Why Cloud Atlas is the Greatest Movie of All Time

I've mentioned in past videos that 'Cloud Atlas' is my all-time favourite film, and these are the reasons why.
Timestamps
0:00 - Intro
1:01 - Story Structure
3:07 - Reincarnation Theory
9:15 - Genres
11:41 - Acting Performances
13:24 - Soundtrack
14:10 - Visual Style
16:28 - Message
17:40 - Entertainment Value
Music used:
There's Probably No Time by Chris Zabriskie is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Source: chriszabriskie.com/uvp/
Artist: chriszabriskie.com/

[@agristina11]

One of the greatest. Always moves me. The world would be a better place if this was required viewing.

[@jordandomingue9310]

I watch the film at least once every six months. Just finished another viewing, and I still find new details and get the same chills. Absolutely perfect.

[@TheAngryHippie]

I absolutely agree. Cloud atlas is literally the greatest film ever made. So much packed so eloquently. Even the choice of edit. Its all a symphony.

[@Teddy_Tek]

I have watched the movie 6 times. Everytime I watch it again, I get new ideas and connections through characters, but oh boy this video gave me goodebumps on how much there actually is. I just finished the novel and I'm obsessed with the story. Great video!

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@riotdopa5310]

i watched it like 30-50 times over and over whenever i had a time and there are still pieces that are missing in this video that makes me feel so great :D

[@Teddy_Tek]

@@riotdopa5310 damn you must enjoy it! I hope I had more time

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

@@riotdopa5310 I've watched it probably about 30 times, too. My roommate went over it one time when I was gone, and froze at certain places, and a lot of information comes to light, if you freeze the frames in certain places. For example, when Sonmi is reading, (or pretty much whenever anybody is reading anything. Freeze the frame and read it). Nothing in this film is random. Everything has significance.

[@willmpet]

I’ve seen this film so often and I’m looking forward to seeing it again!

[@truthserum5202]

Baffling how the Academy completely ignored this film. A truly cerebral and great film.

[@TheIrisCZ]

May the KZbin algorithm bless your channel. Great video about one of the biggest literary and movie masterpieces of all time.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

David Mitchell saw my video and said he liked it, so here’s to hoping the viewership increases!

[@zloungeact]

I hope the rest of the videos on the channel aren't woke.

[@pamelawolff2904]

The first time I saw Cloud Atlas I was confused but intrigued. I then read the book and came back to the movie and fell for it completely. I've watched it many times over the years since.

[@620john620]

I love the attention to detail. When Dermot uses his thumb to point at the newspaper article, the thumbnail is severely bitten down, (as might be done by his lower class character), thus highlighting his being out of his element amongst the other, quite posh guests. (Such as “SIR Felix Finch. O.B. and E.) Undoubtedly not Hank’s thumb.

[@ilovetech8341]

Masterpiece in my opinion. Sonmi and Chang's love scene together was sublime and climatic.

[@danks14]

There are many, but two of my favorite small details are that Somni's colored hair is used as the threads in the Hawaiian Somni Bible spelling out her name. And that Tom Hanks finally gets a blue button off that vest as Zachry.

[@StephenRansom47]

The film’s debut is coming up on 12 Years Ago … at the time of release I was an unemployed creative of 47 … I remember seeing the trailer and weeping outright in the theater, it still haunts my sense of legacy and purpose, especially in this world. My earliest memory of Cinema is of the Star Child- 2001. The year was 1974, I was Five; and can’t remember anything so profound- save Cloud Atlas. 🙏 Godspeed *currently in tears writing this.

[@DawnDavidson]

Thank you. I watched this film for the first time yesterday. It’s amazing. I’ve spent nearly as long seeking out videos and critiques and behind-the-scenes on KZbin as I did watching the film itself. This indicates how much the film intrigued me and made me think, a sign of an excellent film.

[@papigringo5692]

While I don't call this the greatest film ever made, I can't disagree with those who do. It is truly something special. It's a shame it was not recognized as such but for a small percentage of us who allowed it to be the film it was (and is), rather than letting our silly expectations tarnish our perception of it. The more I ponder this film, the higher it goes on my all-time list. Most movies are just movies. Even some of the great ones-- just movies. Cloud Atlas is undeniably a WORK OF ART, and much more than a movie.

[@steevidrums]

I totally agree, I have said to people for many years that Cloud Atlas is the greatest film I have ever seen. I can list 2 or 3 films I can watch and watch again, Cloud Atlas is one. And I will watch it again soon. There's so much content on KZbin to dissect its themes, that they only give me yet another understanding of such and awesome movie. I should really read the book, by all accounts all the stories are way more fleshed out (no surprise there I guess) Thank you for such a great video on it.

[@zloungeact]

I've seen this movie at least ten times and I never knew the Aurora House was the house Vivian Ayers lived! Holy shit!

[@iandavies7991]

Firstly I agree that it’s the best movie ever made! Does anybody else think that Frobisher is possibly the most important and unique of the characters? He is enlightened and sees the big picture and the eternal recurrence. Others have flashes of memory, or vague recognition of things but Frobisher actually understands why. He is the only one that seems to have a designed purpose, in writing a piece of music that will influence and show up throughout the central story. I’m going to watch it again for the 7/8th time. It never gets old as I notice new connections every time

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

Your explanation of Frobisher is interesting, though I wouldn’t say he was the only character with designed purpose. All the characters have purpose to the direction the story goes in.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

I really like Frobisher's story, but i can't think of any in this film who are NOT important. They are all superbly meaningful.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

I believe every main or supporting character in a film has an important role in the story and/or the reincarnation theory. And even some of the background characters do too!

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

@@filmbuffgrabiec5875 My roommate went over it with a fine tooth comb, freezing the frames at certain places. Lots of information becomes available when you do that, especially any place where somebody is reading something. He especially obtained a lot of information by stopping it and reading, when Sonmi is reading on that screen provided by Haju, and also when Louisa Ray is reading the newspaper. Nothing in this film is random.

[@artemismoonbow2475]

A personal favorite, thank you for giving it the dignity it deserved.

[@kurjan1]

I just watched it for the first time... like three hours ago! Then found your review. Thank you for articulating everything I was thinking. I am so sad to admit that I was putting off watching it because of so much bad press. I was waiting for it to become cheap so I could watch it and not feel bad about it if i didn't like it. I discovered a super high quality streamed for free. Now... it is, well at the very least, in my top ten favourite films. A stunning movie. I think I am sensing a feeling of catharsis.

[@claytongallagher3367]

I loved this movie when I first saw it. I haven’t seen it many times, but I do revere it as a very unique masterpiece.

[@kimberlygabaldon3260]

I 100% agree with you! Greatest. Film. Ever. Made.

[@greyeyed123]

It's a big movie with big ideas. No movies or tv shows have big ideas anymore. (When life gets hard, I think of that line from Terminator when Linda Hamilton's waitress friend says, "Think of it this way. In 100 years, who's gunna care?" When things get REALLY bad, I think of Cloud Atlas, and I wonder how it will matter in 1000 years or a million or a billion. I know the Hawaiian plotline is only 200 or so years in the future, but I aways imagine it as 1000 or more. I read the book but I can't remember if it was specified in the book or not.)

[@blornblad4381]

This is a phenomenal take. I think the optimal technique for understanding and fully appreciating the film is to watch it back to back. That’s nearly a six hour investment, but we’ll worth it. Also, Frobisher doesn’t actually kill Vivian, he merely wounds him. IIRC it’s explained in a very brief line or two of dialogue, and is easily missed if your attention is disrupted for even an instant. I think that’s the reason why this film is so seemingly overlooked and under appreciated. It demands all of your hyper focused attention in order to notice all of the wonderful little details, many of which, if you blink, you’ll miss them.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

Thanks! I had actually only noticed during editing that Frobisher merely wounded Vyvyan. Prior to that, I had assumed Jocasta knew Frobisher shot him and thus she sent the police after him.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

I really liked this movie, especially having 6 different stories with mostly the same actors playing very different characters.

[@mauricioandreano5925]

oh i do like how you seen this film and i do love how you think of it ! hey you got a new fan here !

[@kathybost1879]

I'm only 1 hr. into this one and I already am coming to YT for help. I know I will need to watch this at least 1 more time, maybe 2. A long strange trip. Thanks for your wonderful insights,- oh I was confused about this cannibal tribe.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

It took me two or three attempts to properly understand it

[@JoseRodriguez-uf2pt]

I think any critic that disliked the movie just wasn't thoughtful enough to understand it

[@ozthebeeman]

i genuinely haven't enjoyed a movie atart to finish as much as I enjoyed this film. i have been a movie lover for as long as i can, and this isn't my favourite movie, but it works so well to start to finish which not even my favourite movies are. its not perfect but its just full of so much style that i cant just not love it

[@iandavies7991]

Someone who agrees with me 😳

[@maitev.2629]

I love this movie so much, it's my favorite ever! I think the way the story gets weaved together is so unique. I hope one day I'll be able to write like this

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

I hope this film can provide great influence in your writing!

[@markgrabiec7651]

I may have to watch it again!

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

Definitely recommend doing so

[@mellowmercury3879]

I don't get why Doona Bae wasn't even nominated at Academys.

[@TheUnknownReject]

Somebody needs to watch the fountain

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

I haven't seen The Fountain, but it does sound interesting

[@katelijnesommen]

The book is very much superior to the film, but it would have been very difficult to fit in as much as the book does, and I feel the movie does make mostly smart changes. I absolutely enjoy the film, but the book really remains a conscience-enhancing experience.

[@anamnesiser]

The mind struggles with this film, it is 'known' somewhere else

[@stephsirr7395]

You’ve convinced me to watch this movie, even though it is three hours long. And yes, it is pretty brilliant. But not as great as All About Eve.....

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

It's better than All About Eve by a landslide!

[@markwarrensprawson]

I can't be alone in thinking it a shame that people make such a fuss about the makeup thing. This film took forever to shoot and cost its makers a fortune to make. It's a miracle that the people who are in it stayed in it. Wouldn't our world be a better place if people were to consider such issues in relation to the conditions they arose in? Instead, we all have to regret the film came into existence as it did for what is, in this particular case, a really lousy reason. Why must we politicize everything so? Surely doing so in one day going to be thought unhealthy practice within society. This film - I agree with the narrator - is a triumph, it ought to be seen as one, and two of its aspects most deserving of praise are the makeup and actors' performances.

[@702ification]

welcome to the real world my friend 😊

[@adamskiboy528491]

Brilliant review! I couldn’t agree more: Cloud Atlas is the greatest movie (as well as novel) of all time! In answer to your question (3:32; I asked the same question myself when I first realised the reincarnation connection), you may notice that every story in Cloud Atlas is a fiction (of course, it’s a novel, duh). Still, I’m talking about the six stories themselves. Although, this was subtextually explained in the book than the film: Adam Ewing’s diary was posthumously published by his son, who took some editing liberties; Robert Frobisher spends a lot of time trying to make himself seem cold and invulnerable as a defence mechanism; Luisa Rey’s ‘first mystery’ is a straight-up fictional novel; Timothy Cavendish is an old man who can hardly remember his past; Sonmi~451 had described her entire interview to be persuasive toward her potential cause; Valleysman Zachry’s storytelling keeps the spirit and legend of the now-dead villagers of the nine valleys alive. That’s the reason why everyone (including Lloyd Hooks) in the Cloud Atlas book/film is entirely fictional (or so we could imagine that they are). Every storyteller has an agenda and wants to lead you to believe something. With these multiple narrators, there’s a conflict of interest. We’re not only dealing with unreliable narrators; we’re dealing with unreliable texts! If anything, the ambiguous motives of our narrators make them more accurate. It’s one of the reasons why Luisa and Cavendish’s stories overlap - unless they’re two aspects of the same person since they’re the same age (her being a fictional character in his universe). David Mitchell is such a genius!

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

That's an interesting way of looking at it to be fair!

[@adamskiboy528491]

@@filmbuffgrabiec5875 Thank you! Although, I can't get any credit for thinking that myself. A load of book scholars came up with that theory, TBF. For the record, I'm definitely gonna be looking at more of your videos! Well done!

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

@@adamskiboy528491 thank you! I hope you enjoy them!

[@tonyattardo9350]

Are we really complaining about “yellow face” in a movie with ridiculous reach about reincarnation? Directed by the Wachowksi “siblings”. Do we need an exact ratio of different ethnicities playing each other in this type of storytelling? You know vampires aren’t real so you shouldn’t get upset with Brad Pitt wearing “canine enhancing prosthetics”.

[@thomascuriel7611]

You're right basically

[@keironedawrds562]

Games of thrones of movies

[@KevinSmith-mw1lg]

Best movie but the worst synopsis

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

How do you mean?

[@iandavies7991]

Right, let’s complain about diversity and claim racism against a movie where the main message is one of anti oppression and racism… makes sense.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

The message is about anti-racism, but the use of yellowface is still somewhat problematic for the reasons I explained.

[@iandavies7991]

@@filmbuffgrabiec5875 I think it’s just daft, if you ask me. It’s not like they don’t have Asian actors in the movie. There’s 3 that have significant to major roles, some of which are playing white characters. We’re in a sorry state of affairs if a movie has to cast based on a racial quota

[@iandavies7991]

@@filmbuffgrabiec5875 to the best of my memory there’s two white characters played by Asian actors and two white actors playing Asian looking characters. I’d say it’s perfectly balanced, fair and appropriate

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

@@iandavies7991 Jim Sturgess, Hugo Weaving, Hugh Grant, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon, Keith David, and James D'Arcy all play Asian characters, while Doona Bae, Zhou Xun, and Halle Berry play white characters. But the fact that every black character was played by a black actor was considered to be a double standard, and I can understand that. (I do love this movie, I just think this aspect of it is somewhat problematic).

[@iandavies7991]

@@filmbuffgrabiec5875 i don’t see it as a problem. Why can’t everyone focus on the message that the movie gives instead. Movies have much greater capability of breaking down racial barriers through their art than by enforced quotas for casting and the likes.

[@RoboBoomStick]

Watch more movies.

[@filmbuffgrabiec5875]

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