Tomorrow, When the War Began
Editorial
TWTWB is a film about teenage angst and heavy artillery. Ellie (Stasey) is your typical teen, living in the rural town of Wirrawee. Gathering together a group of friends, she heads into the wilderness for a few days of hiking, camping and making-out. Awakened by the ominous sound of a squadron of fighter planes flying overhead, they return home to find their families missing and the town wrecked. In their absence, an unnamed oppressor has invaded Australia and put the citizens of Wirrawee into a makeshift prison camp.
From the striking aerial shot of the enemies' nocturnal invasion to the final bridge assault, director Beattie handles the action with giddy zeal. High-speed chases and frenetic machine gun battles rage in some of the most picturesque parts of New South Wales. For a film based on such an intriguing central conceit, the script is adequate at best. TWTWB also isn't helped by the delivery from his young, inexperienced Soapie cast. Only Rachel Hurd-Wood (Dorian Gray) shows signs of character development as Ellie's BFF Corrie. The rest of the teen terrorists are mere cyphers designed to win over the film's transparently targeted demographic.
Luckily the set pieces win the day, aided by shattering sound design and breathtaking cinematography. Will TWTWB translate page turns into bums on seats? We shall see but, whatever the box office, Beattie has produced a handsome and defiantly Australian action film full of high-octane thrills and script-induced spills.
David Michael Brown
Read our interview with Lincoln Lewis and Rachel Hurd-Wood here!
User Feedback
Harry Georgatos
September 02, 2010
Strictly for a teenage demographic. I know it is based on novels for teenagers but I would have made this film deadly serious with what is a great premise. My interpretation would have been an intense Oliver Stone type militia war in our own backyards.
ali mehdi
September 03, 2010
this movie is fantastic and awesome, this is the best movie ever seen in my life.10xxx
Lauren
September 10, 2010
It was excellent. I grew up loving the books and although I looked forward to the movie, expected to be disappointed. The movie far exceeded my expectations. It definately didn't feel like I was watching a locally made low budget film. I can't wait for the next instalment.
Robert Keyes
September 11, 2010
The worst movie I have ever seen,an insult to your intelligence,,Patrons should be given a "REFUND"
Harry Georgatos
September 15, 2010
This movie is a practical remake of John Milius 1984 RED DAWN. In the Australian version it's the Chinese. Next year we get a remake of RED DAWN. In the 84 version it was the Russian's invading the USA. In the RED DAWN remake it's the Chinese invading the USA just like the Australian version. Talk about copyright infingement. Why isn't one production team suing the other?
Eva
September 15, 2010
The acting was sooooooo bad it was cringe worthy. With better actors it could of actually been a good movie
Rizal Dua Darah
September 20, 2010
I liked the movie just as I expected I didn't want to. I grew up watching Apocalypse Now, Platton, even First Blood. Gritty, nasty, difficult. This movie ticked all those boxes. I had to look at it from a younger person's perspective. In that light, it served the only worthy purpose that these films can - to try and bring to peace time a representation of the madness of war.
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