Time Travel discussion

Update: Trailer is finally on Youtube in HD

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgI6Ee...

Original post:

First of all, regardless of wether this film feature time travel or not, watch and enjoy this stunning trailer that is almost 6mins long! Unfortunately, youtube has a horrible low res 360p version which doesnt do justice to the trailer. So I link the the Apple quicktime stream/download of the HD versions:

1080p
http://trailers.apple.com/movies/wb/c...

720p
http://trailers.apple.com/movies/wb/c...

480p
http://trailers.apple.com/movies/wb/c...

And here is an amusing intro from the 3 directors explaining why trailer is 5mins long (actually its 6mins) and how the hell they got greenlit to make it as 3 writers and 3 directors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2qeFx...

So this is based on an award winning epic novel spanning past, present and future. Its a Warchowskies movie but joining them is Tom Tykwer who wrote/directed Run Lola Run (an awesome fast paced German film that is about alternate realities). I love the Warchowskis' movies. They do get too ambitious at times and fall over their feet but there is no denying their visual impact and style. I loved the Matrix trilogy (though Matrix 3 really sucked), Speed Racer, V for Vendetta and even the not so well rated Assassins. Only film I havent seen of their is Bound but I hear good things about that film too. I would anticipate Cloud Atlas to be a glorious mess but with Run Lola's director joining in as co-director and writer, this might actually be a coherent adaptation...we'll see but regardless I am very pumped for it.

So has anyone read the book? Does this qualify in to be in this thread? The reason I post this, is because I seem to spot some anomalies in the trailer that I can only attribute to time travel but I could be wrong ;)

This has a release date of 26th October in US.


Cloud Atlas IMDB entry

I was wondering the same thing. It's not listed as being on any "time travel" shelves on GoodReads, so I'm guessing it's not time travel. I'll let you know, though, as I'm starting reading it tonight. It's been sitting unread on my bookshelf for years, and I'm determined to read it before the movie comes out.

I take it back. At least 5 people have it listed as a time travel novel. Maybe it's one of those that's sort of iffy to label... like Spin.

Here are some stills from the movie. It looks like it's going to be a great film: http://www.getthebigpicture.net/blog/...

I started reading the book and am finding that it's extremely densely written. Every sentence is complex and pregnant with meaning such that you often have to re-read sentences. You absolutely can't miss a single word. I've somehow only managed to get to page 10, so I think that my normal practice of reading at the end of the day when I'm about to fall asleep is probably not going to work for this one. I get the feeling that the work involved in reading the book is going to be well worth it though.

I'm reading this book with another group. Someone mentioned that it was more of a one soul at different times, like reincarnation, instead of time travel. I'll5555555 tcrrrrh;;;777,,,,,,,,,[[[[;k888888888n88ycsy seeeei. Sorry, that was the hamster typing. It was on the keyboard.zzzzzzdfn

Aloha wrote: "I'm reading this book with another group. Someone mentioned that it was more of a one soul at different times, like reincarnation, instead of time travel. I'll5555555 tcrrrrh;;;777,,,,,,..."

Which group is reading this? I might have to sneak over to read the discussions a bit.

By the way, I've finished reading Cloud Atlas, and I highly recommend it. However, there is no time travel element to it. Instead, it outlines the various reincarnations of Adam Ewing throughout time from 1850 through to a post-apocalyptic distant future date. I'm definitely counting it among my favorite books. I can't wait to see the movie; it looks spectacular!

One of your favourites now? Wow, I'll put it in my to read list then...though I am not sure, if I will get round to reading it in time before the movie is out.

Oh so its the re-incarnations that fooled me into thinking its a TT movie! Sorry, once again, I've made a wrong classification :/ I did it with Person of Interest (tv series) the other day.

Tej wrote: "One of your favourites now? Wow, I'll put it in my to read list then...though I am not sure, if I will get round to reading it in time before the movie is out.

Oh so its the re-incarnations that f..."

It's a favorite just because its' so broad in scope and touches periods of the past as well as imagining the world of the future. It's also cleverly laid-out.

After watching the movie trailer, I thought it could be a time travel movie, too, so there's nothing lost mentioning it here!

I think that the movie must be taking liberties with the storyline because the original storyline only makes it clear that one of the characters is being reincarnated repeatedly, not 6 characters being reincarnated (as the casting suggests). Or maybe I wasn't paying enough attention when I was reading ... or made assumptions. I have a feeling I'll have to read it again after I watch the movie to see if the casting makes any sense.

I expect the movie will be streamlined (should go without saying really) but at the same time stuff added for on screen impact, like what you say about the ending. Lord of the RIngs left out a lot yet added more effective elements such as a bigger role for Arwen. Harry potter movies did similar and all were effective. The important thing is that the credential of the directors are great (imo, love their previous work) and for sure they will give us a visually sumptuous feast and hopefully a smooth exciting narrative with Tom Twyker on board to keep coherency in check :)

In fact, I heard this has been test screened twice so I searched for comments from people who have seen it and found this grouping of thoughts on the screenings. Also there is a posted comment further down who also seen it at both screenings. I think for many of us this will be a truly awesome film.

http://www.joblo.com/movie-news/curio...

Tej wrote: "I expect the movie will be streamlined (should go without saying really) but at the same time stuff added for on screen impact, like what you say about the ending. Lord of the RIngs left out a lot..."

That's an interesting review. I hope they don't cut much of those 2 hours and 50 minutes. You'd NEED that much time (or more) to tell the story properly. Sometimes, directors cut parts of the story that explains something very important, but since they've watched the movie a million times, they forget everyone doesn't know every intimate detail of the storyline. I had trouble with a couple of the Harry Potter movies for this reason. I didn't care to read the books, but I got dragged along to the movies. But, having not read the books, I was really confused about what was happening some of the time because of missing information that any fan of the books would already know.

I think this movie is probably going to be a love-it or hate-it movie. Those who have read the book are definitely going to understand it better than those who haven't simply because there are so many intertwining storylines.

An fantastic article on the insight of the Wachowski siblings, their passion and struggles adapting and getting support in getting Cloud Atlas made, and a final little review from the article's writer.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/20...

Ah ha. I didn't read it incorrectly the first time after all: "It was on the day before they left Costa Rica that they had a breakthrough: they could convey the idea of eternal recurrence, which was so central to the novel, by having the same actors appear in multiple story lines—“playing souls, not characters,” in Tykwer’s words. This would allow the narrative currents of the book to merge and to be separate at the same time." Interesting that that made Mitchell think that the movie could be better than the book. Having multiple reoccurring souls would make the storyline much more unified.

The film played at the Toronto International Film Festival to very divisive reception. In one corner some declare it a masterpiece (there was actually a standing ovation), if not a masterpiece then it is a mostly successful and impossibly ambitious unconventional experience that demands repeated viewing to fully appraise it. While the other corner declares it an impossibly ambitious undertaking that mostly fails. Common agreement being the impossibly ambitious part.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/cloud...

As I love Warchowsi's lesser critically appraised work such as Speed Racer and Matrix 2 (Matrix 3is the only one I dont like), I anticipate Cloud Atlas will get a positive reaction from me.

I am however in complete despair as the UK distributors have now pushed the release date in UK to March 13th, aaaarrgghhh!!! The rest of you can relax though, its still fixed at 26th October in US.

I look forward to hear what you guys think of it, especially from Amy and those of you who have read the book and to contrast with those who havent read it. My first love is film and I do have the train of thought of watching a film without reading the book its based for 2 reasons. One, I want the fullest effect of its narrative of not knowing how the story unravels and two, I dont have to fret over the changes and ommisions of its adaptation. Obviously there are many movies I have seen where I have already read the books such as the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings sagas and while I have enjoyed those films, I know I would have enjoyed them even more had I not known how the story rolls. So I am keen to hear your thoughts on the film before I decide whether to read the book first or not. I certainly cant make the excuse of not having enough time to read it with the damn film pushed back half a year.

Considering the complexity of the storyline, this is one I would suggest reading first. Although, I do understand your point of view as well.

General concensus from critics are now weighing towards the positive side since the Toronto festival screening. 76% on rottentomatoes.com

So upset they have moved this back to march in UK :(

Slightly better news for UK, the film is now brought forward again to February.

But the film will be released this Friday in US. I hope some of you are going to see it over the weekend perhaps and report back here :)

We went to see it today. My husband hadn't read it, and he was able to follow the storyline just fine. 4.5 out of 5 stars. The mixing up of who was reincarnated as who in a next life kind of didn't make sense at the very end, especially since they had Tom Hanks & Halle Berry play parts that had them not reincarnating back as themselves.

Saw a preview screening of this film this morning (finally coming out in uk cinemas next month)

Well actually tbh...I really dont quite know what to think of this. Its a bit of a catch 22 situation I got myself into with this film. The 6 minute long trailer was what gave me the highest anticipation and hunger to see this film since almost a year ago, yet the same trailer diminished the impact of my enjoying this film because it practically gave almost every little important consequence away. I can only blame myself, I would have still watched this film because I love every Warchowski movie, yep including Speed Racer (though Matrix 3 not so much). So why did I watch the trailer so many times? Perhaps because it was the most bloody sumptuous and awesome trailer I have seen in a long while, man I love that trailer, man I hate that trailer.

I do love the film's ambition and concept, its stunning visual canvas, the sublime performances and the admirable, almost impossible editing success (which deserves an award) BUT BUT BUT despite all that achievement, it lacks the one thing that should have bind it all together, an emotional drive. I just dont get enough investment in the main characters to actually feel for them. There are moments of brilliance that will linger in my mind and I loved the thrilling 3rd acts of some of the storylines (though not so thrilling because I often knew what was going to bloody happen, curse you damn awesome trailer).

Having said all that, this is a film to be seen again and see it again, I will, as I need to to connect a hell of a lot more dots. I get the gist of the film's message but how it all fits together, is something I need to figure out. All those time hopping and character connections, still need to grasp.

My least favourite storylines are the ones set in the past. I didnt like either, I felt absolutely nothing for those. I was thoroughly more engaged with the present and future storylines. Each one deserving a movie of its own.

Tom Hanks is always reliable and together with Halle Berry, give very reassuring weight to most of the movie...but Hugo Weaving as usual steals every scene he appears in, the man alway rocks!

I give it a 7/10, pity I couldnt give such an admirably ambitious film more because for all its flaws, we still need more of these type of films.

This is the type of film that only you can decide for yourself. Although, the 6 minute trailer should give you an idea of whether you will like this or not, if you loved it, see the film, if you hate the pretentiousness of the trailer, then that is exactly what you are going to get from this film.

Should I read this book before I see the movie? I usually like to read the book first, and feel like the movies never are quite as good as the book, so I'm on the fence here. Will the movie kill the book for me, or will it be okay? And will I understand the movie if I have not read the book?
TY

I dont qualify to give you an answer as I only saw the movie. However, most people, including Amy, are recommending to read the book first. Though, some are also enjoying reading the book after seeing the film. I imagine the book is a greater fulfilment as a book than the film was as a film, if you get my meaning.

I am a movie fan first and foremost, so I wanted to see the movie first. But if you are a book lover first, I would say read the book. Another thing to think about is that this is a gorgeously cinematic film, and if you love watching visually sumptuous films at the cinema and you think you cant finish reading the book in time before the film leaves the cinema circuit, you might want to catch it on the big screen first. Just giving you all the angles to ponder over :)

I would say to read the book first because it fills in some of the gaps they couldn't fit into the movie. I think it will be a much richer experience that way. I could imagine some people getting a little lost in how everything ties together in the film without a close watch. I know my husband was only part of the way through the book when we went to watch it and I had to offer a few explanations.

I saw it with a friend who had read the book first and doubted whether or not it was capable of being put on the screen. She was very pleasantly surprised. We both enjoyed the movie and she felt the casting choices added something that the book didn't have. (No more to be said without spoiler alert.)

Ahh, now I want to speed-read it, but I get the feeling it is not a speed-read kinda book. Think I need the hard copy on this one, just hope I can get it finished before it leaves theaters entirely! TY :)