Life of Pi

Welcome to another episode of Lights....Camera....Popcorn!

Today's review is Life of Pi.

Directed by Ang Lee.

Written by David Magee.

Based on the novel "Life of Pi". Written by Yann Martel.

Review #194

MPAA Rating: Rated PG for emotional thematic content throughout, and some scary action sequences and peril.

Run Time: 127 min

Cast

Suraj Sharma...Pi Patel

Irrfan Khan...Adult Pi Patel

Ayush Tandon...Pi Patel (11 / 12 Years)

Gautam Belur...Pi Patel (5 Years)

Adil Hussain...Santosh Patel

Tabu...Gita Patel

Ayan Khan...Ravi Patel (7 Years)

Mohd Abbas Khaleeli...Ravi Patel (13 / 14 Years)

Vibish Sivakumar...Ravi Patel (18 / 19 Years)

Rafe Spall...Writer

Gérard Depardieu...Cook

James Saito...Older Insurance Investigator

Jun Naito...Younger Insurance Investigator

Andrea Di Stefano...Priest

Shravanthi Sainath...Anandi

Ang Lee....Where have you been? It's been a while since you've made a film. He's almost becoming the Daniel Day Lewis of directors. To be honest I'm not complaining because the films he's making are good ones. Really good ones.

This includes Hulk for all you haters.

My personal favorite is obviously Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. That film was a masterpiece in every sense of the word. The writing, the acting, the visuals and of course the fight choreography. The entire film was a true work of art that got royally SCREWED by the Academy in 2000. I don't care what you say, to suggest that Gladiator was a better film worthy of Best Picture is absurd. That inferior picture won on a technicality. The Academy was never going to give a foreign language film Best Picture especially when there's a Best Foreign film category.

It's a tragedy and a travesty that I clearly have not let go because I never hesitate to rant about this.

Nevertheless, Lee's work has ranged from Martial Arts spectacles to Comic Books to his specialty. Drama. He now adds a new genre to his library.

Adventure.

Life of Pi falls into that category but in a ways that you might not be accustomed to. It doesn't matter because this was a fabulous film.

Plot

A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor ... a fearsome Bengal tiger.

There is a very important thing to remember here. The film is such a visual masterpiece that it's very easy to get swept away in it and lose touch of the story Life of Pi is trying to tell. This film revolves around three words.

Survival. Faith. Hope.

These words may seem simple but are far more complex in the context Life of Pi presents them. Pi's journey begins with his many faiths and what they mean to him. Instead of questioning the many forms god takes, he embraces them and accepts them as part of him. This of course creates confusion amongst his family as they were raised to believe the god that's based from their religion. Pi never saw it that way and it comes back to help him later on.

After the ship sinks Pi is left in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a life boat and a group of animals. A Zebra, hyena, orangutan and last but not least. Richard Parker. The bengal tiger. I'll get to his name in a minute. The scenes that follow with Pi and the animals all feature one common thread. Survival of the fittest. One by one the animals face of against each other displaying their wild and animalistic behaviors. Then Richard Parker emerges from the boat upsetting the established order and taking control of the area. This forces Pi to fend for himself in other ways to keep himself alive.

Once it's Pi and Richard Parker left behind the survival arc surrounded Pi avoiding dying of hunger, thirst and the tiger. Being well educated, Pi comes up with ways to avoid Ricahrd Parker tearing him to pieces while adjusting to the elements and violent nature of the ocean. The constant battles between Pi and Richard Parker tests Pi's immense faith. The film does a terrific job of putting Pi through situations that any normal person of faith would waver at. Yet he continues on in believing he will be saved. Finally as he manages to co habitate with the tiger things begin to look bleaker than they already seemed. This sends Pi down a very dark place where he begins to give up any hope of a rescue.

This is what made this film such a joy to watch. You are transported into Pi's world and feel everything he feels. As you see all of the obstacles and situations that Pi is forced to deal with, you start to question if you would have been able to survive in the same scenario. I know I did and I know I would not have made it to the lifeboat let alone staying on one with a bengal tiger. This is helped by the stunning visuals that Lee and his team created. When a good majority of the movie is spent with a teenager and a tiger, there clearly isn't much opportunity for dialogue so the scenery has to act as it's own character.

That clearly happens here. This film had a beautiful story. Combine that with equally beautiful scenery and visuals then you got something going.

Ang Lee has hit another one out of the park here. His filmography is quietly or not so quietly becoming very impressive. He is an excellent story teller that has a flare for the eye, mind and heart. He knows how to manipulate them to get his point across. He keeps this up and he might become a serious powerhouse name.

If he isn't one already.

On the 5 star scale. Life of Pi gets. 4 stars with a "Worth Every Penny!" recommendation.

That's a wrap for today. Up next is The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Until Next Episode...."I'll Save You A Seat!"

"D"