Review of Tomorrow, When the War Began (2010) by Mary J — 05 Sep 2010

This is a pleasant suprise and impressive start from debut director Stuart Beattie. Beattie balances high-budget action with humour, suspense and romance in this faithful adaption of the much loved 1994 novel. Fans of the books will be hard pressed to find criticism and this impressive film will garner new fans for the franchise. Beattie takes time to develop the eight central characters into relatable, likeable and believable personas.

The film is carried by Caitlin Stasey and performances by Deniz Akedeniz, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Linoln Lewis display both depth and talent.

The film is set in the fictional Australian country town of Wirrawee where Ellie Linton and her friends decide to go on a camping trip in the bush. When they emerge they find their country invaded by a foreign force and their families missing. What follows is a story of morality, friendship and bravery filled with excitement and suspense.

Marsden's dialogue is evident in the screenplay and the incredible story is made believable with the willing suspension of disbelief. Hopefully this magnificent film suceeds on the international stage to allow adaptions of the sequels to be made with equal class.