Cloud Atlas

voyageur said:
Yes, that is rather interesting how they approached it.

...I think that would have been more problematic and difficult, but I suspect, knowing the three of them, that they got on extremely well throughout that and managed to express what they wanted and to fight for the film as they all talked about it in the first place. I don’t envisage there being any problems between the three of them. I think that’s kind of remarkable. A testament to all three of them, actually.

Seem this would be a difficult process in any film, often getting watered down, yet here they seemed to have worked in a very collinear way according to Hugo Weaving.

I haven't seen it yet, though I haven't felt this strong urge to watch a movie in a long time after seeing the trailer a few months back. Can't wait to see it. Wonder if it's worth reading the book first as many have done? Even though the movie seems to surpass it.

Voyageur, this put a smile on my face as my first thought was: 'What an STO approach to making a movie!'. Will review once seen
 
For those who have seen the movie and would like to understand the various dialects also see what was removed from the film can get the entire script to read in more detail at: _http://alexcassun.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/cloud-atlas.pdf

Even after seeing the movie three times, I am finding more details I did not catch while watching it. You will also notice parts that were removed which for me did shed more understanding on the life of Sonmi-451.
 
I was disappointed to learn it won't be showing in cinemas in western Europe until March 2013. Meanwhile it will become available on DVD in the US in January. What is up with that?!
 
I am half way through the book and although it seemed like very difficult read in the beginning,
now I can't put it down. I cannot imagine how story like this can be succesfuly told on the screen. It looks like film directors deviated from the story in order to simplify it but still for most of the viewers majority of the subtle character connections are completely lost. Here is the attempt to explain all the connections in the movie but, quite unfaithful to the book.

http://www.vulture.com/2012/10/guide-to-the-characters-and-connections-of-cloud-atlas-confused.html

In any case I will not be seeing a movie until I read the book. I am in Europe but not in the EU at the moment and movie is being shown in only one theater ( out of at least hundred theaters) and only one very late showing which is quite odd.
 
Kniall said:
I was disappointed to learn it won't be showing in cinemas in western Europe until March 2013. Meanwhile it will become available on DVD in the US in January. What is up with that?!
If you like I'm sure I can send you a copy when it comes out.

Edit: I just remembered the regional code they put on those dvds. I'm not sure if that would work on your player.
 
I went to see "Cloud Atlas" on my own just before Christmas. Never read the books, though I will now. It was a very moving experience - for me at least- although I'm pretty sure it won't win any popularity contests with most people wanting science fiction or action films. For me, Lana Wachowski is a personal hero. Her acceptance speech, mentioned by others here, was heartfelt and courageous and funny. Bless her.
I have a sense that it might only accepted to the degree that the viewer can accept the parallel lives of themselves. That lifetimes intertwine unbeknownst to us, that love, in a small way, does conquer all, then this expressed it artfully.
 
NewOrleans said:
I have a sense that it might only accepted to the degree that the viewer can accept the parallel lives of themselves. That lifetimes intertwine unbeknownst to us, that love, in a small way, does conquer all, then this expressed it artfully.
Indeed - like most folks viewed The Matrix...most didn't get the bigger picture, and wanted it to be more sci-f than have an actual plot...
 
I just saw the movie. I find it hard to describe how I feel...I guess moved in a positive way. It's 'I'm not alone' kind of feeling mixed with... something like 'there is so much hard work'- not quite accurate description.
This lines were my most favourites:
"To know thyself is only possible through the eyes of the other."
"If I had remained invisible, the truth would have remained hidden and I couldn’t allow that."
The movie is very long and in order to keep up with things happening on the screen it required full attention all the time which was especially hard for me for about first 45 minutes, after that it became easier, like natural, steady stream flow. It looks for me like they were trying to put as much as they could and yet it seems like they had to skip some things - at least it felt that way for me.
I didn't read the book... yet.
For me this movie was great experience.
 
QuantumLogic said:
I am really not into movies anymore, but this took my breath away. I almost started crying watching the trailer. It looks absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful story. For the first time in a long while, I will be going to a theater to see this. Thanks.
I had the same reaction to the trailer and watching the movie was sort of an anticlimax. Although I immensely enjoyed the movie I was not as emotionally moved as I was by reading the book. I think even this emotional reaction to the book was stirred by movie trailer which I saw before reading the book. Funny.

I think the biggest problem with both the book and the movie is that no meaningful story about reincarnation can be said without proper base knowledge which is yet elusive to mankind ( or at least most of it). Hence the painful feeling of playing with certain concepts but never delivering coherent sense.

In my opinion the strongest part of the movie is photography, and surely the music score. The biggest flaw of the movie is that certain stories and characters from the book were quite lukewarm and almost superficial but I guess there is only so much you can pack into 3 hour movie. Nevertheless I was not bored for a second and I have to give credit to the directors for daring to tell the story in this way - moving the film story telling to another level. Very creative.
 
I wached Cloud Atlas yesterday and really enjoyed it. This movie was like a puzzle that started as really fragmented but towards the end the different stories started to connect and make sense. You need to put your own efford to keep track with the story instead of passive watching, so I agree that there's propably lot's of people who didn't enjoy or really grasp this movie. "Our lives are not our own, we are bound to others, past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future", this was one of my favourite lines in the movie; Our choises defines which side of the equilibrium we are located, everything is connected and the future is open.
 
[link removed by moderator] - please do not link to pirated movie streaming sites.
hope this works in your country
 
Spiral Out said:
Just saw it today. It was beautifully done and very inspiring. I haven't read the book, so I can't comment on how close the movie was to it.

It took me a bit at the beginning to get used to the jumping between the different stories, but then it clicked and I saw the thread weaving the stories together. The acting was superb and it was interesting to see the character development and connections between everyone, visually and musically stunning as well. Towards the end it really hit me and I was crying a lot and I don't cry easily when watching movies. It didn't stop even after the movie was over. My partner and I were sitting in the theater until everyone left. It took me a while to snap back to "reality", so to speak. I was really emotionally triggered, more than any other movie I've ever watched. It felt so good to cry and release. I'm still contemplating on it and taking it in. I'd like to see it again since I'm sure I missed some parts and connections because it was a bit overwhelming at first. Some people left during the movie. It's certainly not your typical movie.

I felt like this as well!

But I also relate to what Anart said:


anart said:
I still left the theatre feeling like they had grasped for more than they could actually reach, but I did enjoy it and thought it was well done. I just think the base material itself (the book) was lacking and that the idea of soul groups and reincarnated lives together could have, perhaps, been told in a much more impactful, clear, way. So, while I enjoyed it, I still felt that there was a lot missing - then again, I shouldn't expect so much from a movie!


I think the music and photography are outstanding, as well as the acting. And the topics they go through being them the reincarnations, soul groups, even psychopaths in charge of society and destroying the world (I think it addresses the topic indirectly in this dialogue:

Meronym: Somethin' preyin' on you, Zachry?
Zachry: You really ain't feary about meetin' Old Georgie on the summit?
Meronym: I'm more scaresome 'bout the weather than any Devil.
Zachry: You cogg he's real? Who tripped the Fall, if not Old Georgie?
Meronym: True-true?
Meronym: The Old Uns.
Zachry: That's just a rope o'smoke. Old Uns got the Smart. They mastered sick and seeds, they make miracles and fly across the sky.
Meronym: True. All true. But they got somethin' else. A hunger in their hearts, a hunger that's stronger than all their Smart.
Zachry: Hunger? For what?
Meronym: A hunger for more.
)

Even if it was not intentionally addressed to psychopaths, one can see the relation to it. OSIT.

I also related the worship of Somni to the part in 'The Secret History of the World' when Laura is talking about the disjecta membra of the ancient knowledge and when she gives an example by imagining that our 'civilization' collapses now and the remaining people start telling stories about the past... and so each remaining group will create different theories, religions, all the culture depending on the biases of the ones remaining in each group.

"Zachry: What is this place?
Meronym: Before the Fall, Old Uns built dwellings, beyond the sky, among the stars, and this place joined here with there.
Zachry: Sonmi.
Meronym: Tis she.
Zachry: The Old Uns pray to Sonmi same as Valleysmen?
Meronym: Nay, not 'zactly same.
"

I also really liked the allusion to soul groups and how it is all connected, pass and future. Of course, it could be addressed in another way, maybe a clearer one. Yet I truly think is a great movie to see. I never go to the cinema, but knowing that this was from the Wachowskis I really wanted to check it out. I wasn't disappointed.

My favorite quotes, besides the dialogue above where:

" Our lives are not our own, from womb to tomb, we're bound to others, past and present. And by each crime and every kindness, we birth our future."

The nature of our immortal lives is in the consequences of our words and deeds, that go on and are pushing themselves throughout all time.

"Knowledge is a mirror."

"These forces that often remake time and space, they can shape and alter who we imagine ourself to be, begin long before we are born, and continue after we perish. Our lives and our choices, like quantum trajectories, are understood moment to moment, at each point of intersection, each encounter, suggest a new potential direction."

"To know thyself is only possible through the eyes of the other."

"If I had remained invisible, the truth would have remained hidden and I couldn’t allow that."
 
I saw this movie when it first came out and I really enjoyed it. For me it was the best movie I've seen in years. I really liked all the quotes and thought it had a lot of tie-ins to real life.

Towards the end when they had the battle in the future I was getting emotional, but didn't quite cry. I just felt like some of the sayings I could relate to personally. I could identify with the struggles in the movie compared to my own struggles.

And I liked the idea of reincarnation as the theme of the movie. It reminds me of when the C's asked that we enjoy our "projector slides". Relevant thread here.
 
I just saw the movie the other day and I enjoyed it, I also found it touching at times as I felt tears welling up in my eyes.

I also want the "True-true".... :)
 
I have read the script, and watched the film about 6 times.

I can repeat the praise that others in the thread have made, and add my personal findings:

The things that ring out most true:

There is only ONE truth, all others are mistruths. Logic really!

The biggie: That great care is required of our actions, as those actions projected forward have a very profound effect.

This may be the most serious responsibility we have, if we can enlighten 20 of us today, and this is past down to their children, then we are talking 1000's in a hundred years time. OK wishful thinking, maybe?

I know this is a work of fiction, but it strikes me that the author has some insight!

The whole idea of "growing" human beings as slaves has to be abhorrent to everyone, but I fear like battery farming and BSE it will happen, as it is "economically viable"

I am afraid I lack the answer to this, but fear that mankind will, as he has always done, try it and hopefully regret it!
 
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