One extraordinary film

Rating: 8/10 (27 October 2012)

Never have I ever left the cinema more profoundly touched and moved by a movies message than with Cloud Atlas. What starts as a seemingly innocent premise at the start of the film, evolves into an opus of story telling surpassing the connected events driven story of the film Crash. The film follows several seemingly disconnected strangers, who's lives, actions, and motives shape the course of history over immense gaps in time. This masterpiece of cinema is largely driven by the message of life, through the consequences, actions, and events of many. A message so beautiful in its execution, I sincerely believe those who criticize the film miss the purpose of its storytelling entirely. Throughout each story arch, you can't help but connect the dots, and see the similar concourse each story follows. From the early days of 1800's exploration to the science fiction dystopian society of Neo Seoul, each story interweaves in such a magnificent fashion, you can see just how each character discovers their interconnected lives. No, this isn't the sequel to Looper, there is no time traveling involved here. The concept of Karma is a major player here, shaping the decisions of each of the characters throughout their stories. Realizing what you do affects others in this life or the next? Now that is one powerful message. Whether you believe in Heaven or Hell, the film conveys a very real sense that when one door closes, another opens in its place. Where one person dies, another life begins. I know some will look at this film, and not get the broader message. That is quite fine with me, and I know they will dismiss its importance and impact on cinema. The expert precision, in which the actors played several characters with such creative artistry, was amazing to be frank. At the end of the film you will never believe some of the characters were even played by the same people. I truly applaud the actors in this move for going the extra mile in this, and the makeup artist for their expert transformations they created with the actor's characters. In this day of remakes and stories ripped from books, comics, and the analogues of history, the creativity of this movie can't be ignored. Look past the special effects, the almost indecipherable native speak of the islanders, and the speed dial, furious changing of one stories scene to the others. This is one film I will cherish and hope that others do too. As Tom Hank's character looks to the sky at the end of the film, pointing out Earth to his kin, I can't help but wonder what the universe holds for me.