'Cloud Atlas' (2012) Wachowski Brothers rumors/info until release

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ About that...

It was character names like 'Bill Smoke' and 'Boardman Mephi' (as in Mephistopheles) that sold it for me. Also, isn't "Ol' Georgie" a popular nickname for Satan?

[Deranged Nasat]

I was assigned the book as part of my university studies (my DoS was a fan). I had no idea a film had been made. How do I miss these things?

I'd better make sure I see it at some point.

[Robert Maxwell]

Mr. Laser Beam wrote:

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^ About that...

It was character names like 'Bill Smoke' and 'Boardman Mephi' (as in Mephistopheles) that sold it for me. Also, isn't "Ol' Georgie" a popular nickname for Satan?

While I agree that those are deliberate references to the Devil, it doesn't mean he was playing the Devil. Given the thematic fabric of the film, all you can say for certain is that his characters were allusions to the Devil. I just don't think this is the kind of film where you should take everything so literally--because even the film itself doesn't do that.

[Unicron]

Saw it tonight. Not too bad, though I agree with some of the critical reviews I've read that the pacing could have been better. The film runs segments of all the stories simultaneously, and does do a good job of periodically switching between them, but I can see where viewers would find it confusing. I'm unfamiliar with the book, but the pacing seems different and somewhat more manageable.

[gblews]

Saw it today and liked it a lot. Didn't read the book and knew almost nothing about the story but I was able to follow it pretty well thanks to some deft editing. Really enjoyed the last quarter of it in particular. The story really came together nicely. Wouldn't mind seeing it again because I liked it so much and I know I missed some stuff.

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

So far, my favorite film of the year. It's not for everyone. A lot ot people' won't like it.

I like the ideas, that it had ideas at all, in a time when so few films have real ideas. Perhaps there was too many that balance was off and slightly more plotting might have worked well... and I kind of wish that there was something a bit more in the narrative and the imagery that connected these stories together in a very basic way.

But that's neither here nor there. What I liked was to sit down in a movie without knowing the whole story, or the characters ahead of time. Just totally get lost and be in the hands of the filmmakers.

[Gotham Central]

I loved it. I loved the fact that it felt like I was watching seven different movies that were deftly woven together.

What it left me with was a feeling that I wanted MORE...especially of 2144. That was such a story rich environment that I wanted to know more about that world.

[Brolan]

I'm still not sure if I liked it or not. It's a whole lot of movie and I need to see it again.

And it's definitely not for everyone, a couple in front of me got up and left about 2 hours into it.

[T'Baio]

Flying Spaghetti Monster wrote:

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I like the ideas, that it had ideas at all, in a time when so few films have real ideas.

See, these kinds of comments are starting to bug me.

There are LOTS of films with ideas that are released...but for whatever reason people don't know about them or don't go see them. "Films" aren't just movies made by Hollywood.

We Need To Talk About Kevin
Red Tails
The Grey
Salmon Fishing In The Yemen
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
Where Do We Go Now?
Moonrise Kingdom
Beasts Of The Southern Wild
Take This Waltz
Cosmopolis
Robot & Frank
The Master
Looper
Argo
Holy Motors
...and yes, Cloud Atlas.

These are all well made films, with wonderful ideas, interesting themes and intelligent narratives. And these are just the films I know of. And they're not obscure. I've been able to see every one in the small Canadian city I live in.

That's a lot of movies in one year that have arguably lofty ideas for a time when, supposedly, "so few films have real ideas.

Don't just go see movies you see commercials on the TV for...get out there and discover some.

[Set Harth]

Brolan wrote:

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And it's definitely not for everyone, a couple in front of me got up and left about 2 hours into it.

It is a scientific fact that time is more precious these days than it used to be. Also, that crack ain't gonna smoke itself.

[DWF]

I thought it was a pretty awesome movie, but I can see why it'd be hard for some to follow and it was a long movie. But I really enjoyed it, it was one the better movies I've seen this year.

[Emh]

I finally got the chance to this tonight and I absolutely loved it. I definitely need to watch it again. My brief review from Facebook:

Cloud Atlas is a fascinating amalgam of The Fountain and Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt that tells six different stories with each one representing a different genre (science-fiction, fantasy, romance, comedy, drama, and thriller). The majority of the cast plays multiple roles ranging from cameos to leads, some of them completely disappearing behind impressive make-up.

Is the film all over the place and hard to follow? Yes, but that's one of the many reasons why I love it. In fact, I didn't realize how much I love the film until after I saw the closing credits which revealed the breadth of acting. I look forward to reading the book.

In closing, I have to also add that I loved the acting, especially Hugo Weaving's performance as Ol' Georgie.

[Mr. Adventure]

Weird, I tried to see this like three weeks or so after release and it was nowhere to be found.

[Emh]

I only just saw it because it finally showed up at my base theater in Japan.

[T'Baio]

Time magazine named it the worst film of the year.

Time magazine apparently has no taste and is stupid.