Curious to know what kind of response Cloud Atlas has been getting from recent test screenings?

CLOUD ATLAS is a-comin’, and if these (very) advance reviews are any indication then we’re going to be very glad of that fact come its release on October 26th.

Before we get on with the bits and pieces from various responses, here’s a comment that seems to sum up the general feeling about the film: “It’s wild and ambitious and very funny (Broadbent is amazing), and for a movie that switches genre every few minutes, it’s smooth, swift, and always entertaining… It’s a wild ride. Mixes different genres together like some crazy magic potion.” 

And now for a selection of response excerpts:

~ @BHirschberger I was lucky enough to view a test screening of Cloud Atlas in Pasadena a little while back. Everyone NEEDS to go see this movie.

~ Saw #cloudatlas tonight @mickeybeans One of the best, most unique films I’ve seen in years! The audience loved it! @mrjimsturgess is superb.

~ @ArcaneMovieTees Saw #cloudatlas last night. Was really good. Great storytelling and some fantastic acting!

~ @Jon_young Just seen test screening of Cloud Atlas – not the final version but looks like they’ve done a surprisingly good job of adapting it.

~ I have to say that this film totally blew me away! Leave it to the very creative and innovative Wachowski’s and Tom Tykwer to make this complex book into a GREAT film.. .According to my watch, the film ran 2hrs. 50min. but you would never know it because time just flew by. Cloud Atlas has it all… action, adventure, romance, humor, and several very touching moments. It captures every emotion imaginable and keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout. I can honestly say it’s one of the best films I’ve seen in years and definitely like nothing I’ve ever seen before! And the rest of the audience also seemed to love the film… there was long and loud applause after the film and lots of positive chatter going on around me. I can’t wait for each and every one of you to see it!!!

Now it’s of course not all rainbows and roses.  But even the people willing to criticize aspects of the movie still seemed inspired to do it in a pretty positive context, which is always encouraging:

~ Saw cloud atlas last night at their first test screening. I sat directly behind the wachowskis and even managed to strike up a conversation. Very cool people. The movie was over 3 hours and it did tend to drag a little. there were 5 different stories going at once so it was a little confusing for the first hour. The editing needs to be reworked., once that is done then that movie will be amazing. Tom hanks was good as well as halls berry. Hugo weaving rocked it and hugh grant was actually pretty cool.

~ The movie was over 3 hours and it did tend to drag a little. there were 5 different stories going at once so it was a little confusing for the first hour. The editing needs to be reworked, once that is done then that movie will be amazing. Tom hanks was good as well as halls berry. Hugo weaving rocked it and hugh grant was actually pretty cool.

~ I saw an early screening of this a few months back and all I have to say is it was one hot convoluted mess. My favorite part was the lights coming on at the end.

And now, to wrap it all up I leave you with this, a comment that may very well be a turn on for some or a put-off for others:

~ This isn’t going to be a major Oscar player, I don’t think. It would require near-unanimous critical praise–which it won’t get–and massive box office–which seems unlikely. If it’s a player, it will probably mostly be for the techs and maybe the elliptically beautiful screenplay. I have a hard time seeing much of anything else. But I don’t really care. I’m glad this movie exists, and I hope the studio doesn’t f*** it up too much thanks to test screening results. This is a delicate thing, and even the slightest of changes could make it all fall apart. But for a certain type of filmgoer, this is going to be a real treat indeed, and a reminder that American film can still do ambitious as well as anybody else (just so long as it’s primarily financed by foreigners).