"I know. I know."
To echo many others who enjoyed the film: I don't know what I just watched, but I know I liked it.
I read many critic reviews after watching the film in a hope to better understand it, but I think Roger Ebert summed it up the best:
I was never, ever bored by "Cloud Atlas." On my second viewing, I gave up any attempt to work out the logical connections between the segments, stories and characters. What was important was that I set my mind free to play. […] Any concrete, factual attempt to nail the film down to cold fact, to tell you what it "means," is as pointless as trying to build a clockwork orange.
It is OK but nothing more, which is disappointing since I had high hopes for it because of the plot outline I read, the directors involved and the all star cast. However, the movie somehow just doesn't deliver. I cannot point the finger at what it is exactly that is missing but I was never really thrilled by the flick.
OMG! I Watched the movie to the very end... And i regret every minute of it. I have no idea what the movie was about or if it had a plot.
I guess the film wants you to ask yourself the big questions. The only question I kept asking was ”what the fuck is going on?”
Unevenly great and that's the true true
If you are either a Buddhist or familiar with the concept of Samsara (which is part of that philosophy), you will understand and enjoy this movie.
It's an epic tale of re-birth, of a few souls, spanning millennia. Anchor yourselves on to the main actors, each of them represents a single soul. They are re-born as different people - sometimes in a whole different ethnicity or gender - than they were in another life. However, they influence or impact each others birth/timeline in interesting ways.
The movie is 3 hours long. Because it's multiple movies woven into one. Different. But, interesting sci-fi.
Astonishing accomplishment in many areas.
The casting is excellent. The cast do a fantastic job on the whole of portraying so many characters.
The stories are brilliantly interwoven... Though it struggles to wrap them all up at the end in a way that satisfies all and leaves you on a high note. Almost but not quite.
It's disappointing that this film is not better known as it is a captivating watch. When films like 2001 still get raved over, or the terrible Citizen Kane, we have modern slightly-flawed gems like this going unnoticed.
A hell of a production and a hell of an achievement.
I watched it on release and remembered only bits of the many plots after almost 10 years. I was very glad I rewatched.
8.25/10
Like six movies muscled into one, Cloud Atlas is a raw, dense, ambitious mash of tangled wires and blinking lights. Needless to say, the film must be seen more than once to fully comprehend, and even then it's a nut that demands a viewer's complete concentration to crack. It's a mosaic, stitching vastly different subjects, atmospheres, landscapes and circumstances into the same cloth with mixed results. Things are so breakneck that, even at three unusually long hours, I felt like I was missing large swaths of story, merely scratching the surface of what was actually going on.
The editing is partly to blame for that, with its dizzying leaps across generations (which, in some instances, occur several times in a single scene), and the heavy makeup effects - employed to cast the same actors in several roles, genders, ages and nationalities - are often a major distraction. For a film as loaded as this one, even a momentary pause to identify a vaguely-familiar face can tangle the feet, leaving us helplessly adrift in a sea of themes and imagery. It alternates between stunning and baffling in the blink of an eye, an experience that's both confounding and mesmerizing to behold.
Kudos to the filmmakers for daring to try something so thoroughly different from the norm. It's magical on the rare occasions it all comes together and works as a single, monumental behemoth, but is also plagued by a swarm of ticks and shortcomings. I wonder if the time and effort necessary to actually access its thematic riches might be a steeper cost than many viewers are willing to pay.
A complicated picture, both to ingest and to rate. Today's score may be subject to change.
Pretty bad, and I was lookimg forward to it. Characters just pop up and we have no time to know them or care. The plot time line is disjointed. The dialogue isn't interesting. The acting can be goofy.
Es una pelicula, que puro haber durado menos, mas fluida fuera maravillosa. Par de cambios en el casting y un mejor maquillaje y hubiera sido perfecta.
Por otra parte, la interpretacion por parte de un actor dd varios personajes resulta un reto para ellos y hace mucho mas atractiva la peli
Sucker Punch 2.0
No, it's nowhere near as bad, but you get the gist. A high concept film that is probably good entertainment when your on drugs. However, if sober, you may demand your money back.
Loved it; Hard to follow, but it's the kind of movie that draws you in.
Much better if you only watch it once.
Most confusing movie I've seen in a long time. And I can normally keep up with most movies. Didn't finish watching because the payoff just wasn't happening.
When I first saw the trailer for Cloud Atlas I was entranced. I needed to know more immediately so set about reading the book long before the movie was released; it instantly became my favourite. David Mitchell span a tale which enthralled me and honestly made me rethink the way I went about my whole life.
I was nervous when I saw the movie as surely it wouldn't be able to capture the level of detail and interwoven stories I'd grown to love; but it did! Having read the book first it was easy to find my feet with it and see those people come to life and of course I could follow the story just fine. I wasn't sure if the same could be said for a non-book reader though.
Last night I watched it again but with someone who hadn't read the book. He was a bit taken aback at first and overwhelmed by the sharp changes of stories but he soon settled in. Every so often I would comment to try and gauge if he was following what was happening so far but turns out I didn't need to tell him anything, he easily caught on to it all. We had a long discussion afterwards and he'd even noticed aspects I hadn't! Such as the house Frobisher worked at with Vyvyan being the same one Cavendish was later trapped in! Excellent little detail.
The film could have benefited from emphasising the karma aspect of the book a bit more I think rather than focussing only on the social change/one can make a difference theme.
I feel bad for people who didn't enjoy this movie and found it 'confusing' as they must struggle with a lot of complicated concepts day to day. Perhaps a simple action movie would be better suited for them.
"Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others."
This was a much anticipated movie for me, so I really wanted to give it a proper sit down and give it my full attention. It turned out it needed it too. The movie falls into the category 'hella long' and with the different story lines, sometimes difficult to understand accents and philosophic punch it feels even longer.
With it being based on a book (which I didn't read) that has 6 separate stories with a specific order, this could not have been translated to the big screen without changing the structure of the stories. So it got chopped into many different smaller pieces and throughout the movie the viewer jumps from one story to another.
It makes for a more proper build up, but it unfortunately also created a big mess that must've been hard to follow for at least a part of the viewers. You can see even the actors having some difficulty with it at times.
It is obvious right from the start that this movie is aiming for a more intellectual public and wants to deliver a wide spectrum of ideas and views. It tries its very best, and succeeds in a multitude of ways, but never grasps the feeling of completion. As much as it brings out a message of everything is connected, the script might have needed a few more rewrites to make it more interconnected itself.
You could argue it is either too long with no strong red line, or too short to succeed in making the connection between stories and between audience and characters. There are the obvious crossovers; like a flashback to a previous story in time and the recurring actors, plus some (broad) recurring themes. But besides that it doesn't link the stories together well enough.
There are many great actors in many different roles they handle quite well. I was especially surprised by Hugh Grant as an oil company executive. Hugo Weaving is, unfortunately, type-casted as the villain in every storyline. He does a great job of course, but with such a diversity of stories and settings I expected him to get a good guy out of it as well. (Besides maybe during the very last scene as an interrogator.)
Also Korean actress Bae Doo Na was a treat playing a sort of 'ghost in the shell' girl in futuristic Neo Seoul. I think something the Wachowski's had a lot of fun with.
It is an interesting and entertaining movie to watch, and I think it is best to watch it at least two or three times. But doing that would just take too much time for making it really worth your while.
There probably will be people who will absolutely love this movie completely, but it is not me. Seeing the 75% rating on trakt is about the best it gets on the internet I am fairly confident to say it isn't for the masses either.
Der beste Film den ich je gesehen habe!!!
This film will not be for everyone due to its complexity and length, but for those who are true fans of films this epic in nature will truly appreciate the film.
Cloud Atlas is a film that has unique stories, that pass on different periods. but are connected by a single reason: a dream of escape that situation, freedom and hope. each one of those characters met someone that changed their lives forever. this film has taught me to never give up my dreams ...... even if they seem far away, always fighting for them because it's worth. always believe in your own decisions, and listen to your heart, because the fate of your choices are in your hands, only you can decide this
This movie intrigued me. I was almost sad that it ended, somehow it triggered emotions I haven't felt before. I was hoping for some more speed or intensity, but it was just fine as it was. Not doing the emotions itself, but letting you do the thinking and feeling instead. A great movie that made me rethink movies in general. More of this please!
It keeps you intrigued for 3 hours, Great movie.
you cannot make an asian and you cannot unmake one. terrible and distracting prosthetics.
I don’t even know if I can be kind about this movie. As much as I admire the imagination of the Wachowski siblings, and the talent of this star studded cast, this was just a mess of a movie. Predicated on the belief that souls wander through time and persons, finding their way back to specific couplings, that very loose and tenuous connection was not enough to clarify the drifting narrative or hold my curiosity or interest. The make-up (though the recipient of much award attention) was distracting as it tried to turn an actor into their manifest incarnations. I grieve the waste of great actors (giving great performances) on such an ambitious work of fantasy. It just didn’t work for me. I give this film a 5 (waste) out of 10. [Spiritual Fantasy]
"This world spins from the same unseen forces that twist our hearts."
I contemplated not even writing a review because I was a little tired and a lot of it went over my head. It it ambitious for sure, yet a little corny at times. Cinematography was great in certain story segments too.
This is not a short movie. In essence, it could very well have been several movies. It tells an epic, interconnected and weaving story about love, trust and the fleeting value of human life. As such, it starts out as a very VERY confusing series of flashbacks, flashforwards and possibly flash-to-the-sides. If you give it, say, 30 minutes all those threads connect.
Normally I have no time or patience for a movie this long. Other things to see, distractions aplenty. This one gripped me till the end. It is WELL worth your time, even if to spot which of the very few actors plays which man or woman (yes really) in which timeline. While doing that you will also see an epic tale, expertly told.
Highly recommended!
20 minutes in and it was just as craaaaap as the first 2 minutes!!!
Switched off - this is a total dog of a movie.
Take it behind the barn and shoot it - and the writer/director/stars for creating this abomination.
-5/10
Tom Hanks shines in this, once again!
3 hours of Pretentious, try-hard nonsense.
2020 now, rewatch and shocked my heart, like a beautiful song sing for humanity
It's long and has a lot going on but it got its hooks into me and I really liked it.
I really don't understand how so many people say they found this hard to follow! Did you find it hard because it wasn't in chronological order? Personally I didn't find it that hard to follow or get the films multiple principles. Personally the only thing I didn't like about the film was the special effects makeup (sometimes the characters looked really fake, especially with coloured contacts on) and the way they spoke (speaking without syllables to make the characters sound less intelligent/ civilized) in the furthest timeline was at times sometimes hard to understand. Overall enjoyable to watch and didn't feel like almost a 3 hour movie.
I was confused the entire 3 hours...but also intrigued just enough to keep watching...
Just as good the second time, or third if you count having read the book as well.
Been watching thousands of movies all around the world and this one definitely one of the best movies ever, and it's not just a movie, it's a declaration of humanity intertwined with time and space, from the beginning of mankind to the future of human beings, to be A DROP in the ocean really matters.
And it's ahead of its time, which a lot of people cannot follow. And they say what people perceive is like a mirror, it reflects who they really are. And this kinda movie shows exactly that.
Most of the movies that are longer than 2 hours get me bored after a short time, Cloud Atlas doesn't get me bored at all. It's a great movie from the beginning to the end!
Beautiful to look at and the actors are all good. I can't remember the ending though or if it had one lol.
Profound, joyous and thoroughly deep in a philosophical display of interconnectedness
One of the worst movies ever. Confusing, disjointed and poorly acted. We stopped after 30 minutes. A real disappointment considering the cast.
im a little bit confused
Most bullshit movie I have ever seen. This should go in "Don't ever see this movie" list. Highly overrated.
0/10
The book is incredibly clever, both in terms of the story and the structure. The film takes its own approach to the latter which works better for the cinema and allows the links between stories to be clearer. The film is not easy to follow and it probably helps if you are familiar with David Mitchell's novel, but although it teeters on the brink of being overambitious it doesn't quite go over the edge and will thoroughly reward viewers who pay attention and give it repeat viewings.
It was never boring but it was kind of stupid. It would be a lot better if the makeup didn't look absolutely retarded. Sometimes the actors transformed well as other characters, but other times I couldn't help but wonder what they were thinking. A lot of the "white people playing Asians" shenanigans looked horrible. It didn't feel smart. Many nonsensical implausiblities, unconvincing makeup, overall entertaining but really pointless and contrived.
Interesting to see the progression of characters, and see the different storylines. Unfortunately, I didn't really get much out of the movie. I don't really understand what it was trying to portray and it only slightly connected the storylines at the end.
watch it once? that impossible. i've watched it 8 times so far and i think after the 5th time i finally got all the things there were to get!! this movie needs a lot of brains to enjoy so if youre someone who watched it and enjoyed it then congratulations!
if not, then please go back to your adam sandler movies!
Contrary to reviews I scanned before watching, I didn't find this film hard to follow. However, I did find it hard to see the connections between the times I thought would be so impactful. To me, it seemed a string of different stories played by the same actors with subtle but juvenile hints that they bared the same soul. Gratefully, I found some satisfaction in a moral message connecting some of the stories at the end but unfortunately, it didn't tie it all together for me. As much as I liked the stories, nothing made a particular impact for me and I didn't take much care or empathy toward the characters. Sad to say I was disappointed.
All is not gold that glitters. Do not think that watching the film is weak waste of time, but those three hours here ... Mercy!
Esse filme é uma verdadeira obra de arte, prova de que sempre haverão os perversos entre a humanidade, mas também lá sempre surgirão os abolicionistas dispostos a dar suas vidas em defesa dos oprimidos e a fé é o caminho de um futuro melhor!!
This movie depends on the urge of the viewer to want to watch the end despite it´s confusing back-and-forth plot. I had to convince myself every 15 minutes to go on with it but after about two hours I lost interest. After that it played along without me taking much notice.
An hour and two stories less might have done the trick.
The movie itself is pretty to watch (CGI etc) but the individual stories felt disjointed rather than part of a whole. I can't help feeling that the book probably tied things together better. Still, I liked it but had it been done just a bit better? I could have loved it.
Maybe the worst movie of all times! A real intelligent movie with a deep message is always SIMPLE. Would deserve 0 points - total waste of time and money...
Good movie... but you will need to watch it several times to understand it. It's confusing.
You think the ending of this complexly told movie would be worth it, well it isnt..so just a confusing movie with nice ideas and actors
Long tedious movie which barely makes sense. Only the last 20 minutes are worth watching.
Best movie for a looooong time
This is one of the best movies I've seen these years .... 10/10
I wasn't bored at any point of this film, but I don't think I'd watch it again. I may be stupid; but I just didn't get it.
After reading so much critics about this movie I went to see it with my own eyes.
The result: My favorite movie in years... Very unique film with a lot details and open to some interpretation.
Also everything was perfect: cast, music, makeup, cinematography, etc. I cant understand why it wasn't nominated for oscar.
Anyway: 10/10 :)
Three main things: I found the inconsistencies between the same character in different timelines to be extremely frustrating. The movie itself was confusing but not in an interesting way. Finally, the "rebel agent" in the "second last" future looked like a spastic Matrix Neo, couldn't get over those prosthetics.
AND YET I was not bored at any stage, incredible! 7/10
I think its pretty good
I really enjoyed this. It was confusing at first to understand where things are going and what anything has to do with anything else, but pay attention and things will start to come together. I would describe it as 4-5 stories/movies cut, meshed and intertwined together to make one long, epic piece.
Not everyone will like it, but I definitely recommend it!
I am not sure if I was able the follow the whole story. There are many hard cuts and switches between the different time lines - which can be very confusing.
There are soooo maaany hard cuts, which makes it really hard to understand the whole plot. I like confusing movies but its so hard to follow it sometimes. In the end of the movie they show all the characters which one actors played.
So you get a Aha! in the end.
But the director should have done that in another way during the movie. I am pretty sure I am gonna watch that movie a 2nd time and maybe I gonna write another comment on trakt then.
Some friends watched the movie in the cinema and they told me they felt the same way: confusion.
Confusion is okay for sure but in some way you should answer the open questions. And to do that in the end titles shouldn't be the way to do that.
Tom Hanks did his job well in that movie and some nice ideas in it and not boring. 8/10
Defiantly not a movie where u smoke some weed before watching it. ^^
what the fuck is this shit? incomprehensible bollocks
fot me this is a movie who deserves 10/10.If you can tell me more movies like this...i will be very grateful.
edit: i don't remember reviewing this
Shout by DeletedBlockedParent2012-12-26T02:15:05Z
With all the critics, and all the love and hate for this movie, all i can say is that i haven't had some much fun watching a movie and didn't wanting it to end in a long time... with all due respect for those who don´t lie it ; this one went straight to my all time 100 favorite movies.