Life of Pi Reviews
bbcfloridabound
Super Reviewer
April 24, 2013
From the reviews I expected a lot more from this film then I got. A good story but I was just expecting more from all the talk and hype. Worth watching and its a film that you have to be totally relaxed and ready to keep up with or you will miss the point. Maybe I missed the point. 3 stars 4-17-13
Phil H
Super Reviewer
April 21, 2013
The story is told in part by narration from the main character, who is an adult. He is telling a writer about his fantastical story, about his early years in India and his families decision to immigrate to Canada. After a slow build up revolving around his family, his keen interest in various religions, the way he acquired his name and the family owned zoo, we start to get to the crux of the film.
Whilst on board the freighter bound for Canada, a storm hits and sinks the ship apparently killing everyone. 'Pi' survives on a lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, hyena and orangutan, this is where the real story begins.
Up to this point I'll be totally honest with you all and say the film isn't overly interesting. A slow character building plot showing you Indian family life and how religious minded the young 'Pi' is. Don't let that scare you though, the film is not in the least bit preachy about religion, its a very light view really, 'Pi's' parents are surprisingly easy on him whilst he switches from one to another trying to find his feet. You do kinda expect his father to go ape shit with him but that doesn't happen, that's not what this is about.
Of course the CGI in this film is pretty much the main focus, its not what the film is about but it takes centre stage. So how can I put this for you? the film looks like a crystal clear watercolour painting with 'Dali-esque' sequences of beauty that will inspire you, hows that?. Yes the CGI does look a tad obvious from time to time for sure (the animals in the lifeboat) but in general you don't care. Its like a living painting, constantly changing, expressing the sublime miracle that is nature, almost teaching you as it goes, a virtual wildlife show in poetic motion. Lets not forget about those sparkling sunsets, stormy skies, nautical dusk's and twilight's.
The sequence at night whilst 'Pi' drifts on the ocean surface surrounded by hundreds of bioluminescent jellyfish is damn near stunning, then a mighty Humpback whale (I think) bursts through the waters surface saturating the screen in a glowing shower of turquoise liquid!...pure fantasy but none the less spectacular. To be frank I found it disappointing that these sequences were CGI, I wanted them to be real. As for the main animal 'character', 'Richard Parker' the Bengal tiger, he's fudging faultless! in fact I'm not even sure if they used a real tiger anywhere, did they??! I really couldn't tell.
The story isn't all about fancy effects though as I said, there is a lot more to it than that. The young boy surviving on his own aboard this lifeboat, there is a huge amount of faith naturally, hope, courage, fear, acceptance and understanding. He must learn to deal with his fate, not to blame God for his situation but let God enter his heart and give him the strength to survive. He can't rely on God or a God to bail him out, he can't worry about which religion is right, he must be true to himself.
He must also be cautious and firm with his big cat companion, learn to coexist together for the greater good, they need each other after all.
In the end various elements from the various religions help young 'Pi' on his perilous journey. The story does a great job of simply showing how similar these religions are, how one is not greater than the other, nor is one anymore correct than the other, there is no definitive way. Sounds heavy but it really isn't, the whole plot plays out like a child's bedtime fairytale, a fairytale with a good message.
This visual treat has so many layers its incredible, an Asian/Indian subcontinental core with a dash of Chiwan flavouring from its director. You can clearly see how the animals/mammals in the film are represented and beautifully expressed which is so important to both cultures, the tiger especially. Its so strange that this deep little tale comes from a French speaking Canadian!, it just seems so very close to the stories roots of India, or the far East/Indochina maybe.
Sure the ending is a bit depressing, we find out what really happened, the reality, but like the characters in the story you too can choose which tale you preferred. There is actually no right answer, the question is, does the tale make YOU believe in God?.
So many book adaptation these days! Ang Lee is fast becoming a master of lavish epic stories, stories with international spice. This new film bears all the hallmarks of a foreign film to be honest, I was surprised to discover it was American made, amazed in fact.
The story is told in part by narration from the main character, who is an adult. He is telling a writer about his fantastical story, about his early years in India and his families decision to immigrate to Canada. After a slow build up revolving around his family, his keen interest in various religions, the way he acquired his name and the family owned zoo, we start to get to the crux of the film.
Whilst on board the freighter bound for Canada, a storm hits and sinks the ship apparently killing everyone. 'Pi' survives on a lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, hyena and orangutan, this is where the real story begins.
Up to this point I'll be totally honest with you all and say the film isn't overly interesting. A slow character building plot showing you Indian family life and how religious minded the young 'Pi' is. Don't let that scare you though, the film is not in the least bit preachy about religion, its a very light view really, 'Pi's' parents are surprisingly easy on him whilst he switches from one to another trying to find his feet. You do kinda expect his father to go ape shit with him but that doesn't happen, that's not what this is about.
Of course the CGI in this film is pretty much the main focus, its not what the film is about but it takes centre stage. So how can I put this for you? the film looks like a crystal clear watercolour painting with 'Dali-esque' sequences of beauty that will inspire you, hows that?. Yes the CGI does look a tad obvious from time to time for sure (the animals in the lifeboat) but in general you don't care. Its like a living painting, constantly changing, expressing the sublime miracle that is nature, almost teaching you as it goes, a virtual wildlife show in poetic motion. Lets not forget about those sparkling sunsets, stormy skies, nautical dusk's and twilight's.
The sequence at night whilst 'Pi' drifts on the ocean surface surrounded by hundreds of bioluminescent jellyfish is damn near stunning, then a mighty Humpback whale (I think) bursts through the waters surface saturating the screen in a glowing shower of turquoise liquid!...pure fantasy but none the less spectacular. To be frank I found it disappointing that these sequences were CGI, I wanted them to be real. As for the main animal 'character', 'Richard Parker' the Bengal tiger, he's fudging faultless! in fact I'm not even sure if they used a real tiger anywhere, did they??! I really couldn't tell.
The story isn't all about fancy effects though as I said, there is a lot more to it than that. The young boy surviving on his own aboard this lifeboat, there is a huge amount of faith naturally, hope, courage, fear, acceptance and understanding. He must learn to deal with his fate, not to blame God for his situation but let God enter his heart and give him the strength to survive. He can't rely on God or a God to bail him out, he can't worry about which religion is right, he must be true to himself.
He must also be cautious and firm with his big cat companion, learn to coexist together for the greater good, they need each other after all.
In the end various elements from the various religions help young 'Pi' on his perilous journey. The story does a great job of simply showing how similar these religions are, how one is not greater than the other, nor is one anymore correct than the other, there is no definitive way. Sounds heavy but it really isn't, the whole plot plays out like a child's bedtime fairytale, a fairytale with a good message.
This visual treat has so many layers its incredible, an Asian/Indian subcontinental core with a dash of Chiwan flavouring from its director. You can clearly see how the animals/mammals in the film are represented and beautifully expressed which is so important to both cultures, the tiger especially. Its so strange that this deep little tale comes from a French speaking Canadian!, it just seems so very close to the stories roots of India, or the far East/Indochina maybe.
Sure the ending is a bit depressing, we find out what really happened, the reality, but like the characters in the story you too can choose which tale you preferred. There is actually no right answer, the question is, does the tale make YOU believe in God?.
Flutie A
Super Reviewer
April 14, 2013
Great story & sets an incredible standard as far as visual effects go. I was concerned about all the animals looking realistic, but those fears were quickly removed. The tiger looked especially lifelike, but all the other animals looked real and the scenery is incredibly vibrant, colorful & beautiful. You'll understand why it was up for and won Oscars in that regard. Watch it on Blu-ray! It's definitely going in my collection!
Nikhil N.
Super Reviewer
March 31, 2013
This movie is a visual spectacle, and has some of the greatest CGI and effects since Avatar. It is definitely worth it if you have an appreciation for that kind of thing. But this movie also succeeds on a deeper level. It is a wonderful story about loss and faith, and it is definitely Oscar worthy. The only flaw is that this movie doesn't trust the viewer's intelligence, and it has a character (at one point towards the end of the film) spell out everything that happened in a nice little package so that even if you were asleep throughout the movie you would understand what happened. Still, its a great movie that has a wonderful story and some of the best visual effects I have ever seen.
Sanjay R
Super Reviewer
March 24, 2013
I went in with lofty expectations, and they were exceeded. I thought this film would be amazing visuals and no story, but there is actually a great story to go along with the amazing visuals. I laughed more than I thought I would, the story is very emotional, the music is great, and Ang Lee's directing is impeccable. An unforgettable all around movie.
FiLmCrAzY
Super Reviewer
January 11, 2013
A visually effective movie that is beautifully made, although a very interesting and unique concept it is slow paced and at times slightly dragging, none the less still an achievement for ang lee.
Josh L
Super Reviewer
November 20, 2012
Life of Pi is a fantastic technical achievement, but a slow pace and overlong length sucks some of the joy out of it. The first 45 minutes are used to provide background information on the family and characters, but it's far too much and mostly boring. The middle section is undoubtedly the best, with some sustained moments of awe and effective relationship building between Pi and the tiger. Unfortunately, the worst part of the movie is the final moments. An ill-advised add in of fantasy or reality takes some of the magic out of the movie and the 5 minutes or so of monologue explaining the other story that also could have happened is downright boring. They should have done the same thing with the other story and actually showed it and taken out some of the less compelling scenes. The special effects are incredibly impressive, especially the fully CG tiger that you never question for a second. Some of the special effects are a little too in your face and showy, but still beautiful regardless. Life of Pi is a movie I admired more than enjoyed as it did not engage me intellectually or emotionally, but it is certainly a well-made film that some will love.
Matthew Samuel M
Super Reviewer
December 23, 2012
An incredible, powerful, and beautiful film. Wow, wow, and wow.
Daniel L
Super Reviewer
January 16, 2013
Life of Pi is a tremendous and breath-taking tale of morality, spirituality, reality, survival, and adventure. It is one of the year's best films.
maxthesax
Super Reviewer
February 23, 2013
Whether you believe in things religious is besides the point here, as you can certainly be entertained and perhaps even brought into a sense of spirituality by this stunningly filmed story that weaves its spell of cosmic proportions around the story of a young man who must rely on himself and his wits in order to survive - his situation does not so much "bring out the best in him" as the bromide usually infers some form of "goodness", but in this instance it brings out the man, or more to the point, humanity that we should all embrace.
I found the performance of Suraj Sharma as Pi to be so filled with humanity - he is straight forward, self effacing and thoroughly human. It is with equal marvel that I watched Irfan Khan's performance as the older version of Pi. He is able to exude a certain calm and acceptance of life as he tells his story; you can simply tell that he is at peace with not only who HE is, but with the world around him.
I don't want to reveal the allegorical turns here, as it is best to discover them for yourself, but rest assured, you will be contemplating what this film has to say and how it says it long after the closing credits. A wonderful film that is well deserving of the 11 nominations for Oscar... this film touched me in glorious ways and I would recommend its viewing to anyone.
Magical and mystical; full of allegory and metaphor and yet so very human (which perhaps is the point), Life of Pi is a revelation, not only for the story it tells, but for the way Ang Lee chooses to tell it. Every frame of this 3D effort is filled with beauty and love - here the 3D does not detract... in fact, after a time you forget that it's even there as it is so seamless and natural.
Whether you believe in things religious is besides the point here, as you can certainly be entertained and perhaps even brought into a sense of spirituality by this stunningly filmed story that weaves its spell of cosmic proportions around the story of a young man who must rely on himself and his wits in order to survive - his situation does not so much "bring out the best in him" as the bromide usually infers some form of "goodness", but in this instance it brings out the man, or more to the point, humanity that we should all embrace.
I found the performance of Suraj Sharma as Pi to be so filled with humanity - he is straight forward, self effacing and thoroughly human. It is with equal marvel that I watched Irfan Khan's performance as the older version of Pi. He is able to exude a certain calm and acceptance of life as he tells his story; you can simply tell that he is at peace with not only who HE is, but with the world around him.
I don't want to reveal the allegorical turns here, as it is best to discover them for yourself, but rest assured, you will be contemplating what this film has to say and how it says it long after the closing credits. A wonderful film that is well deserving of the 11 nominations for Oscar... this film touched me in glorious ways and I would recommend its viewing to anyone.
xXGiNoBiLiPRXx
Super Reviewer
December 15, 2012
Amazing Film!!! It is more than a survival story and it is not about friendship. This story is about faith. Director Ang Lee use all the tools he have to make this movie about a solitary young man not a boring one. It is narrated by both, young Pi and the Adult Pi, it uses music all the time so there is not space for uncomfortable silents and the rhythm of the scenes is fast. The film begs interpretation from the multiplicity of religions to the place of mankind in a hostile, Darwinian world. Ultimately the benign brotherhood of beasts and humans is affirmed not so much by lofty philosophy but by the necessity of man and beast working together to survive. In the end, Lee is interested in the individual's place in the universe as he struggles to harness nature and yet live in harmony with these elements. The conflict with the gross cook aboard the Japanese cargo ship taking Pi's family and animals to Canada is emblematic of the challenges facing the gifted with the groundlings. Pi's relationship with tiger "Richard Parker" represents all mankind's struggle to live in harmony with the forces it cannot control. The Life of Pi is everyone's life; the film is one of the best of the year and, even remembering the greatness of The Old Man and the Sea, Moby Dick, and Billy Budd, the best you will ever see about a boy, a tiger, and a boat. Highly recommended!!!
Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zoo keeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.
A visually opulent triumph of film-making!
Amazing Film!!! It is more than a survival story and it is not about friendship. This story is about faith. Director Ang Lee use all the tools he have to make this movie about a solitary young man not a boring one. It is narrated by both, young Pi and the Adult Pi, it uses music all the time so there is not space for uncomfortable silents and the rhythm of the scenes is fast. The film begs interpretation from the multiplicity of religions to the place of mankind in a hostile, Darwinian world. Ultimately the benign brotherhood of beasts and humans is affirmed not so much by lofty philosophy but by the necessity of man and beast working together to survive. In the end, Lee is interested in the individual's place in the universe as he struggles to harness nature and yet live in harmony with these elements. The conflict with the gross cook aboard the Japanese cargo ship taking Pi's family and animals to Canada is emblematic of the challenges facing the gifted with the groundlings. Pi's relationship with tiger "Richard Parker" represents all mankind's struggle to live in harmony with the forces it cannot control. The Life of Pi is everyone's life; the film is one of the best of the year and, even remembering the greatness of The Old Man and the Sea, Moby Dick, and Billy Budd, the best you will ever see about a boy, a tiger, and a boat. Highly recommended!!!
Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zoo keeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.
Market Man
Super Reviewer
December 21, 2012
"Life of Pi" is a powerful film and a visual masterpiece. The 3D works very well and stands alongside "Avatar" when it comes to the future of cinema. In addition to succeeding in technology, the film also has great performances by all the Pi actors. But it's the story that I love, especially how the end leaves it up for interpretation. Ang Lee did an incredible job directing and this is definitely the best film of 2012 in my opinion.
Adriel Denzel L
Super Reviewer
January 22, 2013
An adventure of sweet wonder and an endeavor to the tinkerings human feeling and its nature. A beautiful examination of what it means to live, providing the sparks to intuit one's own discovery of self.
Emil K
Super Reviewer
December 21, 2012
That this film is as complex as it is does not come as a surprise. Director Ang Lee has always succeeded in creating a multilayered portraits of his characters and this film is no exception. Lee started with more intimate and smaller films like Wedding Banquet, Eat, Drink Man Woman and Sense and Sensibility. Since then he has gone to make bigger films with more epic scale. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which stands still as his masterpiece, was a fantastic mixture of his elegant approach to characters and eye popping action set pieces. That film is a perfect example of epic filmmaking at its very best. Even his most commercial film, Hulk, is something much closer to an art film than straight comic book adaptation.
Lee is an auteur who has very unique voice as an storyteller and director. I admire his ability to tell his stories without rushing or unnecessary visual effects. That said it must be mentioned that Life of Pi is Lee's first film which he has made into 3D and to be honest i cannot see ay proper reason for that. I understand that Lee has felt interest for that format and wanted to try something new, but here the 3D effect just does not bring anything special into film. I have seen both 2D and 3D versions of this film and i actually prefer more the 2D one. The whole 3D is more distracting than necessary element. Same goes for Lee's odd choice to play with film's aspect ratio which keeps changing between 1.33 : 1 and 2.35 : 1. That was interesting choice but felt just a gimmick and did not have any impact on me.
Without all the visual trickery this could have been as fantastic as Lee's own Crouching Tiger, but now it falls a bit short of becoming something larger than life. There are certainly moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. For example the emotionally devasting god storm scene is truly thunderous moment to watch. There is also fantastic support from cinematographer Claudio Miranda and composer Mychael Danna who has made one of his greatest scores with Life of Pi.
Overall this is another accomplishment from Ang Lee and his crew. It has its flaws but films like this does not come that often anymore and i find this story deeply touching and beautiful. For those who are looking for an adventure film with big heart, Life of Pi serves an unforgettable journey that is worth to see.
Ang Lee's Life of Pi is certainly something to behold. It is a visual feast for eyes and a story that has a huge heart and many philosophical questions about life, religion, death and human nature.
That this film is as complex as it is does not come as a surprise. Director Ang Lee has always succeeded in creating a multilayered portraits of his characters and this film is no exception. Lee started with more intimate and smaller films like Wedding Banquet, Eat, Drink Man Woman and Sense and Sensibility. Since then he has gone to make bigger films with more epic scale. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which stands still as his masterpiece, was a fantastic mixture of his elegant approach to characters and eye popping action set pieces. That film is a perfect example of epic filmmaking at its very best. Even his most commercial film, Hulk, is something much closer to an art film than straight comic book adaptation.
Lee is an auteur who has very unique voice as an storyteller and director. I admire his ability to tell his stories without rushing or unnecessary visual effects. That said it must be mentioned that Life of Pi is Lee's first film which he has made into 3D and to be honest i cannot see ay proper reason for that. I understand that Lee has felt interest for that format and wanted to try something new, but here the 3D effect just does not bring anything special into film. I have seen both 2D and 3D versions of this film and i actually prefer more the 2D one. The whole 3D is more distracting than necessary element. Same goes for Lee's odd choice to play with film's aspect ratio which keeps changing between 1.33 : 1 and 2.35 : 1. That was interesting choice but felt just a gimmick and did not have any impact on me.
Without all the visual trickery this could have been as fantastic as Lee's own Crouching Tiger, but now it falls a bit short of becoming something larger than life. There are certainly moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. For example the emotionally devasting god storm scene is truly thunderous moment to watch. There is also fantastic support from cinematographer Claudio Miranda and composer Mychael Danna who has made one of his greatest scores with Life of Pi.
Overall this is another accomplishment from Ang Lee and his crew. It has its flaws but films like this does not come that often anymore and i find this story deeply touching and beautiful. For those who are looking for an adventure film with big heart, Life of Pi serves an unforgettable journey that is worth to see.
366weirdmovies
Super Reviewer
January 23, 2013
A religious Indian boy is trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. A mix of LIFEBOAT and (a somewhat faulty) relgious allegory, with the most spectacular visuals of 2012.
Carlos M
Super Reviewer
December 28, 2012
Technically impressive and with astonishing visuals (despite the poor 3D), this is a magnificent and emotionally intense allegory that uses a lot of symbolism to raise questions about God, faith and how sometimes we can be forced to face our inner beasts. A wonderful film of rare beauty, to be seen many times.
Nadira I
Super Reviewer
November 27, 2012
One of my favorite films of 2012. Ang Lee proves once again that he is capable of giving the best story telling in a film. Suraj Sharma did great as a first time actor.
TheDudeLebowski65
Super Reviewer
January 20, 2013
Let me start this review by saying that I never really was a big fan of Ang Lee's work. I never really got into his movies, and I find him to be an acquired taste. However I did enjoy Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and I thought it was a very well crafted picture that relied on a strong visual style. Life of Pi is a very good, but I didn't think it was the greatest film of the year either. The film has a good plot that sucks you in, but the strength of the film lies in its powerful visuals, which adds so much to the story. I really liked the film, but I can think of a few that are better. Lee has a good sense of what makes for an entertaining, and engrossing film, and Life of Pi definitely conveys that. This is of course a must see for Ang Lee fans, and it definitely is among the best pictures of 2012, however I felt that Lincoln, Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty were better pictures, but that's me. Life of Pi is more of a visual journey and it succeeds, but I was a bit disappointed and I expected something a bit more substantial in terms of a great story. I'm not hating on the film, but to me, it's not the greatest film of 2012 as many critics have claimed it to be. This is Ang Lee's best work since Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and despite its slight weaknesses, this is still a well crafted and memorable picture. Expected some wonderful visuals with this one, but in terms of Academy Award Winning material, I think there are far better films that this one is going up against. Life of Pi has a good story and good acting, and if you cut out the effects, I don't think the film would have been as good as it is. Worth watching, but it could have been better.
