A likable film not without its flaws.

Rating: 7/10 (7 March 2013)

Cloud Atlas's disjointed story, though jarring at first, is a still a fairly watchable film. The stories interweave and twist and turn through the ages; as we meet each of the main characters and learn of their connections. I would have liked to have spent more time exploring each of the different character's stories, but alas it was more like brief glimpses at half imagined worlds that flicker off when the writer runs out of ideas, only to be briefly returned to once the ideas strike hot again. The idea is grand in scale: how different lives intertwine and how different people through different ages become the same person they were all along. The ultimate ending sees a far flung future and ties up the story to a satisfying conclusion. This does not compensate, however, for the fact that the movie falls short in the sense that it doesn't really deliver a whole story. It delivers pieces of stories that are loosely interwoven and then forgotten to make way for the next piece. The performances are fine, and the set-pieces often grand; there's definitely a lot to be admired, it's just such a shame that more could not have been done with the story. The source material doesn't really lend itself well to adaptation, however; and so, this slight annoyance can be overlooked. It is, after all, quite an enjoyable film and one that should be returned to and savoured, if only to figure out who is who throughout the film and where their individual stories connect. Overall, I give the film a 7/10. Definitely one to watch once, if not twice.