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RE: Cloud Atlas - My Thoughts on the Book vs the Film
Years ago people used to tell me some stories are better left as words in books, while some are more suited for the visual mediums, and even then not every visual medium is suitable, ie movie, TV series, graphic novels, video games etc.
Over the years I find this to be true, especially when it comes to adapting books into films or TV series. Sure there are some good ones, but they are either good films that are less than faithful to the source materials, or films that shoot themselves in the foot by following the book too closely and ended being a bloated, less-than-stellar product.
In your case with Cloud Atlas, I suppose the opposite was true, the film was a better medium for the story.
It can be a tricky one. Normally books will be better than the film adaptations. That owes a lot to the differences in the medium, and mainly the length of them. Sometimes a skilful rendition is made, but usually I prefer the book. I was surprised that given I couldn't even get into this book at all, that the film not only appealed, but was far superior (in my opinion) to the book. It happens some times, I guess.