Retro SciFi of the Week…

Cloud Atlas (2012)

Not so retro, but it’s one of the best science fiction films ever made and aside from ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, perhaps the very best. It includes an ensemble cast of some of the most accomplished actors in the world.

The breadth and depth of this film is enormous and the quality is completely uncompromising. It uses a nonlinear narrative (lots of flashbacks and flashforwards) with an intricate plot and the actors play multiple roles, so it may be confusing on first viewing. This film demands a lot work from the viewer – it will probably take you at least three viewings to begin to understand it. If that’s not your thing, then I’d recommend you go watch ‘Sharknado (2013)’ instead.

The primary philosophical conclusion reached by the film is absolute bunk, but that doesn’t detract from its story and entertainment value. (And the presentation of its thesis up to that point is sound.)

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@Pat Mmm, don't think I ever watched this. You reckon I should add it to my queue?

@trinsec

Absolutely recommend this one. But you need to understand going into it that it's a very complex film. It requires a lot of concentration and thought just to understand the basic plot, let alone all the nuances. A lot of people just like to be entertained without having to think too much, so this would not be for them.

And you’ll need to watch it a few times to get into it. I’ve watched it probably 3-4 times now, yet I still find a lot of new stuff from it when I watch it. For example, the clip I chose for this toot was picked because it demonstrates the variety of scenes in the film (the clip is unedited, that 26 seconds is exactly how it is in the film). But when I watched it again after I posted it, I had a huge revelation about the significance of that clip. (Can’t say more without spoilers)

I think you get what I mean about the type of film this is. If you like films that make you think and *require* you to think, then this is one of the very best.

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