I had read Life of Pi — the book, a few years back and though I liked the book overall, I did find it boring and dragging in parts. The cinematic adaptation of the same opened to great reviews. It has been lauded for its cinematic brilliance and is breathtaking in its 3D format. Visually the movie is extraordinary and the animation is flawless. The simple tale of a young boy, Pi Patel, shipwrecked in the Pacific Ocean on a life boat with a Royal Bengal tiger for company makes for an almost fantasy like tale. The story is a coming-of-age tale, an allegory on religion, and a tale of a deeper spiritual struggle within the boy.
There are so many parts of the movie that I found sheer brilliant. The opening scenes where Pi or Piscine and his family are shown are a lovely buildup. The conflict between faith and rationale as is duly depicted by the conflicting views of the parents is very realistic and sets the pace for the things to come. Pi, a Hindu, is slowly motivated to follow Islam and Christianity much to the dismay of his atheist father. The little anecdotes of his childhood are very appealing and make you wish for more. I loved the scenes in his school where his name was persistently ridiculed, the scene where his father teaches him a lesson that animals have no feelings, the dinner table conversation scene, and those about his mamaji.
The story moves forward when the family moves from India to Canada on a freighter that sinks mid journey. The movie then takes us through the journey of Pi as he struggles to stay alive on a small boat along with “Richard Parker” the tiger. Multiple angles like God and submission to the Supreme Power are handled in this rough and tumble journey. Each part of the journey in survival is meticulously shown. How he builds a raft, stores emergency supplies, his uneasy relationship with the tiger and yet the welcome companionship and his final resignation to his fate. The scene on the island was breathtaking as well. The story is being told as a narration by an older Pi (Irrfan) to a Canadian author. The movie though very soothing to the eyes does seem to drag a bit in the middle. But, it neatly falls in place towards the end. The scenes that were the most powerful for me were those towards the end where Pi expresses his sadness at not being able to say bye to the Tiger and not being able to tell his father how much he missed him or learnt from him. Watch Irrfan emote in this scene, and your eyes will tear up too. An impactful scene was where he asks the writer which story he would pick for his novel — the fantastic one or the realistic one. The author choosing the fantastic one gives us an insight in the religious tales that we have all grown up listening to incredulously.
The beauty of the movie is in the spirituality being seen and applied in everyday happenings and not as something that is sought by doing something out of the ordinary. But, I do wish that more time was devoted in exploring the deeper message. That said, we cannot take away from the enormous canvas, visual brilliance and the powerful performance of all the actors. Tabu — why doesn’t she do more movies?, Irrfan and all the characters who played Pi were brilliant, and Adil as Pi’s father was impactful. Ang Lee has made a thoroughly watchable interpretation of Yann Martel’s highly acclaimed book.
So, this is my experience of the movie, Life of Pi! It is a must watch, and the 3D effects are truly amazing and suit the story to the T. You will love it. Be prepared to have some interesting conversations after the movie :).
Image courtesy: Wikipedia.org
There was a huge gap of many years for me between reading the book and watching the movie. So, I do not remember much of the book except for the basic thread and a few important scenes. When I read it, I thought that it would be extremely difficult to make a movie out of it.
In the end, the movie worked for me. The bond which Pi creates with the tiger and the way Richard breaks it ruthlessly in the end was something which touched me immensely.
For me too; I hardly remembered the book which was good in a way. I loved quite a few scenes in the movie. It worked for me too.
It was more of a visual treat for me. And stories about hope, faith and surviving against all odds, work for most of us. We Indians love, “end mein sab theek ho jayega’. Sometimes it does, as it did for Pi and sometimes it doesn’t ( his parents and others on the ship).
I actually liked the combination of visual brilliance with a strong message. Of course, we are suckers for such tales :).
I too think along the same lines of Amit… Though I found the book little difficult to digest at one go…the movie was an awesome adaptation of an unfilmable book!
The best scene for me was in the island and also when the tiger was trying to get up the boat after jumping into the sea to catch a ship
I felt similarly. The book felt too big and Ang Lee has done an amazing job making a movie out of it. Those two scenes were terrific like many others.
maybe tonight I will see it .. on wednesdays we get free cinema tickets 🙂
Bikram’s
Wah wah! Enjoy and let me know what you thought:).
no luck , i found it is going ot be released in uk on 21st Dec 🙁 so have to wait till then
Chalo kahin toh India mein pehle release hua :-P.
Hi Rachna. I love Life of Pi. I liked the movie a lot but not nearly as much as I loved the book. The book really messed with your head, which one was the true story, what do you believe, etc. I felt that the movie sort of made that decision for the viewer.
The cast was fantastic… and pondacherry (i’ve been there), what a great place 🙂
That’s nice to know, Agnes. Correct, I felt that same discomfort but isn’t it so reflective of how mythological and religious tales of — fantastic and larger than life. I have been to Pondicherry too. He did a lot of justice to the Indian scenes for sure! I loved the background score too.
Haven’t watched the movie yet, or read the book either. But your post is tempting me to it (both book & movie)!
hehe Go for it, RGB :).
I have seen the Trailer and reviews reg. this movie .Worth the watch
Certainly worth a watch!
will try to watch this weekend….:)
Sure go ahead :).
We couldn’t get the tickets last weekend, but it sure is on the agenda this week.
Go and take Aaryan along too :).
Your review makes me want to see this movie-should be nice!
I hope you like the movie.
I agree with what Amit has written. Even I thought it would be difficult to make the movie and I guess it was.
The book was an amazing journey into self and finding yourself. I had loved it and loved the movie. Just like I also wanted more of spirituality in the movie. I loved the movie too..
Yes, the book lead one to introspect and left more questions than the answers, but like I said I had read it a few years back so I had sketchy memories. It was a tough job making a movie out of it and it is marvelous that they could do so.
I’m happy to read your review. I found the book intriguing, and the previews of the movie suggest some amazing cinematography. I’ll have to go see it.
It is a visual delight, Galen! A book is a larger canvas and has the luxury of our imagination. A movie gets a much shorter duration to convert it into something meaningful. The visuals are breathtaking, and I am sure you will love it.
I loved the trailor. But for some reason the movie is not yet shown in theatres. It is expected to release only by Dec 20th. I am so looking forward to see them with my 3D glasses on!
How come? Which place is this?
I don’t know that there was a book, until the movie came and people started talking about it. Many times, I don’t watch a movie if there is a book already. But for this one, I just wanted to go ahead and watch it. I took Rushi and his friends and all the kids loved the movie, including me :)The taking was amazing. I didn’t like a bit here and there, but that’s ok.
If more time was spent exploring the deeper message, may be the movie would have become a bit spiritual in sense and may not appeal to some classes of the audience..just my thought 🙂
I know, Tabu should come in more movies right? I felt she must have done a better justice than Sridevi in English vinglish after watching her in Life of Pi.
Yeah kids loved it too for all the animals. You are right, Tabu would have been a perfect fit for English Vinglish, and her voice and diction are so much easier on the ears too ;-).
After reading the review…i think i made a huge mistake of not going up to the theaters till now…it seems to me as a must see movie…!!!
Welcome to my blog, Anjan! Do go and watch.
Thanks so much for the review! I actually have not read the book, so I was in two minds as to whether to watch the movie or not!
You don’t need to read the book to enjoy the movie. It is complete even otherwise.
Great review.Rachna, I missed both, reading the book as well the movie. Hope soon the DVD is available.
Thank you Kavita. You can still go for the movie. It released only last Friday.
A very nice review, Rachna! Hope am able to see:)
I am sure you will love it.
I have been avoiding the movie, since I really get these headaches when I watch 3D because of the glasses. But everyone have been raving about this movie, so I guess I would go ahead and watch it. Looks like worth an ache.
I love Tabu, and I agree I wish she did more films.
You are right, Jenny, I always get headaches with 3D glasses but I didn’t this time. I guess I got lucky :). Me too a big fan of Tabu.
I am planning to take my son for this movie and your review is compelling me more 🙂 I am just confused whether i should take him for 3D or the normal one.. He has just turned 5 and I don’t know if he will be happy or afraid in 3D
Thank you Jas! Yes both the kids enjoyed the movie for the animal sequence. The little one kept asking questions! I didn’t know that it is showing in normal mode too. But, for this movie 3D works really well so go for 3D. A couple of scenes might be a bit scary.
Am eager to see the movie, Rachna. Everyone is raving about how brilliant it is. I just got the book and about to read it after am done with the two I am currently reading.
I liked your experience with it. 🙂 Very well expressed. Thanks! When I first saw the title, I expected it to be something to do with scientific stuff 🙂
hehe Vidya! I didn’t call it a review because I can never restrict myself to the movie. I always take off exponentially :). You can watch the movie without reading the book. It really is a good standalone experience.
Have read the book and coupled with your review I feel I’ll enjoy the movie
Thanks KayEm! I have a feeling you will :).
Rachna, like you, I read the book long ago, maybe in 2005 or 2006 and after the brilliant reviews I can’t wait to see the film. I love the way you review an event, a film or anything — you transport me to the magic of the watched and felt. Thanks for that.
Joy always,
Susan
P. S: Whenever I descend steep steps, I can’t help but think of you and that incident with your little boy.
That’s such a sweet compliment, Susan! I feel my reviews are sort of crazy because I cannot reveal the storyline and it meanders to my experiences more than reviews :). Thank you so much for keeping me in your thoughts and by being more careful.
I haven’t read the book nor seen the movie. We were thinking of watching it this weekend. Now, I have made up my mind. We ARE going this weekend. 🙂
Thank you DC! Ang Lee should pay me some royalty for free promotion :-P.
Good review. I hope I get to see the movie. I read the book when it was published. Kind of liked it.
Thank you, TF! The book is good but very slow. I hardly remembered anything when I went to watch it. Unlike the Harry Potter series, the movie makes a lot of sense even if you have not yet read the book. The Adapted Screenplay is quite good.
Hi rachna ,
Myself Shorya Bist I blog on youthofest.com , I heard alot about this movie and the book and with good reviews but still not able to make time for watching i surely will watch this movie.i cant miss it now after reading your post.
Thank You
Shorya Bist
From Youthofest
Thank you Shorya! And welcome to my blog. Hope you like the movie.
No, haven’t seen the movie yet.
May be sometime next week
Achchi hai.
I haven’t read the book…but the movie was superb … good review .
Thank you TTT!
I would like to read the book first and then see the movie. That way I can enjoy it better 🙂
:). Whatever works for you!
I haven’t read the book and haven’t got the chance to see the film till now. But after reading your review I will surely do both.
I hope you enjoy it, Swapna! Thank you for your comment.
Rachna, I was a visual fx artist on this movie…. And I am so proud of the work we have produced! 😀 With the rave reviews around the world, we are indeed on cloud 9!
A big high five to you, Poonam! Great work indeed, and I really felt that the visual effects were really the best that I’ve seen this far!
Rachna,
You made me want to see this movie.
Take care
watched the movie two weeks back. . i too felt that better movies have been made surrounding the concept of spirituality in India . In that sense the movie failed to create much impact in me . But then as you mentioned , the technical aspect was beyond anybody’s imagination. Absolutely impeccable ! esp the ship wreck scene .