Considering all the buzz and hype in 2007 I figured this movie would have a lot going for it, but not to be. I barely made it thru the 1st hour and didn't really connect with any of the characters. It's actually quite robotically written and acted. Atonement starts to kick into gear a bit once you realize the foundational storyline, but even then the payoff is limited. A lot of what supposedly makes the movie 'epic' (as advertised) also lacks a sense of reality. The photography is quite good, but that is not nearly enough to make for a good film. Much ado about precious little.