Having played the starring role in successful science fiction films such as “Minority Report” in 2002 and “War of the Worlds” in 2005, Tom Cruise is no stranger to the world of sci-fi.

After eight years of absence from this unique genre, the 50-year-old blockbuster star teamed up with the young and upcoming director Joseph Kosinski to bring what many hoped to be the next great sci-fi tale.

Kosinski, director of “Tron Legacy” in 2010, is looking to improve on his directing debut with “Oblivion,” an original story and screenplay.

The audience is taken into the near future where Earth is no longer recognizable. The planet’s landscape is ruined, and the attempt of humans to remain there seems futile.

Most of the earth’s population has moved to Titan, one of Saturn’s moons, but Cruise’s character, Jack Harper, remains stuck on earth alongside his work partner and love interest Victoria, played by Andrea Riseborough.

Together they monitor and repair drones that patrol and protect the earth’s last remaining resources from alien Scavs. The duo is two weeks away from retirement when their fairly routine and unexciting life is suddenly altered when a ship carrying humans crash lands.

From this point, the story telling expertise of Kosinski comes to life; multiple twists and turns entertain the audience as the truth about earth and the Scavs is unveiled.

Watching the relationship between Victoria and Jack is interesting. From the onset viewers can sense some uneasiness. As the story develops, the viewers see how strenuous a disintegrating relationship can be.

As a staple for any sci-fi entrepreneur, Kosinski and his special effects team push the limits. The barren landscape of earth reminds viewers of Ridley Scott’s terrain on the alien planet in the 2012 film “Prometheus.”

Scott is always a good model to strive towards when it comes to imaginative sci-fi.

Special effects and a good storyline carry “Oblivion,” but some negative aspects do hinder this movie from reaching truly memorable status. As talented as Cruise is, he does get a bit too much time on screen.

The supporting cast, highlighted by the always smooth-sounding Morgan Freeman and “Game of Thrones” star Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, see much less time on screen than expected.

It is primarily Jack Harper’s story, but including more of the minor characters’ storylines would have made for some good respites.

Then comes the classic fault: the love story. Harper comes into contact with a woman by the name of Julia, played by Ukrainian actress Olga Kurylenko.

A recurring problem for the film’s protagonist is that he has flashbacks, an unexpected side effect of a memory swipe. In convenient and cliché fashion, they center on Julia. This is important to the plot of the movie, but their forced relationship brings the film down.

Despite the blunders, “Oblivion” deserves recognition. It is an original sci-fi that doesn’t fall flat on its face, and that is an accomplishment in itself.