Cloud Atlas

[Hellagood]

I think this is a marmite film, viewers with adore and loathe it in equal measure!
I saw it at the Liverpool screening this morning and was captivated.
Sure, a couple of the prosthetics were a little distracting and I really disliked Hugo Weaving's devil character and Tom Hanks' tough-guy author, but loved the rest. 8/10
Have just ordered the book, which I'd heard was difficult to get into, but should be easier now I have faces for all the characters.

This excellent info graphic helps with the connections:
http://geektyrant.com/storage/2011-post ... raphic.png

[AYBG]

I loved this film so much.

http://ihyfm.fmuk.org.uk/cloud-atlas/

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Well now...I really dont quite know what to think of this. Its a real catch 22 situation I got with this film. The 6 minute long trailer was what gave me the highest anticipation and hunger to see this film since almost a year ago, yet the same trailer diminished the impact of my enjoying this film because it practically gave almost every little important consequence away. I can only blame myself, I would have still watched this film because I love every Warchowski movie, yep including Speed Racer (though Matrix 3 not so much). So why did I watch the trailer so many times...perhaps because its the most sumptuous and awesome trailer ever made, man I love that trailer, man I hate that trailer.

Anyway, I do love the film's ambition and concept, its stunning visual canvas, the sublime performances and the admirable, almost impossible editing success (which deserves an award) BUT BUT BUT despite all that achievement, it lacks the one thing that should have bind it all together, an emotional drive. I just dont get enough investment in the main characters to actually feel for them. There are moments of brilliance that will linger in my mind and I loved the thrilling 3rd acts of some of the storylines (though not so thrilling because I often knew what was going to bloody happen, thank you fmuking awesome trailer).

Having said all that, this is a film to be seen again and see it again, I will, as I need to to connect a hell of a lot more dots. I get the gist of the film's message but how it all fits together, is something I need to figure out. My least favourite storylines are the ones set in the past. I didnt like either, I felt absolutely nothing for those. I was thoroughly more engaged with the present and future storylines. Each one deserving a movie of its own.

Tom Hanks is always reliable and with Halle Berry give very reassuring weight to most of the movie...but Hugo Weaving as usual steals every scene he appears in, the man alway rocks!

I give it a 7/10, pity I couldnt give such an admirably ambitious film more because for all its flaws, we still need more of these type of films.

Oh and dont go by other people reviews, including mine. This is the type of film that only you can decide for yourself. Although, the 6 minute trailer should give you an idea of whether you will like this or not, if you loved it, see the film, if you hate the pretentiousness of the trailer, then that is exactly what you are going to get from this film.

[M R M R]

I fell asleep for a while but was still able to follow the film when I woke up due to the mis-mash of the storytelling.

Having said that, I agree that it would perhaps have been better to have the different stories told separately and then perhaps have the different conclusions all interwoven.

[ladams888]

Saw this today in Wimbledon (Screen 9, as opposed to the normal Screen 10 - so quite a big auditorium for a change). I must admit I have not read the book and (purposely) have not read anything at all about the film - which with hindsight probably did not work in my favour. I therefore spent most of the nearly three hours trying to work out what on earth was going on. I was really trying to concentrate to try and understand the plot, but found it very difficult as the stories kept switching every minute or so. I think that the film would have been better suited to someone with attention deficit disorder. I suppose that we were all meant to leave the auditorium agreeing with the author that we are all linked to everyone else (past, present and future). I, for one, just didn't b*y it. None of the individual storylines was exceptional by itself, and even when linked to the other stories, the links were tenuous to say the least. Tom Hanks and Ben Wishaw were outstanding in this – but they are both usually outstanding in whatever they turn their hands to - but this still doesn't make the film any better. I felt quite deflated by the ending which I thought was a huge disappointment. In fact I found whole film quite unsettling and was very relieved when the titles finally came up. I found the film completely pretentious.

The prosthetics were not brilliant and when they were used, I found myself staring at the prosthetics and not following what little storyline there was. All in all I would give it a 4/10.

[Yinster]

Back from a pretty full Springfield Quay. A couple of faces I recognised from previous screenings but most people were new faces.

Film is long and confusing at times. Would the stories made more sense if they were done separately? Probably not. Would we think the stories were interconnected and understand the message throughout. Me, nope. Could this have been six separate stories with no common link. Yes. I still don't know what to think. Sometimes I had to focus hard yet other times I was watching with wonder. Definitely a marmite film. You either love it or don't. I think this film might need a second viewing from me.

6/10

[FAITH2011UK]

Saw this in Southampton today, full screening which was good to see after the past few screenings.

I personally found the film just as confusing as life of pi! I really liked several of the stories however didn't like the way they just cut to another story and found it hard to see how some linked to others. I definitely would have preferred it if they cut one or two stories out and developed the others more. It felt as if there wasn't enough time to actually care about a character before we are switching to another segment.

With all that said, it wasn't a bad film, and it definitely wasn't amazing. I may watch it again just so I wouldn't have to think concentrate as much and just sit back and enjoy the stories more but I wouldn't p*y to see it.

6/10

[taraminx]

I saw this film this morning and I still can't work out what i think of it on a personal level. However its an incredible film with a deep storyline.

I rate it 6/10

[canadian_turtle]

Wow, these reviews do not make the film sound appealing at all I'm hoping that having read the book I'll enjoy it a lot more than you guys have (as the stories and overall connection shouldn't be as confusing to me).

[tsoiboy]

I saw this today at Odeon Wimbledon.

Like Marmite... I loved it. Very different and ambitious. Not perfect and I was not bored at all by it. Fortunately I had read the book so I can understand why it can be a bit confusing with it's non linear story telling. It is a long film though at 174 mins but you are getting 6 stories in 1 film.

Review:- http://londonfilmfan.blogspot.co.uk/201 ... -lana.html

9/10