Cloud Atlas is a big film by all definitions; it contains an inordinate amount of characters spread out across hundreds of years, making the shear scope of the production epic. Not to mention the estimated budget of 100 million dollars (though it was independently financed outside the studio). To pull off such an ambitious feat, the film split the directorial duties among a trio of film visionaries, Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) and the Wachowskis siblings (Andy and Lana, The Matrix trilogy). However, Cloud Atlas’ biggest accomplishment may also be its biggest flaw; the overloaded plotlines are never boring, but at times they can be too much to follow.

When characters are first introduced in the opening sequence, one of them in particular seems to be speaking directly to the audience. That character is an older man (Jim Broadbent) on a typewriter who describes his time spent as an editor has made him dislike gimmicky storytelling involving flashbacks and flashforwards. But he goes on to say that if you have some patience you can then see that there is a method to its madness. That whole scene only lasts a few moments before going on to the next introduction, but it almost seemed to be begging the viewer to embrace what is about to unfold.

The plea to be patient between the back and forth storytelling proved to be necessary as Cloud Atlas contains six different time periods, each with their own plotline and characters. While everything happens in linear fashion in each time period, the film does jump between the six different time periods at will. Even though there are six different storylines, similar themes and characters are shared across them all, making everything connected to each other. The film brilliantly shifts from one period to another by using cleaver scene transitions. One example of this is when the thundering sound of horses galloping from one era leads into the next with a similar sound of a train racing on its tracks.

Cloud Atlas spans across several hundreds of years, ranging from the 1800s to the 2300s and several years in between as well. In the earliest setting of 1850, Adam (Jim Sturgess) is a wealthy pro-slavery American Lawyer who is poisoned by a corrupt doctor (Tom Hanks) for his fortune. He eventually switches his stance on slavery when a slave saves his life. In 1931, an upcoming composer (Ben Whisaw) works closely under one of the best known composers of the time (Jim Broadbent), but fears that his original masterpiece will be wrongfully claimed by his famous superior. Set in the 1970s, the daughter of a famous reporter, Luisa Rey (Halle Berry), is an investigative journalist who is looking to prove herself by uncovering a corrupt business leader (Hugh Grant). In the year 2012, a publisher named Timothy (Jim Broadbent) finally makes it big when an author’s (Tom Hanks) book flies off shelves after he murders a book critic. A few men go after Timothy for his money, which he does not have, forcing him to ask his deceitful brother for a loan who instead offers him a safe house. But Timothy’s finds himself captive in a nursing home instead. A hundred years in the future, a slave restaurant waitress manages to escape from her captivity to start a revolution. The last storyline is set far into the future, a member of an advanced civilization (Halle Berry) teams up with an island tribesman (Tom Hanks) to help solve each other’s dilemmas.

The common theme that stiches the six tales together is the desire of freedom. No matter what age the character lives in, there is someone there that wants to restrict the amount of power and freedom you possess. During each stretch of time, characters are morally challenged to stand up for what they believe in.

Because most cast in the film got to play both the hero and the villain, Cloud Atlas must have been an actor’s fantasy. Take the numerous roles that Tom Hanks had in the film for an example. He wonderfully portrayed the crooked doctor back in the 1800s but got a chance to redeem himself later as a good scientist in a different time period. Hanks, like other fellow cast members, is sometimes unrecognizable at first because of the amazing makeup job that serves as a disguise to their age, ethnicity and even gender.

Cloud Atlas is an entertaining yet dense film that contains many wonderfully told stories which link together seamlessly. All the stories brilliantly peak at the same time, making for one epic climax, once you first let all the stories develop independently. It is easy to get caught up in the web of trying to make all the connections between the characters – making a repeat viewing seemingly necessary. However, the major themes and messages are apparent enough in the film without the requirement of multiple viewings; but you must accept that some of the finer details will likely get lost in the shuffle.

Doomsday Book is a Korean anthology film from directors Kim Ji-woon and Yim Pil-sung. It was originally supposed to have three directors as it has three chapters but the two collaborated on one together when the other director dropped out. It works out to basically be three short films with the common link between them being the theme of the end of the world. It is a rather distinctive group of science fiction stories that are told with various levels of success.

The first chapter is entitled “A Brave New World” which was directed by Yim. It follows a geeky lab technician (Seung-beom Ryu) as he is tasked to clean his family’s apartment while they are on vacation. As he is cleaning he notices a rotten apple which the camera follows from the trash bin to where it eventually ends up; in food that he and others later consume. Many others. In fact, it is not long before the virus spreads to most of the citizens. At first the victims have flu-like symptoms but soon after that it turns them into zombies.

Even though a lot of what is seen in “A Brave New World” would be found in a typical horror film, the segment is set against a comedic tone. The score ensures that you do not take the subject matter you see too seriously. Overall, it was my least favorite chapter but at the very end it brings in a quote from the Bible that fits in wonderfully.

Kim’s centerpiece “The Heavenly Creature” features a robot repair specialist that was requested to inspect a robot that resides in a Buddhist temple. As he is inspecting the defective robot it is brought to his attention that the robot itself is Buddhist. This is a unique situation that he has never come across ever before. The robot turns out not to be defective but instead is achieving enlightenment.

This story was definitely most interesting one as it covers how technology is not only affecting social issues but it takes on religion as well. You find yourself rooting for the robot as its makers try to destroy it. Kim gives the robot heart while tackling some heavy topics.

Doomsday Book finishes with the final chapter called “Happy Birthday”. Korean scientists have noticed that a meteor is about to hit the Earth causing a panic that the world may end soon. The story is centered on a young girl who orders a replacement eight ball that she lost for her father’s pool table. The order becomes much more than she bargained for as that eight ball is in fact the 10 km meteor that is scheduled to hit the Earth.

“Happy Birthday” was the most exaggerated plot of them all.The first two segments were also imaginative but not completely out of the realm of happening. The thing I enjoyed most about the last one was the delightful visuals. The silly comedy peppered throughout was fun but it ultimately did not work for me as well as the previous segments did.

By nature with anthology films, you are going to get a mixed result when you bring in a mix of stories and directors, Doomsday Book is no exception. Some of the segments work better than others, in particular the part done by Kim. However, as much as I enjoyed the second part the best, it stuck out for the wrong reason. The first and last segments felt more playful and funny while the middle one took a much more serious route resulting in a muddled project that most anthology films struggle with.