Cloud Atlas: Collector's Edition - 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray

Spanning several centuries while focusing on small, intimate, and seemingly arbitrary moments of human interaction, Cloud Atlas takes on the bold endeavor of capturing what could only be understood as the human condition. The one consistent theme connecting the six, superficially different plots (or perhaps subplots?), each separated by the invisible, abstract but still very real gulfs of time, is those inherent, unassailable qualities that drive the existence of our species. Our will to learn from our experiences, an inclination for an emotional response affecting our rational intellect, and our introspective sense of self-awareness play a major role in how we choose to define our being and understand it as a commonality between all of humanity.

It's this commonality, this very fine, imperceptible but also eternal thread essentially linking our lives to one another, that appears to be at the core of this wildly imaginative and complex sci-fi drama. Told in a nonlinear, disjointed fashion where distant lives, both culturally as well as spatiotemporally, are presumably interrelated, which also makes up the bulk of the central mystery, this link is clearly expressed within the narrative's more straightforward arrangement, serving as its surface-level draw. The consequences of one person's actions are like a ripple effect on still waters, causing a slow progression of change, which implies a person's life and decisions, insignificant as they may seem at the time of their doing, have the potential to inspire future generations.

Cliché as it may be, the idea is similar to the effects of an echo. Even if you fail to pinpoint the location of the person making the sound, it remains a reasonable reflection of its source. Adam Ewing's (Jim Sturgess) near-fatal experience aboard a slave ship and the friendship he strikes with a Moriori slave (David Gyasi) inspire an aspiring musician nearly a century later who discovers the book practically by chance. Without having to enter too far into spoiler territory, Ewing's ordeal becomes the catalyst and ideal to other events, the source of a ceaseless wave of thought igniting the passions that make us human. As a cinematic experience, the beauty in enjoying something as unique as Cloud Atlas is in watching this unconscious will and impetus within human inspiration and imagination, explored with some small level of seriousness.

Taken to a deeper, more thoughtful extreme, the notion is very much Foucauldian since knowledge is passed through the arts, specifically writing, and becomes theatrical representations that reveal weaknesses within a given power structure. While each of the six storylines features many romantic elements, displaying our deep-rooted desire to love and be loved, they also highlight an endless struggle against unsympathetic greed, oppression, and a constant feeling of subjection, as in the stories of journalist Luisa Rey (Halle Berry), fabricant Sonmi-451 (Doona Bae), and aspiring composer Robert Frobisher (Ben Whishaw). There are also issues of selfishness and self-gratification, whether in our means for survival, as in Tom Hanks's Zachry living in a post-apocalyptic Hawaii, or hopes for martyrdom, like Bae's service clone. Timothy Cavendish (Jim Broadbent) is our modern-day model for freedom and individuality in a wonderfully memorable tale of always remaining young at heart.

Cloud Atlas has been called "ambitious" and "visionary," and I suppose those are fair and accurate assessments. Directed by the Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer (of Run Lola Run fame), the film is an absorbing and stimulating exploration of various themes concerning the human condition and Cartesian thought. Unfortunately, the narrative does feel somewhat overlong and drags a bit in the middle of the second act, yet it continues to make an impression, particularly in the cinematography of John Toll and Frank Griebe. Much like the film's central, overarching plot, the filmmakers take inspiration from David Mitchell's sweeping novel to ask thought-provoking, philosophical questions while managing to entertain and dazzle with several visual delights.

Vital Disc Stats: The Ultra HD Blu-ray
Shout! Factory brings Cloud Atlas to 4K Ultra HD as a three-disc collector's edition. Housed inside a black, eco-elite keepcase with a glossy slipcover, a Region Free, triple-layered UHD100 disc shares a center spindle with a Region A locked, BD50 copy of the film, and a third BD50 disc containing a wealth of bonus features sits comfortably on the opposing panel. At startup, the UHD disc goes to a generic menu along the bottom with music playing in the background and a static photo.

The sci-fi epic makes a spiritual connection with Ultra HD thanks to a gorgeous and often stunning HEVC H.265 encode, offering a notable step up over the previous Blu-ray. The stylized yet subtle cinematography showcases a vivid, spot-on contrast balance with crisp, radiant specular highlights. Remastered from the digital intermediate with the approval of the filmmakers, the native 4K transfer is razor-sharp with crystal-clear clarity and clean fine lines along buildings, furniture and the surrounding foliage. Awash in an ultra-fine layer of grain, the 2.40:1 image also boasts inky, rich black levels with deep, penetrating shadows that never obscure the finer details within the darkest portions of the frame. The Dolby Vision HDR presentation is saturated in sumptuous, full-bodied primaries and a beautiful, elegant array of secondary hues. Natural facial complexions reveal every pore and trivial blemish with incredible, lifelike textures and healthy peachy-rose tones in the cast, supplying the production an intensely animated and energetic feel. (Dolby Vision HDR Video Rating: 94/100)

After a back-and-forth comparison, I didn't detect any discernible difference between this UHD release and the previous Blu-ray from 2013. The overall design remains a front-heavy presentation, which appears to be the filmmakers' intentions, given the movie is a character-driven narrative at its core. Dialogue is crystal-clear with splendid intonation of each actor's emotional state and excellent intelligibility during many whispered conversations although the accents are occasionally difficult to understand. Imaging is broad and expansive with a good deal of background activity, and the mid-range is very dynamic with detailed clarity in the instrumentation and the couple of action sequences. There's not much going on in the LFE department, but there's a decent amount happening in the mid-bass, providing just enough of a punch to give some weight to the music and action. The rears are employed sparingly, typically during Neo Seoul and The Big Island scenes with several convincing and mostly satisfying atmospherics and amusing panning effects. In the end, it's an excellent and enjoyable lossless mix, but not one to give the sound system a good workout. (Audio Rating: 84/100)

For this UHD edition, the folks at Shout! have ported over the same collection of bonus material as the 2013 Blu-ray release, but they have also upped the ante with a brand-new, exclusive feature-length documentary about the production. All the special features are housed in the third BD disc.

• What Is An Ocean … Reconnecting the Cast and Crew (HD, 123 min) is a new retrospective hosted by actor Jon Donahue that takes an in-depth look at the production and its history. It is mostly comprised of cast & crew interviews, discussions on themes, reactions and tons of BTS footage.
• The Impossible Adaptation (HD, 9 min)
• Everything is Connected (HD, 8 min)
• Spaceships, Slaves & Sextets (HD, 8 min)
• Eternal Recurrence: Love, Life, and Longing (HD, 8 min)
• A Film Like No Other (HD, 7 min)
• The Essence of Acting (HD, 7 min)
• The Bold Science Fiction of Cloud Atlas (HD, 7 min)
• Extended Look Trailer (HD, 6 min)

A daring attempt to explore the human condition in six vastly different epochs, Cloud Atlas is an all-encompassing and sprawling cinematic examination of the things that inspire and motivate us as a species. Adapted from the sweeping David Mitchell novel, the multi-genre film is a dazzling piece of entertainment that manages to stay focused and delivers a satisfying conclusion. The sci-fi epic journeys to 4K Ultra HD with a stunning Dolby Vision HDR presentation and an excellent DTS-HD MA 5.1 soundtrack. The same collection of supplements are joined by an exclusive, brand-new retrospective, making the overall UHD package Highly Recommended.

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