Hope they eventually got to the point.



Edit: typo

The details varied with the time frame but the thematic use of slavery, confinement, economics and information by one group of people over another group of people was interesting.

IMO, oppression, subjugation and the immorality of gaining material gain thereby was the common thread throughout time.

A bit of a morality tale but the fact that the same set of actors played several different parts throughout the timelines was interesting on it's own.

Cloud Atlas sounds very over-the-top. I saw The Man With The Iron Fists instead, which was, eh, interesting.

I sorta agree with this sentiment basically--in the sense that ALL actors are overrated, with the possible exception of Deep Roy.
HOWEVER... this film kicks ASS! Awesome. Awe-inspiring. Thoughtful and provocative. A real rarity in these cookie-cutter times we live in.
So don't be a Frankenweenie, everybody! GO SEE CLOUD ATLAS FOR YOURSELF.
I mean, I just don't have words for how good it is. You gotta SEE it.

forrest no more.

He could only be considered the protagonist of one of the stories. In others he's a villain, a plot-device, a red-shirt, etc...

Hanks is our modern-day Jimmy Stewart; he's friggin' everywhere. But the juiciest leading roles in the film generally went to actors I've never seen.

There are some movies where he gives Oscar worthy performances and others that are just so-so. I think Cloud Atlas looks interesting but I think I may have other movies I would rather see first.

It's the most expensive independent film ever made.
It was backed by German money, since there are NO EWOKS in it at all, OR Johnny Depp.
And it is a WILD ride.

True, some of the dialogue is both rather subdued, and also difficult to understand because of extreme dialects. Doesn't matter in the slightest. You could follow the story (s) with the sound turned off. But that is a put-off for a lot of people, as is the jumping back and forth between various times and narratives. But it's artfully done.
I'm not surprised by the lack of support and many attacks I've read on the net, tho. Catch-22 and Welles' The Trial are excellent examples of why such critique is actually a sort of hidden promise. But you the view must decide for yourself, as is only proper... and the only way to do THAT is to see it, instead of being put off by a bunch of wanna-be filmmakers-turned hissy-spitters. Criticism is easy; making a film of this quality is pretty much impossible. That's why it took three of the most talented people in the industry to get 'er done!
I don't think you'll be disappointed, tho, as to how your hard-earned money got spent. At the very least, it's--what's the French term for this?--oh yeah: Pretty damn neat!

And a GREAT way to kill a few hours in these next 2 nerve-jangling days.

That looks so good. This is the kind of part that is perfect for Daniel Day Lewis.