MotW: Cloud Atlas

There are many things I wanted to point out about this movie, but it ultimately it comes down to a mixed bag.

I can see how a few people actually claim this to be their favorite movie of all time, and why others like me, heavy criticize it.

I feel a big reason why some people claim to like it so much is because it is way ahead of its time. This kind of film could make more sense in a more culturally integrated, and theological more sophisticated society, perhaps 100 or 200 years from now.

It could be more appreciated in a time when people can actually account with whatever fancy computers they have, the amount of repercutions anyone's decisions can make on their own lives, and even on many generations ahead.

The movie was heavily criticized for not using Asian people for many of the Asian roles, which is a massively moronic argument because choosing the same actor to represent different manifestations of their soul was a key aspect that was vitally needed for the plot.

That said, those masks, or makeup used for that purpose are incredibly grotesque, and horrendous, and make the film look terrible indeed, and that goes for all impersonations not just the Asian ones.

Another thing I hate is the format. I understand that kind of format is necessary to make a point, no just about the permanece of time itself, but also to slowly unfold the story, and the interconnected relation between all different time periods.

However just like with Memento by Christopher Nolan, or Beyond Two Souls by Quantic Dream, this format always destroys the potential suspense, and interesting thrill the movie could have offered otherwise.

Shuffling scenes kills that, but it also causes the audience to lose their interest altogether. All it accomplishes is that some may not start appreciating the film until the second time viewing it, and that is annoying on itself.

It is intriguing to me how can someone make so many bad decisions for the film, and yet at the same time make so many right ones about the plot, depth, and the message behind it.

I highly recommend it, and I highly do not recommend it. 5 out of 10, at least it is on Netflix right now. The aesthetics really killed the experience, and no matter how good is the connection between the characters, and the things they convey, it is all lost in the poor presentation, but gained again by touching those key spiritual aspects that give a person's life a more significant meaning, whether it is through reincarnation, or in a single life.

For MK I get that they got Raiden and Shang Tsung from Big Trouble In Little China, but the influence still feels a lot heavier from Enter The Dragon with Liu Kang, the settings, the vibe, the tournament, and the fatalities.

The Wachowskis have done better than The Matrix in terms of philosophical propositions, both Matrix sequels included, but in terms of making a better movie, nothing beats their masterpiece. The first Matrix was definitely the top of their game.

You gave it a higher score than I did. For me it was a 5 out of 10, at best.

I also agree you don't need to spend timet interpreting the movie, it is pretty straightforward stuff you can easily get on the first time watching it.

In fact, it is not the kind of movie you want to see twice unless you already forgot everything somehow.

It is all about the repercussion of your actions, and their significance regardless of how meaningless they may seem at first glance.

But regardless how powerful the meaning of the movie is, the movie is still hideous, specially with those Korean masks, it really ruins the movie at a visual level.