I’m not sure who to thank for the wonderful character of Rita, the Angel of Verdun and undoubted hero of the United Defense Force, but what an awesomely strong female character! Emily Blunt plays Rita as a tough, focused soldier who has both the strength and intelligence to teach and hone Tom Cruise’s cowardly Cage.  She is the one person in Cage’s world who understands what is happening to him, and she has the respect of all of the UDF for her battlefield skills (even if her other nickname is a little sexist). Rita is not just window dressing or a romantic entanglement; she is a character with agency and purpose.  Hopefully, your example will provide enticement to other films (even genre films!) to create their own Ritas.

And, how can I thank you for showing me that Tom Cruise hasn’t lost the talent that made him a phenom in the '80s? For the first time in years, I’ve seen the actor shine in a character viewers initially struggle to like because of his cowardice and force us to grudgingly acknowledge that Cage isn’t entirely worthless.  Heck, by the end of his arc, Cage may become a hero!

Finally, your blend of alien menace and military movie is just plain fun. The pacing is nearly perfect, the aliens manage to be creepy and strange without utilizing the uncanny valley, and the military angle seems realistic for an Earth facing outside danger.  I can’t think of a moment I didn’t stay focused and engaged (which is quite a feat these days, unfortunately).  While there will never be another you, Edge of Tomorrow, I hope to see your offspring in movie theaters in the coming years.

Faithfully yours,
Jodi