Tremendously overwhelming

Rating: 9/10 (16 December 2012)

It is quite impossible to put into words how moving, breathtaking and thought-provoking this film is. Stupendous, ambitious and profound, "Cloud Atlas" is a once-in-a-lifetime movie of epic proportions.
Comprised of six interrelated stories from different times and places, the movie is about how people's lives are connected with and influence each other. It shows that an act of kindness goes a long way, and contemplates how our actions and decisions could eventually change the course of other people's lives. It is, in a way, an illustration of the six degrees of separation that fleshes out karma and reincarnation.
The film is structured as a sort of mosaic - the fragments of each of the six time periods scattered all throughout the movie, revisiting each narrative to propel the story into one humongous piece of art.
The complex story lines require utmost degree of attention and a deeper level of appreciation to be fully understood. In the long run, the perplexing narrative is not as complicated as it seems.
Though most people would find this three-hour mental exercise to be too confounding to the point of being burdensome, the attentive and emotionally attached will be gratefully rewarded. The film's metaphysical elements mixed with its sprawling visuals, awe-inspiring script, heartrending music, astonishing cinematography, amazing cast, and superior technical values offer a peculiar blend of cinematic nirvana, something I would call a beautiful entanglement that is better left untangled.
I expect this film to be in strong contention for the Academy Awards, particularly in the Make Up and Special Effects categories. I'm hoping though that its stars won't be overlooked, especially the supporting cast.
The actors play a multitude of contrasting characters it's like you're watching a grand stage play with extreme makeovers and multiple costume changes. The make-up was so well done you wouldn't recognize Halle Berry or Hugh Grant in some of their minor roles. (Make sure to watch the closing credits and you'd be pleasantly surprised to find out which characters each actor portrayed.) The ensemble cast is spectacular, and I'm particularly smitten by Jim Sturgess' and Doona Bae's performances. Their Neo Seoul love affair alone is enough reason for me to watch this movie again.
"Cloud Atlas" is unlike any other film. It goes beyond your average movie-going experience as it defies cinematic conventions, transcends real-life preconceptions, reintroduces obscured emotions, and permeates the subconscious, leaving you tremendously overwhelmed.
With a $102 million USD budget, "Cloud Atlas" is one of the most expensive independent films of all time. It deserves not only to be seen, but more importantly, experienced. Go see this whenever you have the chance. You may not make any sense out of it, but the mere act of witnessing this out-of-this-world splendor is a dreamlike memory to behold.