Cloud Atlas

[Beate]

It is a shame they didn't reveal the importance of the rapport until the end of the story as I can understand why viewers would be confused by this.

So what is the importance of the rapport please? I admit I didn't get that.

I personally think the movie could've been improved by:

1) Not going back and forth between the various story arcs so much. The book tells the stories in two parts each and in chronological order (with the middle bit about Zachry being told in a single part) which makes it much more clear.

I agree!

[canadian_turtle]

Thanks for this summary c_t you answered one question that I came here to ask; how the book was written but now I know I wonder why the film was made as it was. The film is beautiful and ambitious and maybe they wanted it to be seen as a totally different kind of film but it can be rather confusing at times although I did get in to it flitting from story to story.

I think the film much more wanted to get across how everything was connected and how you keep meeting the same people by both having actors play multiple roles and by flicking between the stories to show both similarities or how one story would influence the next.

Thanks also for providing the names of each story, I would have loved to have known this too during the film.

This reminds me, I liked how the two future stories had an actual date in the film! This is not the case in the book, but made it more clear to me.

As for the language used in Sloosha's Crossin' an' Ev'rythin' After, I would think reading it would be far easier than hearing it in a film where regular language is also used. My ear just couldn't attune to it.

I guess it depends on the individual. It was okay for me both on screen and in writing and while I may not have heard every single word used, it was clear in the context and it added to the feel of this being a a strange and faraway future

It is a shame they didn't reveal the importance of the rapport until the end of the story as I can understand why viewers would be confused by this.

So what is the importance of the rapport please? I admit I didn't get that.

[spoiler]The start of the story is a press conference of the new HYDRA facility, however because of Luis's encounter with Sixsmith in the elevator (who worked on the project) she is there to actually expose the fact that it's incredibly dangerous and is bound to explode/cause a lot of fatalities. The rapport is the proof she needs for her allegations and while there are a few copies of it in circulation in the book they get eliminated one by one.[/spoiler]

[canadian_turtle]

I thought I understood the film but I think the red herring for me is that

[spoiler]I thought the actors played the same souls reincarnated throughout the ages. But now you saying about the comet birthday mark meant the it is the same soul which means more sense. Ach well. I did try. Perhaps they should had it more simple for people like me to have the same actor/actress played the same soul instead of different people.[/spoiler]

Yeah I get how that's confusing. I think it was a choice from the creators of the film to simply show how you meet the same people across time (and apparently space), but this is not the case in the novel. In the book it's purely [spoiler]the birthmark of the 6 main characters[/spoiler] and the stories show how one action can change the course of the future and someone's destiny.

[jojojoanne]

Not sure when, but I'm determined to see this film. And even more determined NOT to fall asleep during the 3 hours!! Your explanations, c_t, have hopefully prepared me, so I can understand what's going on!! I admire you for being so clever!!

[canadian_turtle]

Not clever, I just knew what I was in for by having read the novel it's adapted from

[The Sparrow]

I'm now thinking I need to see it yet again but this time with all the explanations from the wonderful canadian_turtle.

[jojojoanne]

I'm now thinking I need to see it yet again but this time with all the explanations from the wonderful canadian_turtle.

I haven't seen it at all yet, but already I'm guessing I'll need two viewings!! One, preferably at home where I can pause and make sense of it all before moving on!!! (sometimes, my brain just does not work well for me!!!)

[canadian_turtle]

I'm now thinking I need to see it yet again but this time with all the explanations from the wonderful canadian_turtle.

Glad to have been of help

I haven't seen it at all yet, but already I'm guessing I'll need two viewings!! One, preferably at home where I can pause and make sense of it all before moving on!!! (sometimes, my brain just does not work well for me!!!)

I'm thinking they should add a different version of the film to the DVD/bluray as an extra that shows it all in chronological order!

[The Sparrow]

I'm now thinking I need to see it yet again but this time with all the explanations from the wonderful canadian_turtle.

I haven't seen it at all yet, but already I'm guessing I'll need two viewings!! One, preferably at home where I can pause and make sense of it all before moving on!!! (sometimes, my brain just does not work well for me!!!)

When you see it, you will realise that this is a unique film. Not only does it require a functioning brain (I found one on eBay lol) but true concentration and no distractions whatsoever. I knew I would need all of the above and at least two viewings but sadly, I had distractions the first time so some of what we see at the start, I only got to see on my second watch last night.

It certainly isn't a film that will work for everyone and I bet it gets slagged to bits on some forums when it is released. I just hope it gets a decent run.

[jcolombi]

I am now reading the book, let's hope I can understand it more!