Cloud Atlas **½

Tom Tykwer, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski directed this Sci-Fi drama. Watch Preview. Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Doona Bae, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, Xun Zhou, Keith David, David Gyasi, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant. Rated R for violence, language, sexuality/nudity and some drug use. Running time is two hours and fifty-two minutes.

Explores how the actions and consequences of individual lives impact one another throughout the past, the present and the future.

This is a large scale epic production with an interweaving plot I think most will find confusing. There are several stories being told, but they jump back and forth and at  times it's difficult to determine just where you are. I never thought the basic premise that past lives can affect future lives was adequately presented, so it was several separate stories populated by the same actors as far as I was concerned. I will admit some of the stories were interesting enough the time didn't drag too terribly much, but this is still far too long for the average movie patron. When all was said and done, I felt like I needed to see this several more times to gain a better understanding of the story but I'm not interested enough to do it.

Once the final credits begin there is an interesting showing of each of the main actors and their various disguises, some of which are impressive. A large screen will aid in the film's impact. Theatres/Times. IMAX Times.