(movie) Cloud Atlas

I would say that I'm honored to be one of the audiences watching this wonderful, heartwarming, fast paced movie. I love the idea of it - something in common between all 6 stories, transcends through time, actors portraying different, distinct characters and being so in character for a moment I forget they are one but the same.

I'm not usually a fan of movies with strings of stories within one movie. Take What to Expect When You're Expecting, for instance, or Valentine's Day, which I'm not so keen of, although I do love Love Actually, New Year's Eve and New York, I Love You. This one's different, as it does not follow an event or a concept, but is adapted straight from the book I tend to categorize into general fiction with slashes of fantasy (and I haven't had the pleasure of reading it yet).

I'm happy to see Tom Hanks on the big screen again. Happier to see faces I haven't seen in a while - Jim Sturgess (who captivates in Upside Down), Ben Whishaw (ah, he looks familiar, turns out he's Skyfall's Q), Zhou Xun, and a string of other talented people. They even play different genders, with a multitude of faces (I applaud the make up effects team for this).

Supported with this strong cast ensemble, the movie itself does not disappoint. I feel strangely melancholy after the ending wraps, as if there's hope in the future despite a bleak past or present. The cinematography is lush, clear and beautiful, with an amazing soundtrack ranging from classical to piano instrumentals that I enjoy so much. The plot is strong and the directing spot on, without making the audience feel confused or wanting the movie to get to the point as quickly as possible. There are cute moments with comedy that make me laugh, and there are enough gory details as well as a bit of romance to keep fans of every genre happy. All in all, this is a movie about life, friendship, hope, and living, above all. One connection transcends through time. One thing leads to another - the power of consequence.

I love it. A well deserved 9 out of 10 stars.