Very entertaining, Surprisingly Comprehensible

Rating: 8/10 (6 June 2013)

I'm sure Cloud Atlas has some Deep Meaning, but I never picked up on what it was. However, as a piece of entertainment it was excellent. The movie is composed of six stories, intercut very tightly, and some of the stories are very involving, although others didn't do much for me.
Of the six, I liked the comedic publisher's story and the Matrix-like futuristic dystopia best, but also quite enjoyed the '70s investigative thriller and the sci-fi-tribal piece. I found it harder to connect with the two set earliest in the chronology, which had less narrative momentum, but I still admired the way each story had a very distinct style.
I am rather amazed at how easily I followed what was going on, as at times the movie would cut from one story to another to another in a matter of seconds. However, the film starts with relatively long sequences that familiarize you with each story, and because they are all so different you always instantly know where you are. (At least I did; I'm not sure what the response would be of a friend who said she couldn't for the life of her figure out what was going on in Memento.)
The acting is all quite effective, with the same actors playing different characters in different stories. I was most surprised by Tom Hanks, because I generally don't like him (his noble, "regular guy" shtick just doesn't work for me), but here I liked him in all of his six roles.
Because the movie was stylishly filmed, and the individual episodes had compelling stories, I really enjoyed the movie. But I am completely unclear as to what point it's trying to make. It appear to be saying we are all connected throughout the centuries, but how we are connected and how these connections are significant eludes me. I think I'm going to have to read the book to see if I can figure that out.
But forget the Greater Meaning; just enjoy the ride.