Cloud AtlasMovie Reviews

  • Go Based on 11,783 reviews
    Breakdown:
  • So-so
    Written November 3, 2012

    Yawn Atlas

    I didn't read the book and went to the movie intrigued but with absolutely no expectations. The trailers only increased my curiosity because of the seeming lack of clear intent or purpose for what the movie was attempting to convey. I'm by no means an idiot... I got "The Matrix" the first go-round... but after 45 minutes into this one with no clear sense of purpose or direction, I gave it another half hour and couldn't take it anymore and walked out with my friend. Even if it's one of those films that leaves you puzzled until the last 20 minutes when everything gets tied together, there was no way that I was going to stay awake long enough to make it to the point of revelation. I usually love Tom Hanks, Halle Berry is still one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen, and "Mr. Smith" never fails to disappoint, but I just couldn't hang with them for three hours on this one. I'll try again when it comes out on fios and fast forward through it before I fall asleep.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written October 29, 2012

    Cloud Atlas

    An enjoyable piece of storytelling (six unique ones), interwoven over hundreds of years, yet joined together with common threads. First rate acting and film makeup (to the point you actually are amazed to find out at the end which actor played some of the roles).

    • 7 out of 9 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 18, 2012

    Ambitious

    by Glaucus

    I had no idea what I was walking into the first time I went to see Cloud Atlas in theaters. I became aware of the movie one day when I went to check what the Wachowski brothers were up to, and I saw this project, 'Cloud Atlas'.

    Like I said before, I had no idea what I was getting myself into the first time I saw it. I am writing this review the day after my second viewing.

    What is there to say? The scope of the film spans centuries, focusing on the lives of individuals in certain time periods that are some how connected without their knowing, where their actions effects the lives of those in the future without them even trying or knowing.

    You can say that it is a story of soul mates finding each other again and again throughout time, either glimpsing each other for moments, or spending their lives together. It's an amazing, gripping film of hope, sadness, and above all, humanity. I truly love this film, and plan on purchasing it when it is released.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written November 1, 2012

    2 hours and 44 minutes of my life I'll never get back

    by bwil76

    Cloud Atlas - I saw the names Tom Hanks and Halle Berry. I saw from the trailer - it was kind of a science fiction movie. That's fine. So, I bought tickets and we saw it last night.

    Remember the first time you saw 2001: A Space Odyssey? Remember how confused you were. Everything after the monolith was utterly bwildering, especially at the end. Cloud Atlas is like this with the exception it starts out very confusing, seemly running about a dozen disjointed story lines. It goes that way for over two hours and at the very end they try to tie all of the story lines together. But, by then, I was listening to my iPod. I didn't care how it ended.

    A few other things. Tom Hanks plays many characters in the film, and it's hard to understand what he is saying in most of them. I didn't check the rating of this film. Should have. There is a lot of violence and sex in the movie. Totally disappointed with the movie.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written October 31, 2012

    Great movie

    It was about half-way through that I thought to myself, "I love this movie." Each story covered its own genre well and they were all cut together beautifully. Actors in multiple roles could be jarring at times (Tom Hanks with a Cockney accent?) but it mostly worked. It does require the viewer to pay attention and think about what they're experiencing which isn't for everyone. It was definitely for me, though.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written October 28, 2012

    If you want inspiration and a dose of wake up that isn't coffee!

    by crumbo

    This story and motion picture is so timely in when we as a body of humans are in high need of waking up and realizing that we are all connected and that our causes effect everyone and ourselves in a very deep way.
    I highly recommend this movie as theater going experience, especially if you want some inspiration to change your life path.

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written October 27, 2012

    What a beautiful weave

    by

    This is not a typical narrative. No. In fact, if cinema is a place you go to not use your brain then this film is not for you. This film is a challenge, to follow to comprehend strings that tie characters from one time and place to another. It can be difficult to follow you what you're expecting is a typical narrative that has a standard beginning, standard middle and a standard end. But if you allow yourself to follow an intricately woven line of independent stories that have familiar humanistic thread that runs through each, then you will enjoy very complex and poignant stories, Each one having an effect on the other by means of small acts of selfless kindness or heart wrenching moments of loss as caused by what can only be construed as true, self centeredness and evil. The cast, phenomenal. THESE PEOPLE REALLY HAD TO ACT!!!! in the classical meaning of the word. They all played multiple roles, multiple races and genders. In that regard, a grand spectacle for true lovers performanc.

    • 15 out of 25 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written November 11, 2012

    Disappointing

    by mark46

    Boring. Oh yes, and depressing, but mainly boring. Incoherent too, but mainly boring.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • So-so
    Written October 26, 2012

    eh

    well i didnt fall asleep so thats good. the movie had its funny parts, interesting parts, emotional parts, creepy parts, cool made-up-language parts. it just took me a minute to begin to make sense off all the different characters, but atleast they wrap it up nicely, well i still have questions but for the most part i got the gist. im not a harsh critic so i say its worth checking out.

    • 43 out of 81 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written October 28, 2012

    Cloud Atlas

    by wohl62

    The movie, although a long almost three hours, went by rather quickly since, for the first two hours, one had to determine just what was happening in what appeared to be 3-4 different plots. Some of the dialogue, for older folks like my wife and I, in particular, was easily lost but the acting, direction, filming was excellent. The last hour attempted to "bring all the plots together" but the ending still left "gaps" in the tie-in. Finally, there was a question in our minds as to whether the main theme was reincarnation or really an attempt to give us a religious theme of resurrection.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written November 5, 2012

    One Viewing Is Not Enough

    There are so many threads to this movie a person might have to see it several times just to follow each one. As an example, what is the meaning of the shooting-star birthmarks and why does just one person in each segment have one?

    • 6 out of 7 found this review helpful.
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  • Oh No!
    Written November 7, 2012

    Cloud Atlas

    First, beautiful scenery and photography with very good acting by an all star cast. However.....that being said I watched for three hours believing that the plot would ultimately be divulged in such a way as to tie all of the storylines together the way a grand epic should. Unfortuantely, it was only then that I discovered the sheer genius of this film.....it has no plot and only a premise of why it was made. The rest must have been left on the cutting room floor.
    Don't waste your money on this disappointment. I would say rent it, but don't waste that amount of money on it either. Wait until it shows up on a late night weekend Science Fiction channel opposite the "Two Headed Sharks eat Malibu". At least then it will be free.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written October 26, 2012

    Great Story Telling -Great Message

    Just saw this today at 9:30 am PST and if you love interweaving stories then this film is for you, the layer of story telling in different times, place and Climate is beautifully done. Loved that the main characters in every timeline was played by the same actors and might I say GREAT make up for each character. When the movie was over the whole theater was dead silent we all rose &left KNOWING we learned something as well as saw a great movie.

    • 22 out of 39 found this review helpful.
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  • Must Go!
    Written October 29, 2012

    Cloud Atlas - can't stop thinking about it!

    This was a beautiful film. I have read the book and was so happy that the movie was able to portray the magnitude of the incredible novel. Not only is it beautifully shot and acted, but the messages that jumped off the screen were profound. We as a human race just keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. Why is it so hard to understand how to get along? But maybe as Somni 451 tells her interviewer before she is led away.... "somebody just did".

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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  • Go
    Written December 29, 2012

    One of those ones you have to see twice

    This film is definitely not for everyone -- especially the easily confused. I understand the critics not caring for it. For them a film must be able to be viewed once and completely understood.

    I think to get the most out of this film you must either see it with a(n intelligent) friend so you can discuss it later and/or see it more than once. Additionally, an vague understanding of the laws of karma and karmic attraction are helpful -- it's sort of what the film is about.

    I enjoyed the movie a lot and am hoping to get to see it again at the dollar theater or on video. It is visually stunning, mostly well-acted (Tom Hanks only becomes really distracting in one story-line)

    I haven't read the book, but from what I've heard, the writers did a remarkable job considering the storyline.

    • 5 out of 5 found this review helpful.
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Tweets About Cloud Atlas

69% positive
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robdaemon Finally watched Cloud Atlas. Mesmerizing, but I really need to read the book now.

1 days ago.

NickPiers Just watched Cloud Atlas a second time; this time on the small screen. Still the most underrated movie of this year.

1 days ago.

sweezy_07 Cloud Atlas is the best movie of the 20th and 21st centuries. That was amazing. Never been more inspired in my life.

1 days ago.

CadenceDO Just watched Cloud Atlas. Now feeling confused and a little sad. But props to whomever did the makeup for this film. Fan-freaking-tastic.

1 days ago.

eataham i liked cloud atlas enough to watch it in theaters twice whatever

1 days ago.

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Exclusive Features

Cast Interviews Exclusive Cast Interview Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon and Hugo Weaving share their thoughts on reincarnation while Doona Bae used to read how many books as a child?!