“Do you believe me?” an older Pi asks the writer who has just heard him narrate the unbelievable story of a boy who survived a Tiger in the Pacific after a shipwreck.
“It’s a lot to take in,” replies the writer.
I found myself with the same response when people asked me after the Indian premiere at the International Film Festival of India, Goa.
For a good hour and a half, the middle portion of the film to be specific, the film is a delightfully riveting visual treat, as Pi finds himself on the boat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a tiger.
If the idea of Pi telling the writer the story was to make him believe in God, Ang Lee sure has succeeded in making us believe in a God that made it possible for words from a Booker-winning book come alive. And how!
The storm that causes the shipwreck and the aftermath - the interplay between the four survivors in a small confined space in the middle of the ocean is fascinatingly etched out.
No dialogues, just computer generated animals with a brilliant debutant Suraj Sharma and Ang Lee crafting magic realism, playing 3D-savvy God.
For almost an hour in the 127 minute long film, it’s just the boy and the tiger. Kids would love to watch this stuff with their mouths wide open. But despite all the jaw dropping awe that the film evokes, it does carry the baggage of philosophy from the book and that’s what makes it a little too long and less market-savvy.
This is not to say it’s bad cinema. It’s as good as it gets if watched in the context of a book that delves deep into religion and God and an understanding of his mysterious ways. These are the portions that may be too much to take for the younger audience that would prefer the spectacle over the philosophy but if you are in the right mood and space for a spiritual journey, Life of Pi is just what you need. IF you are willing to overlook the inconsistency and assortment of different variants of Indian and Canadian accents employed in the film (Tabu's Tamil being the most irksome), you may find little else to complain about.
Young Suraj Sharma couldn't have asked for a better debut and performs like a veteran. This is a performance that will instantly make people draw comparisons with Tom Hanks in Castaway and Suraj wouldn't fare any less in the contest. We shouldn't be surprised if Richard Parker (the computer generated tiger) gets a nomination for best supporting role, that’s how convincing the visual effects are.
It’s hard to tell where cinematography (Claudio Miranda) ends and visual effects begin, especially when you see a magical island full of meerkats. Technically, the film seems set for a big haul at the Oscars.
Just surrender to this movie magic, strictly with your 3D glasses on. For you surely wouldn't have seen anything like this before. Even if it's a little longer than you would've liked.
Genre: Adventure
Director: Ang Lee
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Gerard Depardieu, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Shravanthi Sainath
Storyline: A 16 year old boy has to survive a hungry Bengal tiger on a boat after a shipwreck
Bottomline: A visually stunning spectacle that rises above the book's philosophical verbosity
Keywords: Life of Pi, Life of Pi review, Ang Lee, Goa Film Festival, Sudhish Kamath
The Bengal tiger aka Richard Parker is an offshoot of digital imagery
– the eyes, majestic walk, fur and the famous roar makes it all the
more believable. This story is appealing as it deals with the problems
Pi must solve which forms the most dramatic center piece of the film
and you start identifying with Pi and the leap of faith he sorely
needs. How in the middle of the ocean would he find food and water,
avoid turning into Mr Parker’s meal of the day, guts and gumption
required to sail through this ordeal. The relationship he shares with
Parker shows shades of fear, competition, predatory instincts,
compassion and love with the director showing remarkable restraint and
control in not following the predictable path.The movie is one of a
kind which is a visual marvel aided by wonderful storytelling , has
profound lines , goose bump inducing moments and makes you believe in
all the wondrous things and the avalanche of emotions the director has
used to play with the human psyche
Brilliant movie that stayed completely true to the book. Will be a huge haul at the
oscars, including best actor for Suraj Sharma.
waitin fr it :)
" Life of Pi " is a true story, connecting India and Canada. I have read Martel's book which
Was given the Booker award. Like Titanic, it is difficult to make a cinema from the story in
The high seas. I have seen the trailer- not the full picture- and I was amazed and thriller.
Those who are highly spiritual, will have the vision of God in the story. It seems two or
three veteran directors made an attempt to direct this picture, but due to variety of reasons
They withdrew. The writer hopes that God will bless Lee, for his attempt for instilling
Godliness in the viewers. C.P.Chandra Das from usa
Please Email the Editor