Oblivion is a sci-fi film that portrays the condition of Earth, which was devastated due to a war against alien creatures. The movie was directed by Joseph Kosinski, produced by Peter Chernin, and written by Karl Gajdusek and Michael deBruyn. Tom Cruise plays the main character, Jack Harper or Tech 49, who initially is a commander on a mission to Titan, a moon that orbits around Saturn. However, Jack is captured by an alien space station called Tet, and he is cloned to fight against the remaining humans on Earth.
The movie depicts a world where aliens have invaded Earth, destroying the Moon along with several inhabitable areas of the planet. Sixty years later, in 2077, Jack Harper and Victoria “Vika” Olsen are among the last humans living on Earth. Jack, also known as Tech 49, has the task of repairing combat drones that hunt down scavengers or surviving collectors. He is also responsible for maintaining the hydrorig generator machine that can convert seawater into fusion energy. Meanwhile, Vika is his partner, acting as a communication officer guiding Jack while he is on duty. Their mission is led by Sally, the director of the Tet space station orbiting around the Earth.
When their mission on Earth is complete, Jack and Vika depart to Titan, the new home of humankind. One day, while Jack is finishing a task, he sees an unknown object fly from the sky and crash near him. Vika then asks Jack to back off and let the drone examine the object. However, Jack ignores Vika’s warning and goes straight to the object. He finds five humans, including a woman, hibernating inside a capsule. While he is examining them, a drone suddenly appears and shoots them one by one. Jack then protects the sleeping woman and saves her from being killed. He then takes her to their base to examine her. Jack and Vika successfully wake her up. Later, Jack realizes that Julia, the woman, is the one he has been dreaming of. However, he is puzzled because he feels like he knows Julia very well.
After some debate, Jack and Julia go to the crashed airplane location to find the flight recorder. However, upon arrival, they are instead captured by a group of scavengers who take them to their base. Malcolm Beech, their leader, explains that the scavenger group is humans who use alien technology to disguise themselves, avoiding the drones that hunt them. Malcolm also reveals that they are the last remaining humans on Earth.
Malcolm then releases Jack and Julia to find the real truth in the radiation zone. Julia reveals to Jack that she is his wife. Her words slowly help Jack recover his lost memories. In the radiation zone, Jack faces his own clone called Tech 52. He also encounters a replica of Vika, who is still working as a communication officer. After he manages to disable Tech 52, Jack and Julia go back to see Malcolm to find out the real facts.
Malcolm explains that Tet is an alien artificial intelligence with a goal to obtain the Earth’s resources. Tet has also annihilated all human life using drones and clones of Jack. The victory of humankind against aliens and the new home of Titan that they will inhabit is nothing but lies created by Tet.
Visually Stunning and Compelling
From the creator of Tron: Legacy (2010), director Joe Kosinski, and cinematographer Claudio Miranda, Oblivion is a visually stunning and compelling film. With an estimated production budget of USD 120 million, Kosinski and Miranda do an excellent job producing the film. For two hours, Oblivion captures our attention with impressive cinematography and stunning visuals. The devastated Earth’s land due to the use of nuclear weapons against aliens is portrayed realistically.
Conclusion
Oblivion is a must-see film for sci-fi enthusiasts. With its complex storyline and visually stunning scenes, viewers will be captivated from start to finish. Tom Cruise’s portrayal of Jack Harper is intense and captivating, while the supporting cast does an excellent job in delivering their roles. The movie effectively portrays the devastation caused by a war against aliens, making it an evergreen movie that viewers can watch repeatedly. In summary, Oblivion is a visually stunning and compelling sci-fi film that will captivate audiences for years to come.
