soldiers from the future emerges from a cloud of smoke and sparks.Because of the extreme heat in summer, the World Cup is being held in winter. Forester is seen outside wearing a high school cardigan. We assume he is in Florida because of several references to the Dolphins, which is the state's football team. Forester is surrounded by friends and family as he watches the game. It is evening. However, the U.S. East Coast clocks eight hours ahead of Qatar Time so it doesn't add up.It's not the case that games will be played in Qatar at 4 a.m. during the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (Image credit to Amazon Studios).The film moves quickly, with only minor complaints aside. It takes just eight minutes to get to the action. The movie skips over a few key plot points and then you'll be left with the summary montage. We learn first that soldiers were recruited before the crisis became so severe that civilians were required. It seems that the global armed forces were unable to defeat the alien invaders. We also find out why December 2022 was selected as the point of return.One could argue that the entire world was watching the final of the tournament on television. This would allow the message to be effectively transmitted across the globe. Wait eight more years to see if weapons technology has advanced further. What about the future of military hardware? Ground support aircraft squadrons like A10s and tanks are available.The planet Earth's movement through space is one of the major problems with time travel. This fact will be ignored by every TV or movie that incorporates it. For example, Marty McFly travels in "Back to the Future" from the Twin Pines Mall car park on Oct 26, 1985 to the Peabody farm at Nov. 5, 1955. It is essentially the same place. He traveled in time, not space. The fact that the dates are different indicates that the Earth was at a different point in its orbit. Marty should have appeared in space and simultaneously frozen and suffocating. He was destined to travel through the cosmos via inertia forever, since Southern California was 16,000,000 miles (26,000,000 kilometers) farther around the sun."He was not offside!" He was clearly behind him!" He was clearly behind him!" Image credit: Amazon StudiosThis fact could have been a huge plus for the movie. But it wasn't.To be "qualified" for a 29-year-old future trip, one must have died before 2051 to avoid a paradox. This is a nice touch. If you've seen "Millennium," which was a not-so-terrible sci-fi thriller from the late 1980s, you will know how dangerous paradoxes can be for almost everyone.J.K. Simmons plays James Forester, Pratt’s father. However, his primary purpose is to provide exposition, set up, and a predictable reconciliation later on in the movie. Jasmine Mathews is Lt. Hart. This soldier announces to the entire world that it is facing imminent destruction. Unfortunately, though, we don't get to see much of her after her memorable appearance.The team deploys, but instead of falling 10 feet (3m) to the ground after they emerge through time, they plummet to their deaths from what appears to be hundreds. Everyone who has a part in the movie so far is safe because there is a swimming pool.Everyone who has spoken in the movie so far makes the time fly by without any problems. Image credit: Amazon StudiosThis is almost a tribute of many sci-fi movies of the past. Familiarities in story set pieces and production design are frequent themes. Even the evil aliens called "white spikes", have been undoubtedly influenced by "Edge of Tomorrow". However, there is only a passing resemblance to the "fear demon" in Season 3 of Star Trek: Discovery.In an interview, Chris McKay, director of the film, stated that "Obviously, there are a few high watermarks regarding alien designs. It's whether it is the Xenomorphian or the Predator. But then there's everything else." It is trying not to get too close to those, but trying to find something that serves its purpose and is memorable and horrifying.There are subtle but not-so-subtle references throughout the movie to "Starship Troopers", "The Thing," and "Edge of Tomorrow" as well as "World War Z."Yikes! It would have been over if he had landed on that. It's possible that he would have put it in a Peli bag or something. Image credit: Amazon StudiosDorian gives everything, even though each civilian is dead. This may have been a philosophical comment on combat or a way for Dorian to use his character to exterminate extraterrestrial invaders.Some predictable twists along the way are revealed. We're sure it would be a paradox if the characters were allowed to tell the story. There are also some father-daughter parenting issues, but it isn't as ridiculous and off-the-charts as "Interstellar."In the second act, the action moves to an impenetrable fortress at Sea protected by no one. It still falls despite having two perimeters of defense, plus minefields, air cover, and air cover. The facility is still falling because no one can predict how these creatures would overwhelm it. This is unfortunate, as it seems quite obvious. Just as everything seems lost, and the way back into 2053 seems destroyed, the final act of the movie begins with a twist that is equally absurd as the "they have always been here" angle on Steven Spielberg’s "War of the Worlds."It is almost certain that an American Antarctica research team found something similar in 1982. Image credit: Amazon StudiosPratt might have had the opportunity to think of another alternative action if he had seen "Frequency", or at most "Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure". The final act is rushed and unnecessary. The dialogue is mainly exposition, but the film's tone has changed dramatically and now includes more comedy. And of course, there is the "hooray for-science" element. Even the climate change message feels rushed on Scotch Tape.Casting choices are solid, and Yvonne Strahovski is another one to mention. She has a strong Adrianne Palicki vibe. These talented actors don't have a lot of work to do so we are not able to get fully invested in what happens.Thank goodness for science, and especially the study of volcanoes. Contact your college right away. Image credit: Amazon StudiosThe movie is usually a long one for a popcorn flick, at 2 hours and 18 mins. It starts well but soon it descends into absurdity. Once you reach the halfway point, it becomes quite difficult. You want to see what happens but you won't bother pressing pause when going to the fridge to grab another can of beer.The Tomorrow War reminds me of the screenplay I wrote in sixth grade. I took every scene and set piece I liked from sci-fi TV shows and combined them all. After fighting giant walking machines on an ice-covered planet, there was a huge battle in space with a massive robot that could connect to three other spaceships before eventually landing on a deserted planet inhabited by apes. Although I doubt that any studio executive would have read beyond the first page, I am beginning to wonder if there is something I might still have.Follow Scott Snowden via Twitter. Follow us @Spacedotcom on Twitter and Facebook.
