The Philosophy of Cloud Atlas | How Beauty Will Save the World

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The philosophy of Cloud Atlas through the lens of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.
Featured films;
Cloud Atlas (Open Matte Version)
Music;
Cloud Atlas Soundtrack, covered by Whitesand: / @whitesandcomposer
Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Performed by the Skidmore College Orchestra)
Mattia Cupelli - The Call / mattiacupellimusic
Huma Huma - Hydra

[@LikeStoriesofOld]

I absolutely love Cloud Atlas! Besides its fantastic direction, it resonated with me on a personal level that I still find difficult to put into the words, which posed quite the challenge for making this video, but I hope I was able to articulate some of it. In case I didn’t or you just want to deepen your understanding; I highly recommend this lecture by Jordan Peterson who also references Solzhenitsyn quite a bit and talks about morality and responsibility in a way that I think fits pretty well with the themes of Cloud Atlas: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nai4e3uEhbKIr7c Thanks again to Whitesand for making an amazing cover track of what is definitely one of my favorite soundtracks! You can listen to the track on his channel: kzbin.info/door/e96JG5gdgSRtmqStx0isXA

[@reverblueflame]

Like Stories of Old do you listen to the podcast Who Shot Ya? Funny coincidence to hear them talk about this film recently and now your video about it

[@jordandimitrov9164]

this is my N1 from 2012 ....

[@4Mevo]

I got so many Jordan Peterson vibes from this video, and I was right! It's amazing. I've been seeing his ideas (of which he derived from Jung, Solzhenitsyn, Dostoevsky, etc.) almost everywhere I look, and I think it really speaks to the truthfulness of them. Stop doing things that make you feel weak. Your actions matter. Aim for the highest Good. These ideas are changing my life, and many other people's lives, and I thank you for further spreading these ideas in the form of these immensely touching, well-crafted video essays.

[@momonohomo150]

I subbed bc i saw ur blade runner n man this one is also sooo amazing i loved cloud atlas n must rewatch it now. Beautiful just beautiful

[@deutschluz]

Having read the book and seen the movie, i feel its more correct to say the movie and book are very complementary to each other and are of roughly equal, high, quality. But to each his own i guess.

[@realrecognisereviews]

One of the most underrated and misunderstood Sci-Fi movies of this generation. Great essay.

[@PietiaKedzierski]

Official critics deliberately underrated this movie. They do not want us to think

[@madd5]

so, tell me what's this movie about?

[@TURK_182]

@@madd5 Did you not watch the video? It explains the plot

[@tritop]

@@@PietiaKedzierski : that's exactly the case

[@shiningdawn8578]

@@madd5 The movie itself isn't really about much at all. They made a movie out of the plot mechanism David Mitchell used to write the book, but didn't make a movie about the actual book itself. From my reading, Cloud Atlas is about oppression and what people will do to justify oppressing others. It's present in every story arc. I think the movie was extremely beautiful, and I very much appreciated the "tipping point", where we know the story has reached its center, but found the movie overall to be... empty. I may come back to it in a few years, and see what that version of me thinks about it.

[@kawehionalani]

I am mind blown 🤯 I just finished this movie on Dec. 3, 2021 & it couldn’t be more relevant than it is today from when it came out in 2012. If I watched this movie back in 2012 (right after my awakening in 2011), I wouldn’t understand it one bit. However, watching it tonight, I am speechless. EVERYONE needs to see and understand this movie. Basic themes of love, compassion, empathy, greed, selfishness, lust. Good vs Evil. I believe humanity is at a crossroads and if we do not wake up and help each other, we cease to exist.

[@enerleaf7178]

I needed such a deeply thoughtful and carefully edited "analysis". I just discovered this film a few days ago (it's December 2020!!!). It couldn't be more relevant for me. Thank you for sharing your talent in order to connect with others through the inspiration of this work. Thank you for sharing what you have to help us "fans" dive deeper as I am ready to do so. Good work, LSOO.

[@catarinamiranda633]

Thank you, I never comment on KZbin. This is my favourite movie and you gave me chills describing it. Thank you ❤️ much love

[@WilliamThomas2040]

Beautiful post! Thank you!

[@JamieBettison]

Epicly discussed and evaluated xxx

[@merial7]

Never forget the past, never forget the errors, the beauty of exist must lives on.

[@yoshizenlife]

Wow beautiful analysis! I don't remember being that impressed with the movie when I watched it but now I def want to see it again after hearing this.

[@fieldlanguagerecords7041]

I cannot stand how many people hated on this film when it came out, still one of my favorites

[@robertascharfenberger6504]

Thank YOU 💙

[@IsaidwithaC]

"The nature of our immortal lives lies in our actions and our deeds." Its about Karma, and Time. Everything, everywhere, all at once. You "now" and You "before" and You "someday" are connected, whether it's You 500 years ago or You 1000 years from now, your actions have consequences, regardless good or bad.

[@dotails]

He goes on to say "...beauty is a key to the mystery and a call to transcendence. it is an invitation to savour life and to dream of the future that is why the beauty of created things can never fully satisfy it stirs that hidden nostalgia for God which a lover of beauty like St Augustine could express an incomparable terms, "Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new, late have I loved you!"

[@anakurivera5949]

My fav movie of all times!!!! I want it in 4k HD pls

[@freestylefingerbord]

The old guy that yelled soyulent.green is people was the best story line

[@HS-bk1qk]

Who else is crying while hitting replay?

[@mullcrumthesage6303]

Stretch Human ..I feel rage!! Like Incredible Hulk type rage rrraawww!

[@AlysonMuller]

Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. -Confucius

[@karinefiore303]

Dear LSOO, Thank you for another great video. I love Cloud Atlas, a movie which I believe is an endless source of inspiring interpretations. I also love the theme of beauty and on this subject I wanted to share with you a quote from a French philosopher you may know, Simone WEIL: "Beauty is the concept that allows to embrace in one act of the mind science as an investigation of the beauty of the world, art as an imitation of the beauty of the world, justice as the equivalent of the beauty of the world among human things, and love of God as the author of the beauty of the world." I find this definition immensely powerful and inspiring, and it is for me a convincing explanation of how beauty will save the world. I would be happy to have your opinion on that quote. Affectionately, Karine

[@Dokkaebae]

Cloud Atlas was a movie ahead of its time. It makes me glad to see it still being discussed.

[@omalone1169]

@@mariabrown7153 To understand the design of this reality we must realize first and foremost that it is mathematical perfection just as the architect designed it and as Pythagoras said “All is number”. That being said to understand the nature of this reality you have to study the numbers, the language of the architect, the designer. The only ultimate truth will always be in the numbers.

[@whatdothlife4660]

I don't think it was ahead of its time. I think audiences are just going braindead.

[@Zibonnn]

Cloud Atlas was actually too late! It would have been considered a masterpiece by an even wider audience if it had been made in the 90s. I believe the era of great movies has passed.

[@RodCornholio]

Agree. It fizzled out around the year 2000. I have a high standard before I call a movie great...or even good. A few good ones I've seen recently: _Malèna_ (arguably a masterpiece, from the year 2000, interestingly) _Emily_ (2022, classically crafted in my opinion) _Old Henry_ (2021) _Captive State_ (2019, makes you beg for more, would make an excellent, long arc, serial style, TV story) @@Zibonnn

[@nefertiti680]

When this movie came out, I was in Zambia, and my relatives and everyone walked out of the cinema to go watch argo in the next hall, I was left alone in the whole cinema, watched the whole movie by myself. Went home and was speechless, people walked out on knowledge and perspective smh. Amazing movie. Thanks for the review it's crystal

[@davidsheckells1801]

Thank you, that says a lot.

[@Ash-xx5zd]

I watched it and pushed others to watch it, whom come back or I follow up hoping to share an elation of conversation with that friend, only to be told the movie is too long. Or it was confusing. Or it was boring. And my heart crushes, because it - the BOOK is a masterpiece; the the essence of the premise which the film captures - is a classically timeless movie with an important message that so many seek out through religion or through outbursts of anger. ...I guess we are the droplets. The few who must continue forth, showcasing the meaning through our action in hopes that the many seekers we call friends and family will understand. Reverberate!

[@KyleHurd]

They walked because it was stupid.

[@scottjones5455]

@@KyleHurd I see the voices are still winning, I am truly sorry.

[@NaptownClassic]

@@KyleHurd No u.

[@AstroMagi]

Cloud Atlas took a lot of risks and really doesn't get enough credit. This movie has stayed with me since I saw it and I think some of the messages you talk about have resonated with me subconsciously all along but I've never been able to put them to words. Thanks for the great video.

[@Tommykey07]

Yes, it's a very ambitious movie.

[@ximono]

Watching this video essay I realized the same. I really need to rewatch Cloud Atlas.

[@stranger59]

That's the true true.

[@genebijou3772]

Get away from here Old Georgie¡¿

[@d6wave]

So true that's the true true .

[@Michael-bc3es]

Take the Jezebel!

[@omalone1169]

@@Michael-bc3es "Women think that all men are the same, and this is their strength; men think that alll women are different - it destroys them." GOMEZ de la SERNA

[@dinguskhan655]

Le tout-vrai tout-juste

[@misterkiller89]

I worked on this film as a designer in 2012 when I got out of design school. It was one of my first projects. I now work in corporate America, but this project was so inspiring, it continues to help me find inspiration in the driest situations. Thank you for reminding me of this film and this story. ❤️

[@saxomofone821]

Thank you for your work!

[@pattyfromtoledo]

❤️

[@IKoscherTVI]

thank you for your work on that movie which i'm connected to in a very crazy way: i feel love for any scene, any design, any concept/idea/style realised in the movie. If you have any idea how to find graphics and and other movie related stuff (besides bluray and book) please let me know. i would be super super grateful for any cloud atlas things 💛

[@paulad856]

OMG.. it's such an amazing job 👏

[@Stevie-J]

It was inspiring when they stripped all cultural and religious context from the concept of karma and gushed, "It's a secular way of expressing karma." Then a character expressed his distaste for the slave trade because of his experiences, when in reality it was Christians that argued for the ending of the slave trade because it went against their morals. They remove all those pesky cultural and historical details to present a clean narrative though, and it's SO inspiring! 😄

[@thewayoflovepodcast]

This is one of the most ambitious movie...it changed my life, so many potential in this idea.. Yes it's flawed.. but Its beautiful

[@dowdallerno1]

Alex Liu best comment I have read in a while.

[@tommo9176]

exact sane, I rank it as the most impactful movie of my life, and every-time I've watched it I have got something new out of it. Also changed how i view death (not reincarnation, but more simple, not spiritual or religious). It's also the only movie i've watched that is better than the book it's based on.

[@questioneverything4120]

Same here. Combination of Cloud Atlas and the birth of my baby boy, I've now become a Freegan Vegetarian.

[@TimMer1981]

​@@questioneverything4120 "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him". ;)

[@d6wave]

Why , just ...choose vegan yo . That somni clones "recycling" scene analogy , about animal slavery "farming" .

[@rebeccaschulz2571]

When I've had a really bad day and feel the futility of my life bearing down on me, I put this video on. It brings me back to the light. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing this wonderful piece of art with the world.

[@omalone1169]

And why not frodacity

[@declanhumphries]

Same

[@cvdheyden]

This movie will become famous, not now, in 50 years or more, when mankind is capable of understanding the beauty of it. The best movie I have ever seen.

[@Ginny855]

Not a single movie has inspired me as much as Cloud Atlas has! It truly changed how I look at life, and showed me how important every action is! No matter how small something may seem, I always keep in mind: "What is an ocean but a multitude of drops?" For me it's the most powerful quote ever! And everything and everyone is connected!

[@viccym]

Every single one of us is like a ripple in the water, every evil thing we do and every good thing we do affects the entire course of history.

[@kissmyasthma3155]

An under-appreciated masterpiece of a movie. In time though I believe this movie will become a classic whilst the rest of the movies released in the last decade will be forgotten...

[@DarkAngelEU]

I remember reading how Roger Ebert thought Synecdoche, New York was by far the best movie of the decade and the 21st Century so far. Little did he know... ;)

[@abirkar4496]

@@DarkAngelEU Roger Ebert is a joke.

[@afg-hf6zj]

Great comment from 6 yrs ago. It has since become something of a cult classic. Love it

[@IPlayKindred]

6 years later, you're correct!

[@adriellim731]

"You will behold great sorrow, and in this sorrow, you will be happy. Here is a commandment for you: seek happiness in sorrow. Work, work tirelessly." - Fyodor Dostoevsky

[@omalone1169]

Blindness (Portuguese: Ensaio sobre a cegueira, meaning Essay on Blindness) is a novel by Portuguese author José Saramago 06:39

[@joannebaek4551]

What a wonderful and useful quote. Thank you. I wrote it on the cover of my calendar/planner.

[@garyfindlay5503]

Cloud Atlas I believe will eventually be recognized as the master piece that it is.

[@rebeccashaheen2928]

Gary Findlay when more people awaken 👏🕊🙏

[@omalone1169]

@@rebeccashaheen2928 can be said any film . Might as well throw people off buildings

[@DarkAngelEU]

I just saw it again and it kinda reminded me of Virginia Woolf's The Waves, this kind of striking genius that just leaves you satisfied and filled with hope for tomorrow. It's truly amazing :)

[@jebes909090]

the only storyline i cared about was the one with the asian girl. the rest were too cliche

[@DarkAngelEU]

@@jebes909090 All the storylines are based on tropes, a dystopian future based on Soylent Green and Brave New World, another dystopian world where people have become savages yet there are technological futurists who are in aid of said savages because they hold the key to a better world, old people who try to get out of an institution, a gay boy in interbellum Britain who aims to be an artist, a white dude who does the right thing by freeing a slave and flipping his finger to aristocracy, a journalist that discovers information that could get her killed, yadda yadda. No one cares; what really matters are the details and how it's executed. Funnily enough, you picked out the one that borrows significantly from other sources and therefor could be considered the most cliche. It's just a preference, but calling tropes cliche is a confusion of values.

[@DragonWorldProducts]

I think Cloud Atlas is one of the best Multigenre films of all time. Horribly underrated by most. But loved by other's I think it's message of interconnectivity will echo throughout all time. I found it's message to be an extremely powerful and beautiful one. Unlike Solzhenitsyn, I shan't be alone .

[@1siddynickhead]

Cloud Atlas really is the spiritual predecessor to Sense8.. another brilliant piece of art by the Wachowskis and Tykwer..the real dream team..so ahead of their time

[@AltheaGray24]

oh shit i didnt know that. i watched sense8 cuz i saw my bae Sonmi in it. and i was blown away by the show.

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

Incredibly disrespectful to the author of the novel Cloud Atlas. Btw the movie doesn’t live up to the book as a piece of art. Far from it.

[@DawnDavidson]

⁠@@BoxStudioExecutiveI will have to consider reading, it then. The movie was beautiful, and I could definitely see the how it connected to the other works of the Wachowskis, including Sense8. The sense of connection through time and space is palpable. I can see why they were inspired by the novel to adapt it to the screen. Screen adaptations are tricky, though, and very few of them live up to or exceed the potential of the original written work. Thanks for your recommendation (however sideways) to read the original.

[@Astropasser]

I'm awake at 3:40 am and I'm just watching cloud atlas reviews and i stumble upon this. I love the movie and I love your take on it. thanks for this. very inspiring and true. Let us all be that one drop... Do not ever forget that it's the little things that matter. ohh and if anyone is reading this comment have a good day or night! :)

[@TimMer1981]

Just read your reply at 3:40 am a year later. The perfect example of repeating patterns in the endless sea of time. :)

[@dillwad88]

Good night!

[@davidsheckells1801]

Thank you.

[@musicstewart9744]

D'Artagnion Moses About 2:30 in the morning on the day after Kobe died.

[@Manish_Pant]

It's 2 o'clock in the morning.. 2 years later..

[@kingsufi6164]

Yup, and it takes me few times after rewatching and go ow yeah, deeper thoughts. Sad how many didn't see it as an amazing film. To me, its pure art. Love it.

[@BoxStudioExecutive]

And yet it falls sadly short of the novel it is adapted from

[@fabiantorres203]

Your synopsis moistened my eyes. It traveled 6 years, made me look out the window to ponder life. I’ll have to rewatch it. Thank you.

[@beth1979]

"Beauty is the splendour of truth." I think this is a quote from Plato. Certainly rings true. Anyway tears shed yet again.

[@vicenteortegarubilar9418]

I really enjoyed this film, I always wanted a film that could show many genres but that could all be connected by something, and what connects people more than love?? Plus I never tough that using different actors for the diferent periods were not only to show reincarnation, but also to demonstrate the way everyone is connected because different members in the cast can play the same soul, I mean that was the theme of the movie so it makes perfect sense.

[@annaf3915]

I also enjoyed it and liked the idea behind it. One of the most original films I've ever seen. What I found very distracting however was the amount of action movie like scenes and all the violence. It didn`t need to be so graphic and instead of adding to the plot, it took away from it.

[@CharlesVeitch]

Good to see Agent Smith causing trouble in the past. Wonderful film and wonderful interpretation

[@pdzombie1906]

Tywker and the Watchowskys are not infallible with both hits and misses throughout their careers; but 'Cloud Atlas' is really an underappreciatted jewel deserving a better fate for the future. As a writer who doesn't write over finding meaning, this video really struck me as a call to arms... Thanx!!!

[@movieace1295]

Love this movie, so underrated! Little things can have a huge impact...

[@ignaciofeijoo3713]

Finally, some love for this movie. I read the book and watched the movie several times. I think is great always give me something to think about. Great job with the video.

[@LarryPanozzo]

This video is itself truly beautiful.

[@omalone1169]

08:05 Just needs some Krishnamurti

[@LarryPanozzo]

omalone11 Everything needs some Krishnamurti 🙏🏻

[@storytellers1]

This was another outstanding video Tom! You're really raising the bar and pushing the format to new heights with your videos this year, which is both aggravating and inspiring because it makes me that much more critical of my own work, but it consequently also pushes me to really do better with every new video. I can see the Jordan Peterson influence in this one, especially towards the end. I've been meaning to read Dostoevsky and Solzenitsyn for a while, which book would you recommend for a first time reader of Dostoevsky? - Thomas

[@LikeStoriesofOld]

Thanks Thomas! I read The Brothers Karamazov first, which was challenging but ultimately very rewarding; one of my favorites ever (keep sparknotes nearby in case you get lost).

[@storytellers1]

Like Stories of Old Oh yeah I've have heard that it is far from a leisurely read... Thanks man, I'm putting it on my book wishlist for this year!

[@jorgegomez524]

the beauty of your video already saved my day. one more drop. thanks.

[@ponybottle]

'One more drop' - Nice!

[@Bkaithaone]

Cloud Atlas is the most beautiful, uplifting and humbling movie ever conceived. I've watched it easily about 50 times, and still get goosebumps every time. Combined with its magical soundtrack. It's just perfect ❤

[@colinbanning9416]

Cloud Atlas is one of my favorite films and I've spoken at great lengths about it in the past, but going forwards, I will just link to this video, because it absolutely perfectly encapsulates all of my feelings about it. Stunning work.

[@EchoRhythmMusic]

Hands down, my favorite movie. When I first saw it, I watched it for about a month straight. Every day. It’s brilliant

[@Omgits7ito]

Easily one of the most beautiful thought provoking heart wrenching films I have ever seen. I love this film so much. I’m currently watching it again and literally went out of my ay to find a video to post this comment cuz I just had to share my love for this film.

[@theauntofdragons]

I CANNOT STOP WATCHING THIS. if i could share this with one person a day i will for the rest of my life

[@patrickdoyle81]

Same! I’ve been watching it repeatedly since yesterday!

[@joannebaek4551]

I hope you are able to do this - share this video daily - I think it is going to change my life, and that would be a wonderful thing to do for others regularly.

[@davidleahy22]

I always get goosebumps when I hear the Cloud Atlas song. What a stunning movie.

[@BenBland]

This essay, even more than the others of yours, all of which I have loved, went off like a bomb inside me. I was left standing over the last of the dishes in the sink, the whole evening free ahead of me, the Cloud Atlas soundtrack echoing on repeat in my head, feeling moved. Moved some unknowable distance a little further towards possibly doing something meaningful in this world. So, err, thanks. Good job!

[@JA040283]

Thanks so much for making this video - with something else I heard today along very similar lines, I feel like for the first time in my life I really understand the importance of individual choice and strength of heart, how it can have the utmost important bearing on us day-to-day, and allows us to enact that into the world - however many drops that may be in the ocean! Definitely resonates with me for some changes must make in my life right away! Many many thanks again!

[@TheOnlySilverUnicorn]

Cloud Atlas is my favorite book. I've read it many times. I've listened to the audio book, too. (I highly recommend the one in which each of the six stories is read by a different narrator). Then I saw the movie. The movie was beautiful, but it disappointed me because it did not and could not cover all of the nuances and complexities of the book, or so I thought. I watched it once and gave it this generic review: "The movie is good, but the book is better." I then ignored the movie, and continued to love and analyze the book. This examination of the movie changed my mind. I no longer see one as inferior to the other, but as two equal parts of a whole. Now I want to purchase a copy and keep it on the shelf next to the book. Thank you. As I watched this video, I was reminded of Neil Gaiman's commencement speech to the University of the Arts, Class of 2012. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't seen it. It's worth 20 minutes of your time to watch the whole thing, but it can be summarized in three simple words: make good art. Cloud Atlas contains multiple messages, and that's something I love about it, but it can also be summarized in three simple words: make good art. And so I leave this simple yet powerful commandment with everyone, for the sake of everyone. Make good art!

[@zoecarlyle4757]

Because of your video I just watched Cloud Atlas and I loved it!!! Everything from the story, the acting, the direction was flawless and inspiring. Thanks so much!!

[@Yevdokiya]

THANK YOU for this magnificent video! Cloud Atlas is my favorite movie of all time , and it always will be. It's so much more than a film to me... I have seen it way too many times to count, and I even wrote a fan fiction which pays it homage and tries to express how deeply it resonated with me personally, just like this video. (Anyone who's interested can easily find it, just google some combination of "Everything Is Connected," Cloud Atlas and fan fiction). This film deserves to be seen and loved by so many more people, and you are doing the universe's good work by creating and posting this. It also feels so great to know the film is important to you too, as well as many others, judging from the comments. Again, THANK YOU. You've earned my Patreonage now!

[@moonsaf28]

I think Cloud Atlas and Sense8 are very similar, telling stories about connection and love and being kind to others I love both of those things so much and they are far too underrated and misunderstood Thanks for the great video!

[@brahimlguerd4105]

You have made my heart fluttered by these mesmerizing videos, my friend keep on in the vortex of creativity. Thank you so much

[@fabiankrause5026]

Your videos are not just mere movie reviews, they are almost like poems. You're always giving me this little push to think further, to contemplate, to question and reflect on my life. Thank you for that. This mentioned interconnectedness is the reason why I love music. Just listening to Chopin and thinking, what did he feel when he wrote that note, what did the interpreter feel when he learned that section. And then letting both of them take your emotions and shit all over them in one moment, raising them up with hope and love in the next.

[@OdinMMA]

The quote about evil running through every heart is true but there's a big difference between the amount of evil someone poor can commit or someone with power and wealth. Their ability to kill, destroy and get away with it exceeds our ability to control it. Power corrupts so I do think that the powerful are more guilty of evil than the poor.

[@CuppySyrup]

I have yet to see a movie make me feel so deeply. My whole heart lies in Cloud Atlas. It will forever stay as a masterpiece to me and a personal held dear treasure.

[@BooksFriends]

It's makes me cry especially when he stutters because i stutter too ); i adore that movie i have make a lot of people watch it and discover it and i wish that the fb group still active .. thank you for making this amazing video. i still read the book even if i didn't understand everything.. it's makes me crazy.. i wish that one day i can read it in Arabic..

[@arisalcido5350]

Books Friends you are beautiful.

[@BleedingLiar17]

Have you seen kings speech? It's such a beautiful movie about a real king who stutters. Queen Victoria II's father.

[@RSimunac]

As a fellow stutterer I'm right there with you. Please look up HCRI. It helped me get my stuttering under control. Sounds crazy but its literally the only thing that works - a scientifically researched and proven method of targeting the speech muscles to help us take control of our speech again. Much love, my friend.

[@SagemeisterGeneral]

36yo with a stutter as long as I can remember, countless trips to Speech Therapy/Ellocution/Counselling growing up led me to the Maguire Program when I was 17, that gave me the confidence to do a stage play for school and that inspired me to go out and get a Drama degree where I learned (the hard way) how to control myself for stage, everything from original pieces to getting to play Friar Laurence in R&J and Shylock in Merchant of Venice. Life drifted from acting, but I remained confident, even through cancer diagnosis when I was 31 and in recovery from that Cancer I decided, as I live in Belfast, to do a little bit of Extras work for GoT and now, forever-more in the episode The Door, I'm there at the Kingsmoot supporting Yara, with my own place in one of the greatest stories ever told. Like Cloud Atlas, something which can inspire us all. Best thing I learned about my stutter came during the Maguire Program, and it changed everything. it's not a disease, it's not a curse... It's part of me, part of my personality, and always will be. It doesn't control me though... I own it, and even on my most fluent of days I'll never forget that because without it I wouldn't be me and you wouldn't be you. :)

[@ForrestJ88]

Truly the best channel on KZbin. You go to places that most dare not even mention

[@HexFix90]

Thanks for making me cry again you jerk. Excellent work as usual. I've noticed that you tend to focus on positive motifs like love, hope, spirituality and such. I wonder if you have ever thought about a feature-length exploration of these themes throughout the history of recorded media. It's interesting to ponder the significance of our relationship to hope, despair, want and satisfaction. Is it simply biological survival tactics or is love a transcendental entity like our image of God?

[@BestMentalism]

My top 3 movies of all time: Cloud Atlas, Interstellar, Alita Battle Angel (in no particular order)

[@Astropasser]

3 years later and I'm back to hear you explain this masterpiece of a movie. The way you explained it is so beautiful. One of my favorite movies still to this day.

[@eduardobifulco9248]

Hi dear, I've been following you for a while now and I really appreciate your work (personally I think you run the best KZbin channel about movies). I'm very interested in the discussion around the archetypes, I also have recently seen the 1964 movie "Becket" which I really loved. I thought it would be very useful to re-explore the king archetype (in this case Henry the second, interpreted by Peter O'Toole) and to finally discuss the priest/magician archetype through Richard Burton's Thomas Becket. I don't know if you'll consider my comment but I'd be happy to have an answer, thanks

[@LikeStoriesofOld]

Haven't seen Becket yet, but I definitely plan to release a video on the magician at some point to finish that series!

[@masudraja5979]

I just watched whole movie to understand this .

[@wolfgangauerbacher1148]

An outstanding Movie, full of beauty. When i've watched it the first time, i got completely flashed. I've never seen a movie like this and it moves me until today. It has changed me and my life. The soundtrack is the musical expression of my emotions, watching the overwhelming screenplay.

[@helenakausch1102]

I love this movie, one of my all time favourites and I can't even explain why. Anyway, wonderfull video, it almost made me cry

[@ImTheElephantInTheBathroom]

What a nice droplet you gave us, thanks.

[@GeoffreyHammy16]

This movie is desperately underrated. It took a lot of risks, and not all of them paid off, but by god the ones that did really DELIVERED. A beautiful sci-fi epic that has an intrinsic human core that rare to see these days. I'm hoping that this will become a cult classic in years to come, it so deserves it.

[@dk2853]

Cloud Atlas is one of the most ambitious films ever made. While watching it, all I could think was "who greenlit this?" It was no surprise to find that the film had to be independently funded because the studio didn't want sink money into it. It is a challenging film that asks a lot of it's audience, keeping track of six separate stories, with no one main anchor character. Yet it rewards your attentiveness when all the stories come together. Truly an amazing film, can't believe it took me seven years to find this gem.

[@jaredvalkki2957]

I tell so many people that this is one of the all time favorite movies. Once you see past the visuals and focus on how the movie is trying to showcase ideas, it really shines.

[@bgray8845]

It’s my favorite film of all time for all the reasons you’ve mentioned here. It reveals something richer and deeper about humanity every time I watch it. Thank you for exploring it here so eloquently.

[@MrKaidman]

I really dont get why this channel dont have more subs, says alot about our time..

[@YouFightLikeACow]

I fucking love this movie so much. I actually really appreciate that they removed the book's boomerang structure. The changes they made for the movie were actually very appropriate, especially the same actor thing as you mention. The editing in this movie is spot on!

[@RodCornholio]

Will be viewed as a masterpiece ahead of its time.

[@negromancer.2685]

I remember watching this movie with my family when I was 15, and to this day it remains one of my most favorite movies of all-time. I also can't quite describe what I got out of the movie but it felt like it was made just for me. The soundtrack alone ringed in my head for years on end. I'd like to add that in this game called Life Online, we are all indeed interconnected within this rich tapestry. Cloud Atlas doesn't provide a solution for the ills of the world but it definitely inspires.

[@pasdepseudooriginal]

My favourite youtube channel making a video about my favourite movie of all time. Thank you so much.

[@heavyd9154]

one of the best metaphysical based movies ever made

[@Shadoefax760]

Easily one of the greatest films ever, a massively underrated epic cinematic spectacle thought to be to hard to film & yet it was, a monumental achievement.

[@FredrikHaugen]

Every time I see a new video has arrived from Like Stories of Old I find a quiet, private place. Because I know that the tears will flow. These are no mere essays. They transcends that into something more. Please keep up the beauty.

[@00784865]

I can rewatch that movie time and time again, it never gets old or boring. Its a timeless masterpiece that really makes you think about certain things. Thank you for this amazing essay.

[@lupegaehring2362]

I watched this Gem of a film just a month ago, and I watched it 5 times back to back...film is what moves me and inspires me, this one moved me beyond any film in over a decade, BEAUTIFUL💕💓💕❤💕

[@ivanstyles2065]

Outstanding work as always. In this essay you brought up moral behavior on an individual level, saying, "For why should I suffer and sacrifice for a greater good that's never going to manifest itself? Why should I stand against injustice if my efforts will only end up being inconsequential?" I believe this is at the heart of Kant's categorical imperative, "Act according to the maxim where you could will it to be universal moral law." You described it beautifully before from the examples of Batman and Balian in Kingdom of Heaven. They believe in something greater than themselves and act accordingly even though the majority cannot comprehend what that entails. Sacrifice, all for the greater good. Thank you for being a drop of beauty in an ocean of repulsiveness. Bravo. 👏

[@nvrmiind]

Beautiful. Would you consider doing a review on Westworld?

[@RamonThomas]

That's a TV series not a film, so it would take much more work to prepare a good analysis. Since season 2 is coming out the story is not complete. You can find many reviews of Westworld already available.

[@nvrmiind]

Yes I see your point of view, I understand it would take more time, however season 1 finished a story. The plot cannot be the same in season 2, they closed that chapter, therefore goes my thinking that season 1 alone would deserve a review. It's such a beatiful show, storytelling at it's finest, and much like the characters there, I think there's a deeper meaning somewhere there. I can see it, but I cannot put it into words. With beatiful videos like this one, I think Like Stories of Old you would the perfect for this.

[@StsFiveOneLima]

Cylons in a Dollhouse :-) Also.....far from complete.

[@bitukukuasukgremany3]

Procacity (noun) Mid 16th century; earliest use found in Wilfrid Holme (d. 1538), author. From (i) Middle French procacité and its etymon (ii) classical Latin procācitāt-, procācitās forwardness, impudence from procāc-, procāx forward, bold, impudent, frivolous + -itās.

[@whiistlingwinds]

Anyway, I haven't watched the video yet but Cloud Atlas remains a masterpiece for me and is seriously one of my favorite high budgeted films that I've seen thus far. I sobbed like an idiot at the end of it and legit felt changed, a bit dramatic maybe, but I don't care. It's transcendent and it's the only time that yellow face (one of the only things that truly bother me about the film) seems sort of excusable because it goes beyond that imo.

[@whiistlingwinds]

+Conor Ronayne Just now seeing this and you seem triggered off of me (paraphrasing) saying that yellow face made sense here and that I wasn't offended by it (but then again, I'm not Asian and an Asian person's opinion regarding the controversial topic is a lot more credible than mine ever will be and that's fine with me). You really seem to be upset over the fact that I simply acknowledged that a movie you liked (this is roughly in my top 10) did something controversial and something that some people will deem as possibly negative. Also, "White face" does not have a racist history behind it but... go off I guess? Don't @ me again.

[@ffederel]

In spite of my appreciation for Kierkegaard's works, I never really dared relating esthetics to ethics in any significant way at all. Your analysis is interesting and I feel it might be a starting point for me to take a new train of thoughts and dig new channels for my mind to go. Thank you for having presented this movie that's always been among my favorites (along with The Fountain)

[@Palmieres]

Dorje Tenzin I think you can relate aesthetics to ethics but only in its simplest forms, when the object or concept of beauty is unaware of itself and does not benefit from its beauty other than for its function. A sunrise is beautiful to us because it is a sign that a new day and continuation of life is assured; it offers nothing else and its aesthetically pleasing quality is intricately connected to its purpose. A beautiful animal is unaware of its beauty until it directly affects its ability to fit its natural role, usually being a sign of health and better survival odds. The human factor, by introducing too many variables and a highly acute sense of self cannot be trusted to keep this relationship between beauty and ehtics balanced. We manipulate our own thoughts and self-serving priorities too much to be trusted. Essentially, we have too many individualistic opinions and we want too much.

[@willmpet]

See "One Day In the Life of Ivan Denisovich", It had been a good day. Written by Solzhenitsyn. See the film and the book.

[@D-me-dream-smp]

We tend to think of beauty as a subjective, superficial thing that is dictated by our culture and the society we live in yet there can also be a primitive biological underpinning linked to survival of our species that is partly responsible for this ongoing fascination we have for “beauty”. A simplistic example is that scientists discovered people with very symmetrical faces tended to be rated as more attractive - symmetry being a potential indicator for the quality of genetic material.

[@deborahvictoriaedwards5188]

Blessings from THE TRINITY ✝️👰✨ TRUE BEAUTY COMES FROM WITHIN. WHAT WE PUT OUT TO THE UNIVERSE IS WHAT MOST WILL INHERIT. THIS IS THE WORLD OF CAUSE AND EFFECT...

[@Alphabetbubi]

Still having goosebumps, evetytime I watch this clip or the movie itself

[@anastasiagkougkoumi1647]

Dear creator, This is still my favourite work of yours. I’m rewatching it right now and couldn’t be more grateful for having this video! I hope life treats you well and you still creating with the same joy and excitement. For me this is a great example of beauty, a thing of beauty. 🙌🏻❤

[@codylakin288]

Stop making me cry! 😂I've seen this film so many times, sometimes just for how it makes me feel, sometimes to try and grasp it in its entirety (which I've still not done, details and all), and this video is something I never expected. This film deserves this kind of love, and for someone like you to be able to appreciate it to its depths and also to be able to articulate it in such an artful and beautiful way. Thank you, as always 🙏🙏

[@khairularchi]

I'm coming back to this video just to says that before we have "Everthing, Everywhere All at Once", we had this Masterpiece. And Oscar really did disserviced to this movie big time!!!

[@tallterrilaw8646]

Love this movie! I watched it oh probably at least 20 times and found something new each time! This movie stands out as a one of a kind and a beautiful piece of art!

[@jenniferrickard7228]

My favorite movie. My heart ached with joy and sorrow throughout the entirety. I've always felt the web of familiarity and connection. My Entire life has had moments of Deja Vu and a sense of being just a small part of something bigger. I've never felt alone, I've never feared Death, and I have always been able to see Life inside other things... letting itself be known to me in gentle ways...like dust motes in a sun beam, or a whisper in a breeze. We are both the microcosm and the macro. One person in an infinite universe is so minute that they almost don't exist..... and yet one person is an entire universe for the tiniest unseen workings of molecules, each cell is a thing carrying out it's own little Destiny, working around proteins and lipids and glucose, fighting battles constantly. Every atom...has it's own force. Ghost like particles that are so small that they can seamlessly pass through every concept that we perceive as 'Solid' hold the same Energy that give everything that we know purpose. I never really have a chance to express these thoughts and feelings and they have been with me longer than I've even had the capability to speak. But the themes of this movie and it's nuances and the messages throughout it... made me feel as though perhaps I was not the only person who was able to feel the Everything-ness.

[@Gamedenker]

Beauty will save the world :) The sentence reminded me of the great philosopher Roger Scruton and his documentary on beauty :) I read the book and based on the information I got from friends, it's almost impossible to understand the film if one is not familiar with the book. Do you agree? Thanks for the video LSOO

[@LikeStoriesofOld]

I first saw the film without having read the book (read it later though), don't think it was necessary to have read the book first.

[@RamonThomas]

Who is Roger Scruton? I've never heard of him.

[@Gamedenker]

That's Sir Roger Scruton :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHnaZYCDetOgpsU

[@gabriel2fan]

Man a few years ago had a crysis lost my job, became homeless my then girlfriend died tragically at 27 then I started to question everything God, the reality my life then One night I had a dream I felt my soul exiting my body it was magic I was traveling through Time and dimension then saw my past lifes, future lifes, was eaven chicken on the Dead row and the future eath was invaded by aliens then my soul felt in my body it was soo painful to come back in this reality. Each time I died in the dream I woke up in another Life. it was magic just like cloud Atlas. That gave me Hope too go on with this life. I think our souls chooses to come in this Life with all those problems struggles. We are all One cheers from Switzerland.

[@robertabize]

[@deasley999]

My face was full of tears.

[@robertabize]

@@deasley999 Thanks to your reply, I ended up rewatching the video and the timing was perfect. This video is meta. I watch it and I feel the enthusiasm to keep on :)

[@ulasturkoglu8465]

I think the victory the characters get in the end of their plot is just like Somni states the truth is revealed to the masses, plot of the 1849 ends with Mr. Adam Ewing writing a book about this specific journey of himself becoming opressed from opresser and the thruth in that is the natural order is fake in this case. In the next plot 1937, Mr. Frobisher made suicide, and wrotes his last words specifically told Mr. Sixsmith not to lie about the reason of his death. He killed himself becaues at the least he wanted to become the music. In the plot of 1973, Luisa Rey discovers about the nuclear power plant scheme and spreads the truth to people. In the plot of 2012, Mr. Timothy writes his own story about the events we watch and later adapts in on the movie. Which sparks masses, Somni and many others. In the plot of 2215 Somni does not subjugate to criminal abuse and reveals the truth about their society which sparks a revoulation or revoulations. In the plot of 2321, Zachary helped Meroynm to literally send a help message to other colonies to get them. Learning about their religions truth he in his old days spreads these truths as well. Though killed or opressed by a bitter and bigger thing their stories always passed on to generations. Though some read journals, others read letters in which contained that journal as well, some read the book about those letters and journals and books about whom discovered about them, others watched their movies. And in the end the truth revealed and survived the opresssion. Maybe the journal's, letter's, book's, movie's and finally the truth about the opression itself's content is lost or misinterpreted between the times, but their essential truths are always resided one another thus always added a single drop to the ocean. The reason why the comet birthmarked people are different than the rest of the reincarnated people is that they reveal or spread the truth. Thats my take