Movies

A grandiose production and stellar cast doesn't help this overly ambitious mix come together in a coherent movie. The series of different stories isn't set up well in the beginning so it feels confusing for a while. Then when they sort of come together it isn't clever or convincing. Maybe this story was unfilmable. It just felt like a mix of bad movies shredded and mixed up together. It tries to have a common theme about standing up to oppression of some sort or other via corporate corruption, musical composition, the slave trade, science fiction etc but in the end it wasn't worth the effort.The white actors acting as Asian and vice versa are distractingly comical although I understand there is a reason for it.It's easy to see why it wasn't a box office success and didn't receive any major nominations.Skip it.

I've seen this movie at least 10 times at this point, and despite that I can absolutely understand where people who dislike this film are coming from. It comes off as pretentious, try-hard, and has some rather unnerving aging effects. Yet despite all that, I really admire this film for trying to tell a narrative spanning thousands of years through 6 different timelines and an array of characters playing different parts in each one. It's not a perfect film, by any means, but it is some of the Wachaoski's best works outside of the matrix in terms of trying to craft something wholely original. Watch it on some streaming service if you can or borrow it from a friend, and if you don't like it, I can't really blame you. But at the very least give this film a shot.

Just got back and already want to see it again. It is already clear that this film will provide many more hours of enjoyment just trying to tie it all together. It is also clear that it is destined for a place among the nobles of cinematic history. Bravo does not suffice. I'll leave the reviews up to the pros, but for my humble part let me just say Cloud Atlas is a labyrinthine and magnificent spectacle, adventurous, humorous, ingenious, layered, insightful and moving. Very moving. But be warned: take care of nature's call before you sit down. You can't afford to miss a moment. And forgo the popcorn. You'll be too busy following the story to eat it.