Absolutely Amazing, in so many ways

Rating: 10/10 (12 February 2020)

If I had to pick Oscar for 'Best film ever', out of all the many greats, this would be on the shortlist and probably winner. It is great on many levels and consistently wonderful, original, intelligent and perceptive. It makes a rich and diverse multiverse and weaves the complex tapestry with a coherence, perceptive and incisive narrative. The result is not just a work of visual and narrative art but truly and deeply meaningful.
It is about character, values, truth, beauty, love, endurance, triumph-in-adversity. It uses classic formula with innovative energy, wit, and is without stereotypes. The historical and technological strands, side by side are unforced and feel perfectly balanced: The production values are gorgeous. How to adapt such a book, how to marry so perfectly, so many disparate narrative strands and contexts, was a work of genius. The use of 3 directors for separate epochs was very effective.
This is a film for all: Superficially it's as good as an adventure yarn, as a deeper meaningful study in human nature. It makes you sit up though: No one can miss it's quality or ignore it's originality. GREAT stuff. A top 10 of all time film, without a doubt