Exceptionally well pulled off but not as good as the novel

Rating: 9/10 (10 January 2013)

As I read the tirade of reviews, it struck me how few people actually read the book, which really does help alleviate any confusion. Watching a film that has been carefully pieced together from the original ideas of David Mitchell has been an amazing experience. The book itself is enormously complex and non linear which is why I was fascinated to see how the directors could have possibly made a linear film from it.
Personally, I believe they have done an excellent job intertwining the 6 stories in a manner that many thinking people will understand. This is not a mindless shoot'em up film and requires a great deal of thought and willingness to understand the plot. If you are not engaged then you had better avoid it at all costs.
There are no films out there that have tried to integrate 6 stories in such a way as has been done in this film. It is a first and as such should be appreciated for it. It is a work of art and should leave you feeling that you want more. The main problem is that with the novel, you could easily flip back to the earlier half of a particular story if you got lost. In the film, you will just have to wait until it appears on DVD and go back a chapter or so to understand.
As with most film adaptations there are always compromises and story changes but for the most part the film is a good representation of the book. In my opinion, the Seoul story was changed the most but the general messages remained the same for all story lines. If you want to be amazed and blown away AND fully understand the plot from your first viewing, I recommend reading the novel. You will not be disappointed.