New Release: Life of Pi


Maybe with the "end of days" approaching in roughly three weeks, the big name filmmakers thought 2012 would be a good year to put religion under the microscope. Ridley Scott went big and bold by having scientists search the universe for mankind's creators, while P.T. Anderson kept it grounded between two exceptionally flawed men. But for me, the only one that has worked is Ang Lee's adaptation of Life of Pi.

During a terrible storm at sea, a teenage boy, Pi (Suraj Sharma), is the sole human survivor of a shipwreck. After losing his entire family, he finds himself helpless in the middle of the ocean on a life boat with nothing but a grown Bengal tiger as his only companion.

Prior to the tragedy, we're given a good deal of backstory on Pi's childhood, particularly his fascination with religion. But not just one religion, three. Raised Hindu by his mother (a choice frowned upon by his atheist father), Pi eventually finds God in a Catholic church, before becoming a Muslim. However, he never rejects one religion for another, but welcomes the teachings of all three. So when he finds himself dying in the ocean, his multiple faiths are equally tested. The film also explores the human spirit and the will to survive in the worst circumstances. And by the end, it's revealed that the struggle to live with one's own actions for that survival are the biggest challenge.

Lee's film is visually delicious as it dishes difficult situations and themes many of us will never have to face or could ever fully understand. It is larger than life, yet still stays on an intimate scale, and it all comes together in the end as a sad, hopeful and beautiful journey.

8 comments:

  1. I loved the book, but even with your glowing review, I'm still on the fence about seeing the film. Maybe I'll think about it for a few more days. Glad you enjoyed it.

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    1. Still need to finish the book, but I'd say if you don't make it to the heater, at least check out the dvd someday. But it IS one to be experienced in the theater.

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    2. I loved the book, and thought the film was great. Monica - I think you'd likely enjoy it. Best reimagining of a book for the screen I've ever seen. Particularly for such an unfilmable book.

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  2. I cannot wait to see this film - i think the look of it is so strange; so brightly lit! But, from what you - and everyone else - says, this look is simply stunning. Probably moreso in 3D. I loved the book too - so can't wait to see the entire story. Are there any semi-controversial statements?

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    1. I'm not a fan of 3D, so we watched this the old fashioned way, and still loved the look of it. I haven't finished the book, though seeing this makes me want to start from the beginning.

      Semi-controversial statements? Do you mean within in the film? I don't recall. I guess the most "controversial" element was his acceptance of the three religions, but I found that more beautiful than anything.

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  3. I can't wait to see this, either! I loved the book and it just looks great. Might even go for 3D.

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    1. Let me know how the 3D turns out. You know my stance, so I avoided it, but the film was still amazing in boring old 2D ;)

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    2. Didn't see 3D, but loved it. What a gorgeous film - and the special effects seemed so real it was crazy.

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