Jumbled conglomeration of The Matrix intertwined with Amistad and Apocalypto that piggybacks on abolition to succeed in driving its message home

Rating: 5/10 (6 February 2014)

Cloud Atlas (2012)
Reviewed February 6, 2014 after 1st viewing (Free HBO HD) - Warner Bros (boo) – Directed by: Tom Tykwer, Andy & Lana Wachowski
Jumbled conglomeration of The Matrix intertwined with Amistad and Apocalypto that piggybacks on abolition to succeed in driving its message home
I don't even know where to start I will preface this by saying that I am an open-minded, intelligent, empathetic person who generally enjoys films of this genre. That being said, I spent the first half of this movie just trying to separate the plot lines and characters. The incoherent pacing jumped story lines so much, the use of the same actors for each made it all the more confusing. The undesired effect was to distance the audience from the characters to such a degree that you felt little if anything for their plights. The score tries so hard to draw you in and evoke emotion, but I had stopped caring at the halfway mark.
The direction and cinematography were great but altogether not that astounding. The make- up and prosthetics were divisive and distracting to say the least. Alas, the Neo/Trinity parody was so obvious, by the time abolition and genocide enters the picture and you're just starting to feel something for the characters, you're too distracted by the blatant use of elements from other successful films. To me, it was nothing more than a collage of other movies, which is clearly more on the screenwriter's and director's side, being that this is based on a book and had every opportunity to hold its own. This film is so complex and convoluted it actually makes The Matrix read like Green Eggs and Ham.
Furthermore, there are so many plot elements and dialog that does not make sense. We're supposed to believe the Prussian (Halle Berry) is a higher being, but her accent is Southern?! That was easily the *most* distracting element of the story. By the end, I still didn't understand how each part intertwined to make a whole. This is a classic example of too many hands in the pot, with the multiple writers, directors, production companies— Incoherent and incredibly frustrating.
Believe me, I went in wanting to like this movie, especially with some of my favorite actors and minds behind it, but I can't help but find it to be an epic fail. In three, long, excruciating hours, it fails to establish interest or connection with the audience, and in my opinion, if you can't manage these simple elements, none of the rest of the piece matters.
5.0 out of 10.0