CLOUD ATLAS has many different story threads spread out over centuries from the past to the present to the future.  Somehow it makes everything working even though it jumps back and forth during the almost three hour length of this film about interconnectedness and how our actions shape our future across several lifetimes.  The main actors in the movie play several different characters and those characters are even of different age, race, or even sex, and they can be good or bad guys.   Most of the stories take place between 1800 and 2200 AD with one part of the story taking place 100 years after some great apocalyptic event that is known as The Fall.   The writers and directors aren’t afraid to tackle different sexual orientations with one couple being gay and even some of the characters being reincarnated as the opposite sex.   One of the story threads in 2012 is repeated as a movie version in the future in the Neo Seoul storyline.   CLOUD ATLAS has so much going on and themes of love, hate, and interconnectedness, but still I could follow it all.  

 

I don’t want to give away much about the film because I feel it could help dampen the experience of watching CLOUD ATLAS.   The story does require your attention through the whole experience which runs almost three hours long.   You get to witness various time periods and even the future through the eyes of the characters with the exception of one of the stories being reimagined as a movie one of the characters watches in another story.   It is an ambitious sci-fi art film that more people should go see and I hope word of mouth does spread about this $100 million independently financed film.   CLOUD ATLAS is a bold exploration of love, hate, life, death, and sacrifice.   I look forward to seeing it again and exploring all of its extras on Bluray.  Now I must track down the book due to the differences between the novel and the film.   Still CLOUD ATLAS deserves to be watched.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

Seven focus point featurettes are the only extras on the disc which run out to about 55 minutes long.  The various featurettes give a behind-the-scenes look at CLOUD ATLAS and features interviews with the three directors and the cast.   No theatrical trailer is included.

 

A FILM LIKE NO OTHER- how three directors came together and split the film up to make it with careful planning

EVERYTHING IS CONNECTED- The cast and directors talk about the connections between characters and stories that tie the film together

THE IMPOSSIBLE ADAPTATION-  discover how the directors came across the novel and how they approached adapting it in addition to how it differs from the novel.

THE ESSENCE OF ACTING-  the actors talk about how it felt playing multiple characters.  Tom Hanks compares it to be in a  theater company.

SPACESHIPS, SLAVES, & SEXTETS- all about the themes and subtext in CLOUD ATLAS

THE BOLD SCIENCE FICTION OF CLOUD ATLAS- a look at the science fictions ideas in CLOUD ATLAS

ETERNAL RECURRENCE: LOVE, LIFE AND LONGING IN CLOUD ATLAS-  a look at the main themes in the film

 

Also included in the combo pack is the film in standard definition on DVD, and a code for the ultraviolet digital copy of CLOUD ATLAS.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  CLOUD ATLAS is a rewarding and underwatched film that demands your attention.  the making-of featurettes give a good lok at the making of CLOUD ATLAS including rare interviews with the Wachowskis.  Watch it now.

 

This review is (c)10-28-2012  and 5-21-2013 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com