Excellent adaptation

Rating: 8/10 (2 October 2014)

I absolutely adored the book by David Mitchell, but I had no idea how they would adapt a genre-bending, structurally challenging novel into a two hour or so film. The directors had a mammoth task and I'm delighted to say they got almost everything right.
I loved the film but two things marked this down from a 10.
1) If you haven't read the book or at least know something about the book, it's nonlinear storytelling and overarching themes then I think you will be lost as some things definitely were lost in adaptation.
2) Certain themes so subtly woven through the novel are turned into hammers and used to bash home the point into viewers. I would've preferred a more subtle take on some of the philosophy here. Even the trailer with that voice over gives away far too much of what makes this story so unique.
If you like your sci-fi epic and multi-layered then Cloud Atlas is a film you'll want to and even need to watch more than once. If you're into sci-fi for cool tech and explosions, then this movie probably isn't for you.