Dvd
Tomorrow, When the War Began
The first in a planned series of adaptations of John Marsden's young adult novels is an Australian-set drama that tells the story of eight friends who go camping in the bush for the weekend. When they emerge from the wilderness days later, however, their country has been invaded and their lives will never be the same again.
This is the directorial debut of Australian screenwriter Stuart Beattie (Collateral, Australia, G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra).
Starring Caitlin Stasey, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Phoebe Tonkin, Lincoln Lewis, Deniz Akdeniz, Matthew Dale
Directed by Stuart Beattie
Written by Stuart Beattie (based on the novel by John Marsden)
War, Drama, Adventure, Action | 1hr 45mins | Rated (M) | Contains Violence, Offensive Language & Drug Use | Origin: Australia, USA | NZ Distributor: Paramount Pictures
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The Talk
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Flicks review
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4
Following in the fine Aussie tradition of Picnic at Hanging Rock, Flirting, The Heartbreak Kid, and ahem, BMX Bandits, Tomorrow is a fantastic little tale of growing up Ocker. Initially starting out as The Breakfast Club in the bush, complete with Aussie teen archetypes – the jock, the religious girl, the rebellious Greek, the townie and the Asian restaurant worker – writer-director Beattie’s film suddenly shifts gears partway through, turning into a cross between Lost, The Tripods, and Pauline Hanson’s worst nightmare.
The Aussie rock and pop potpourri soundtrack (everything from Powderfinger to Missy Higgins) may be a little bit incongruous to the action and the multi-ethnic cast impossibly pretty, but what sets Tomorrow apart is that the characters feel real, whether it’s a nervous phone call to a member of the opposite sex or making near fatal mistakes. While lead actress Caitlin Stasey (Neighbours) is the standout, what is particularly refreshing is Beattie’s desire to keep the focus firmly on the kids and their point-of-view – no cutaway scenes of evil generals plotting in their native tongue here.
The action builds to a fine cliffhanger (Tomorrow is the first of seven books) but only the box office will tell whether Beattie and co. have a Golden Goose like Harry Potter or a Golden Compass.SHARE:
The people's reviews
45 reviews
Press Reviews
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Christchurch Press (Margaret Agnew)
Parts of this film are worrying, other parts are clunky, but overall it's a little bit wonderful.
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Sydney Morning Herald
But the film is about immediacy and action, and could almost be described as Summer Bay Goes Guerilla... It's a briskly related adventure, with a good-looking young cast, and Ellie is a forceful heroine who swiftly makes the transition from thinking about the holidays to blowing up bridges...
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TV3 (Kate Rodger)
I didn't completely buy the initial war premise, which impacted on my overall enjoyment throughout, and I found some of the dialogue unnatural and unrealistic. But as a film made for it's teenage fans, it mostly succeeds.
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Urban Cinefile (Australia)
There are some tense highlights and great technical work, including Ben Nott’s high class cinematography
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