The prevailing theme of the film is that our souls, words and deeds live on beyond our deaths. The story is told through multiple short stories that have a thread of connectivity between them, something that gets passed-on and influences a future series of events. You have to pay attention as you watch, as you can easily miss the connecting thread (and therefore the significance of the film). When you visualize the complete thread, you will "get it" and almost certainly give the film a higher rating than those viewers who were baffled and didn't "get it". The film doesn't meander or ramble; each story is told because of it's specific influence on future events.

The prevailing theme of the film is that our souls, words and deeds live on beyond our deaths. The story is told through multiple short stories that have a thread of connectivity between them, something that gets passed-on and influences a future series of events. You have to pay attention as you watch, as you can easily miss the connecting thread (and therefore the significance of the film). When you visualize the complete thread, you will "get it" and almost certainly give the film a higher rating than those viewers who were baffled and didn't "get it". The film doesn't meander or ramble; each story is told because of it's specific influence on future events.

Skip It - Cloud Atlas (2012) 172 min. Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry. What in blue blazes is this film all about? And at 172 minutes – I frankly didn’t care to figure it out. Strange film that goes nowhere. Absolute waste of time.

i recommend cloud atlas for my good freinds that are following me on the comment list

This movie literally created a new cinematic language. Again, this movie created a new motherf***ing cinematic language. Think about that. What was the last film to do that? Do you have to go back to French New Wave? Breathless? Perhaps. More than any other film last year, this is the one that will progress the medium the most and be talked about in film classes decades from now. In twenty years every auteur director will cite this film as the one that made them realize what film could be, and what it has still yet to become. It only “bombed” financially due to being unapologetically sincere in age of extreme cynicism, where any sentiment must be accompanied by an ironic “wink.” F**k that noise. I want movies to move me; I want them to want to move me. This movie does just that. Yes, you have to open yourself, let your vulnerabilities be exposed and trust the artist to not toy lightly with those heartstrings, but if you do that, you will be rewarded with one of the most genuinely uplifting experiences of your life (at least in cinematic form). Long live the New Sincerity.

Bold filmmaking, and a landmark collaboration by three visionary directors and several fine actors (and Tom Hanks, too). Some segments entertain and enlighten more than others, it must be said, but on the whole I'm glad I invested the 3 hours to watch it. I'm still shaking my head at the fact that they secured financing for such a rambling screenplay; a pity, in a sense, as if they had waited a few more years they could have spun it into a premium cable limited run series instead without sacrificing quality, the way things are trending these days.

This movie is one of the best films I have seen in years. Yes, it's long, but it kept my attention and I enjoyed the thrilling ride. Bought the book and can't wait to see it on DVD again. I saw it in the theaters twice!