“Life of Pi” has an interesting mix of the ordinary and the magical.
At times, the simple story has a quiet power, but there are also instances when
it strikes a jarringly wrong note, especially at the end. This movie is more
remarkable because of the excellent special effects than because of its
strength of narrative, emotional impact or allegorical complexity although the
movie argues that faith is necessary for survival. The movie is divided into
three sections. The first introduces us to Pi (Suraj Sharma), whose name is
short for ‘Piscene,’ but he changes it because it sounds too much like
‘pissing.’ There is a brief summary of his early life as he explores various
faiths, including Hinduism, Christianity and Islam. Essentially, he wants to
‘know’ God. In India, Pi’s family owns a zoo, but economic conditions force his
family to move to Canada. They, along with the zoo’s animals, are packed aboard
a freighter for an ocean crossing. In the middle of a rough storm near the
Marinas Trench, the ship sinks. The only survivors are Pi and four animals.
The second segment of the movie comprises the difficulties
of crossing the Pacific on a 20-foot lifeboat. Three of the four animals, a
zebra, a hyena and an orangutan, are quickly devoured by the fourth, a large
Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. Pi abandons the lifeboat for an improvised
raft that’s tethered to the boat, but circumstances eventually force him to
forge an uneasy co-existence with the tiger. The movie’s third section, which has
a tacked-on feel, offers an ‘alternative’ narrative of Pi’s sea adventures. The
problem with this part of the movie is that it is explained, with no visual
re-interpretation of events. Pi is in a hospital bed telling this other story,
which really doesn’t work. And because the movie starts with the adult Pi
(Irrfan Khan) telling his story to a Canadian author (Rafe Spall), there’s
never any doubt that Pi will survive his ordeal. Nonetheless, the most
compelling part of the movie is the middle segment with Pi’s evolving
relationship with Richard Parker, especially since the tiger is CGI. At no
point do we doubt that this is a living, breathing tiger. “The Life of Pi” is a
gorgeous movie and you must see it in 3D, but its weak ending keeps it from
being a 4-smile film. 11/7/12
1 comment:
"Life of Pi" may not have been the best movie of 2012 but it was one of the most interesting. the filming/cinematography was brilliant, the special effects were, perhaps, the best of the year and and the movie really makes you think. Even with the obvious flaws its a "MUST SEE"
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