Comments on: TIFF Review: ‘Cloud Atlas’ Is Bold, Messy & Disappointingly Unimaginative

By: Rodion

Rodion — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I stopped reading two paragraphs in, not because i don't agree with your review (i am yet to see the film) but because you blundered twice.
1. "With The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer literally throwing a critic off the roof of a building to his death in the open moments…it's clear that they aren't concerned in the slightest with how this ambitious effort will be received."
Sorry but this is in the book so not relevant to how they are feeling, just an adapted moment.

2. "…the stunt approach to casting actually works quite well."
If you had bothered to read anything about the film or watch the introduction by the filmmakers that was online, then you would understand that the casting of actors for multiple roles reflects the ENTIRE theme of the movie – The connection between every character and time period and of reincarnation. Tom Hanks starting as a bad guy and evolving into a hero. Hang up your reviewing gloves, because you don't understand movies.

By: Oogle monster

Oogle monster — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

The most divisive film of 2012? Probably.

By: AS

AS — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I could see this turning into an Avatar. Some critics will love it and apologize for its flaws, others will trash it. Audiences will turn out in droves.

By: Ad

Ad — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I'm assuming you haven't read the book Kevin? No comment about accuracy to the original work, no comment about the actual accomplishment of tackling a novel on such a huge scale as Cloud Atlas.
Now I haven't seen the film yet, but your negative commentary is based on actual quotes and occurrences from the book. So do you dislike the script (story) or do you dislike the concepts?
I think you may need to dig a bit more deeply to start using critical language such as platitudes, and glib. Or perhaps some stories need to remain as novels and be left alone by film?

By: Jayden

Jayden — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Wow, and this is a movie critic?
Clearly missed the point of the movie and book entirely.

I suggest everyone to go watch it, it's a masterpiece like none you've seen before.

By: KKANE

KKANE — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

disagree with this entire review…
the movie was brilliant, needs some time digesting though

By: Lee53

Lee53 — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Maybe it's time to bin the film critics and just go see the films, almost every 2012 release seems to have been wildly divisive, and it's come to the point that you've all started to cancel each other out. Regarding Cloud Atlas, I heard this received a 10 min ovation, and the best audience reaction of the Toronto festival so far. I wonder if there isn't an audience who've largely abandoned cinema, who may be tempted by the prospect of something bold and original.

By: Lol

Lol — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

OMG, HE MAY NOT HAVE READ THE BOOK. ALERT THE MEDIA!

By: jimmiescoffee

jimmiescoffee — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

not surprised at all. the wachowskis have 2 good films to speak of and none for over a decade.

By: Mich

Mich — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

This review is disappointing.

I personally haven't read the book yet and in fact I think it's fine to review this as a stand alone film – the fact is everyone will experience the film differently and it will definitely be divisive.

But I don't like this review – the critic seems crusty in general but most importantly h
Thus reads like missed some key aspects of the plot, themes, etc… Oh well.

I lived this film! It's epic, go see it

By: DG

DG — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Oh well I wasn't planning on seeing this anyways. One thing though is that out of everything I've heard about this movie I still have no inkling of what it is exactly that is supposed to connect all these stories? Besides actors playing multiple roles is it anything? I guess I should just read the book…

By: judith wine

judith wine — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

So so disagree. Just saw its premiere at TIFF and it was AMAZING – and I wasn't the only one who thought so – the whole audience immediately got to its feet and wouldn't sit down.

By: JED

JED — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I'd have to disagree completely with the review. I saw it tonight and absolutely loved it and judging by the audience response, I wasn't only the one. It is long and you need to be prepared for that, however, I found the time flew by.

By: Stevo the Magnificent

Stevo the Magnificent — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Having not seen this yet, obviously I can't agree or disagree with the review, but if it is an anywhere-near accurate assessment of the movie, this thing is going down like the Hindenburg at the box-office once it's released; with a highly complex narrative, same old Wachowski themes and motifs (power to the oppressed and up the revolution, yawn), and a (near) three hour running time, if it breaks even worldwide, I'll be surprised, but like 'Speed Racer' this looks like it's going to be a flop with a future cult following once it hits DVD and Blu-Ray… boy, the glory days of 'Bound' and 'The Matrix' seem so very long ago now, do they not!?

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Kevin, you should hand in your resignation as a movie reviewer. This was one of the most incredibly creative films ever made. if you didn't like it, fine, but to say its not bold and disappointingly unimaginative shows you clearly are in the wrong profession.

By: Bakunin

Bakunin — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Meh, the Playlist is excellent for news but its reviews are laughable at best. Consider their Dark Knight Rises review, it was a good film but the official Playlist review swore it was almost the greatest American film since Gone With The Wind, proclaiming it a film that basically confirms the greatness of America blah blah blah. These guys can be a little long winded.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Douche! You obviously didn't bother to read the book. You repeatedly refer to "The Wachowskis" and"Twyker" as if they are the creators of this world. Do your research, hack.

By: Priya

Priya — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I'll take this reveiw with a pinch of salt. Kevin had nothing good to say about Cosmopolis and that turned out to be frigging revelatory.

I'll still be watching CA and hoping to God this appraisal is way, way off.

By: tristan eldritch

tristan eldritch — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I dunno, everybody was creaming their shorts over the trailer for this, but I didn't the stench of it at all. Tom Hanks warbling in a a voice-over about THE CHOICES WE MAKE in life and stuff (always a bad sign), shades of The Fountain and Wong Kar-Wai's genre and time-span hopping folly 2046….looked like a stinker to me.

By: Creamin My Jeans

Creamin My Jeans — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

WHILE I HAVE NOT SEEN THE FILM, THIS REVIEW DOES NOT SEEM TO JIBE WITH MY ANTICIPATION FOR THIS FILM, THEREFORE THE REVIEW MUST BE INVALID – SINCERELY AUTOFAN

By: Knowles2

Knowles2 — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

When I first heard about the film, saw the trailers, read some spoilers, my first thought was that critics are going to hate this, they are just such predictable little creatures, that do not like anything that breaks the mould or is different, that mould is that small films require thought, why big budget films should be simple and dumb.

The only real question left to answer is will the audience love the film, will it become a cult classic and will it be relies as a great film in the future or will it become a film that the audience and critics will forget in the years to come.

I have not seen the film so far, but I am going to try and see this at the cinema, why, because it the biggest independent film ever and I think we need to see more large scale independent films aim at the mainstream audience. I am also going to try an see Judge Dredd because well I expected it get bad reviews an yet it seem to be getting good reviews.

By: Orville

Orville — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

At the end of the day this critic Kevin Jagernauth's opinion means nothing ultimately the audience will decide with their wallets. I have little patience with critics because they have their own personal biases, agendas, and perspectives. Everyone has an opinion the difference is a film critics gets paid for their opinion. A lot of the times critics hate a movie and yet it is a box office success. I also find some film critics to be extremely pretentious and act like snobs as though they are more intelligent than the regular film viewer. I think people should make their own decisions to see a film and don't allow a critic to influence what they believe is true about a film.

By: Pietro

Pietro — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Wow, so much harsh judgement and finger wagging from people who haven't seen the movie. You'd think that by this time more commentators would realize they should put their unwarranted hatred towards the critic away until they saw the obviously divisive film in question for themselves. Me thinks CA will end up being be just another case of many feet prematurely planted into many mouths.

By: John

John — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

I saw the film at TIFF yesterday and the screening had one of the most (positively) vocal and loudest end credits applauses (nearly as strong as Amour the day before). It's not a perfect film but i was able to keep track of all the different storylines and stay entertained throughout. And that to me is a major success with such difficult source material. It wasnt groundbreaking and my mind wasnt blown, but its definitely an epic piece of entertainment.

By: AE

AE — Fri, 13 May 2016 11:36:06 +0000

Clearly no group of critics will agree, but lately they downright contradict, here's Roger Ebert's appraisal of CA, which I love. "I know I've seen something atonishing, and I know I'm not ready to review it. Cloud Atlas, by the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer, is a film of limitless imagination, breathtaking visuals and fearless scope. I have no idea what it is about." Once upon a time there was some kind of consensus on a film's merits, maybe there's just too many critical voices these days, or maybe it's the sound of change or originality, remember Bonnie and Clyde. What pisses me off is the detrimental, muddying of the waters, that can take a film from rapturous festival response to 'disaster' at the push of a few keypads. I think it's right for the public to question and scrutinize the critics at every junction, they still have far too much power.