One of the Most Ambitious and Life-changing Movies Ever Made!

Rating: 10/10 (2 February 2013)

'Cloud Atlas' is one of the most ambitious and life-changing movies ever made; a Cinematic Masterpiece! And it's no wonder when the creative minds of Wachowski siblings ('The Matrix', 'V for Vendetta') and Tom Tykwer ('Run Lola Run') collaborate to adapt David Mitchell's considered-to-be-unfilmable novel. Wachowskis' expertise in science fiction and human interest stories, and Tykwer's expertise in modern-day fairy tales, really work in the favour of the movie. It covers the six stories with such finesse that, at times, it becomes maddeningly epic.
With six stories intertwined, it might seem difficult to follow. But the flow is unique and interesting, and not at all difficult to follow. It shifts from 18th century Pacific Islands to futuristic Neo-Seoul to post-apocalyptic earth with such soulful elegance.
It captivatingly and artistically deals with themes of Love and Freedom. Anyone who hates society and conventions, and loves human interest stories dealing with dire situations of different times with a dab of fantasy, is bound to fall in love with the movie. For me, after a certain point, it stopped being a movie, and became something much larger than Life itself.

"All boundaries are conventions waiting to be transcended. One may transcend any convention, if only one can first conceive of doing so." The movie's cinematography (Frank Griebe, John Toll) is enthralling. It gives each timeline its own unique setting, which adds more depth to the story. The movie has so many unforgettable scenes and quotable dialogues, it is almost impossible to side out a few.

"To be is to be perceived and so to know thyself is only possible through the eyes of the other." - "Our lives are not our own. From womb to tomb, we are bound to others – past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future." The movie's splendid cast, with the main actors (Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Ben Wishaw, Jim Broadbent) having interesting and different roles in each timeline, truly does a mesmerizing job. In many of the roles, the make-up and acting make the actors almost unrecognizable.

But, the movie isn't everyone's cup of tea. As all great movies, it is bound to split viewers into Avid Lovers and Strong Haters. Only people with universal knowledge and vision, maturity and understanding of the importance of Love and Freedom, can really love the movie.