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Movie Metropolis (309 KP) rated Life Of Pi (2012) in Movies
Jun 10, 2019 (Updated Jun 10, 2019)
Ang Lee has directed some very artistic and emotionally charged films in his career and his new movie, Life of Pi is certainly no exception. But can his take on Yann Martel’s 2001 novel of the same name live up to his usual high standards?
In short, the answer is a resounding yes. From the stunning special effects and beautiful acting to the heart-warming story, it captivates from beginning to end like no other film released this year.
The film begins with a pet hate of mine, the credits. I always think a movie that starts with its credits is usually a huge let-down but something was different here, as soon as the brilliantly filmed names flash across the screen, I knew this film was going to be spectacular, just how spectacular however, I was not prepared for.
The story is, essentially what the title says it is, the life of a boy called Pi and his extraordinary journey from childhood, through adolescence and finally into adulthood. It seems quite simple and perhaps nothing too innovative or different, but the way Lee has captured the magic of the novel really does shine through on screen.
In the present day, Rafe Spall plays a budding writer searching for inspiration for his next big book. He comes across Irrfan Khan who plays the adult Pi and has an unbelievable story to tell. So, as he begins to narrate this incredible journey, the viewer is transported to when Pi was a boy.
It’s true that the film takes a while to get going and the scenes in Pi’s native India are perhaps the most testing of the entire film. The momentum is built up slowly as the boy travels through school life whilst his family run a small zoo in their hometown. Alas, the perfection of his childhood is ruined when his entire family decide to relocate to Canada due to an economic crisis. They are packed onto a tanker with the zoo animals on-board and begin the journey to their new life.
Whilst on the last leg of their journey, their ship is ravaged by a severe storm and Pi’s family is lost, along with most of the zoo animals and, in a scene that even betters the emotionally charged sinking in Titanic and the CGI packed sinking in Poseidon, their tanker is lost to the ocean.
Thankfully he survives, along with an injured zebra, a naughty hyena and a motherly orangutan in a small life-boat. It’s safe to say that the zebra and ape don’t last too long on-board a ship with a hyena and they are picked off as lunch. However, also sailing with them is Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger and he forms the basis of the film, along with Pi. At first, after Richard Parker makes light work of the hyena, the relationship between Pi and his new shipmate is somewhat strained, a constant battle between who is going to eat who and the only sensible option is for Pi to live on separate raft tied to the life-boat.
However, a few days pass and finally they can share a boat, albeit after a couple of amusing scenes involving urine and some flying fish.
Richard Parker is a beautiful animal to say the least, a mixture of live action tigers, CGI animation and animatronics really brings him to life, which is good considering he is the only other character in the film. This is where Ang Lee’s brilliance as a director shines, bringing warmth and heart to a character that is not only not real, but an animal, without the ability to talk and share feelings. Credit must also be given to newcomer Suraj Sharma who plays Pi Patel absolutely brilliantly. I simply could not believe this was his first big acting role; his performance is nothing short of stunning.
Then there are the special effects and 3D. Everything is a wonder to behold and the 3D is a help in enjoying the film, rather than a hindrance which it continues to be in other movies. There are two scenes in particular which really stand out, including a lot of jellyfish and a few thousand meerkats. I won’t say anything else, as they need to be seen to be believed.
Moreover, in the depths of this film lies a huge emotional core, the story of a boy and his ‘pet’ and the perils they face, the togetherness they bring to one another is touching to say the least and let’s just say there were more than a few sniffles coming from the rows behind me in the cinema. However, it is more than just a story of companionship; there is a deep religious message about believing in god even if he seems to not be there 100% of the time. Whether or not you choose to read into this is your decision, but it’s there throughout.
Life of Pi is something really special, a magical journey that needs to be seen to be believed. Very rarely, a film comes along that touches your heart, your soul and your head and this is one of those films. Everything from the performances of all the actors, the beautiful recreation of Richard Parker and stunning special effects make this film as revolutionary as Avatar was in 2009. It is not only the best film of 2012; it is one of the best films ever made. Please, I urge all of you who read this, go see it, and witness history in the making.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2012/12/22/life-of-pi-review-2012/
In short, the answer is a resounding yes. From the stunning special effects and beautiful acting to the heart-warming story, it captivates from beginning to end like no other film released this year.
The film begins with a pet hate of mine, the credits. I always think a movie that starts with its credits is usually a huge let-down but something was different here, as soon as the brilliantly filmed names flash across the screen, I knew this film was going to be spectacular, just how spectacular however, I was not prepared for.
The story is, essentially what the title says it is, the life of a boy called Pi and his extraordinary journey from childhood, through adolescence and finally into adulthood. It seems quite simple and perhaps nothing too innovative or different, but the way Lee has captured the magic of the novel really does shine through on screen.
In the present day, Rafe Spall plays a budding writer searching for inspiration for his next big book. He comes across Irrfan Khan who plays the adult Pi and has an unbelievable story to tell. So, as he begins to narrate this incredible journey, the viewer is transported to when Pi was a boy.
It’s true that the film takes a while to get going and the scenes in Pi’s native India are perhaps the most testing of the entire film. The momentum is built up slowly as the boy travels through school life whilst his family run a small zoo in their hometown. Alas, the perfection of his childhood is ruined when his entire family decide to relocate to Canada due to an economic crisis. They are packed onto a tanker with the zoo animals on-board and begin the journey to their new life.
Whilst on the last leg of their journey, their ship is ravaged by a severe storm and Pi’s family is lost, along with most of the zoo animals and, in a scene that even betters the emotionally charged sinking in Titanic and the CGI packed sinking in Poseidon, their tanker is lost to the ocean.
Thankfully he survives, along with an injured zebra, a naughty hyena and a motherly orangutan in a small life-boat. It’s safe to say that the zebra and ape don’t last too long on-board a ship with a hyena and they are picked off as lunch. However, also sailing with them is Richard Parker, a Bengal tiger and he forms the basis of the film, along with Pi. At first, after Richard Parker makes light work of the hyena, the relationship between Pi and his new shipmate is somewhat strained, a constant battle between who is going to eat who and the only sensible option is for Pi to live on separate raft tied to the life-boat.
However, a few days pass and finally they can share a boat, albeit after a couple of amusing scenes involving urine and some flying fish.
Richard Parker is a beautiful animal to say the least, a mixture of live action tigers, CGI animation and animatronics really brings him to life, which is good considering he is the only other character in the film. This is where Ang Lee’s brilliance as a director shines, bringing warmth and heart to a character that is not only not real, but an animal, without the ability to talk and share feelings. Credit must also be given to newcomer Suraj Sharma who plays Pi Patel absolutely brilliantly. I simply could not believe this was his first big acting role; his performance is nothing short of stunning.
Then there are the special effects and 3D. Everything is a wonder to behold and the 3D is a help in enjoying the film, rather than a hindrance which it continues to be in other movies. There are two scenes in particular which really stand out, including a lot of jellyfish and a few thousand meerkats. I won’t say anything else, as they need to be seen to be believed.
Moreover, in the depths of this film lies a huge emotional core, the story of a boy and his ‘pet’ and the perils they face, the togetherness they bring to one another is touching to say the least and let’s just say there were more than a few sniffles coming from the rows behind me in the cinema. However, it is more than just a story of companionship; there is a deep religious message about believing in god even if he seems to not be there 100% of the time. Whether or not you choose to read into this is your decision, but it’s there throughout.
Life of Pi is something really special, a magical journey that needs to be seen to be believed. Very rarely, a film comes along that touches your heart, your soul and your head and this is one of those films. Everything from the performances of all the actors, the beautiful recreation of Richard Parker and stunning special effects make this film as revolutionary as Avatar was in 2009. It is not only the best film of 2012; it is one of the best films ever made. Please, I urge all of you who read this, go see it, and witness history in the making.
https://moviemetropolis.net/2012/12/22/life-of-pi-review-2012/
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Delete All Suspects (Turing Hopper, #4) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
A young man is serious injured in a hit and run, and his grandmother hires PI Tim to find out why. Is it related to his computer business? Tim will turn to his AIP friend Turing Hopper to find out. Another great book in a great series. Wish there were more. Read them in order because it's fun watching all the characters grow over time.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-delete-all-suspects-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/02/book-review-delete-all-suspects-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lindsay (1706 KP) rated Case File Phantom in Books
Sep 7, 2017
The author did a good job with the plot. It more about PI than the woman we first meet at the theater. It, her missing husband that has more mysteries. Constance McCauley finds some connections between Alex and his foster parents and also his parents.
The title has a good title for that it fits it perfectly. What making Alex run? What really happened to make him run. Can Constance McCauley and her assistant Tony get the answers to this case? There are some surprises though some of the book.
The title has a good title for that it fits it perfectly. What making Alex run? What really happened to make him run. Can Constance McCauley and her assistant Tony get the answers to this case? There are some surprises though some of the book.
Lindsay (1706 KP) rated Case File Phantom: Phantom in Books
Feb 8, 2018
Book Tour: Case File Phantom The author did a good job with the plot. It more about PI then the woman we first meet at the theater. It, her missing husband that has more mysteries. Constance McCauley finds some connections between Alex and his foster parents and also his parents.
The title has a good title for that it fits it perfectly. What making Alex run? What really happened to make him run. Can Constance McCauley and her assistant Tony get the answers to this case? There are some surprises though some of the book.
The title has a good title for that it fits it perfectly. What making Alex run? What really happened to make him run. Can Constance McCauley and her assistant Tony get the answers to this case? There are some surprises though some of the book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated The Last Word (The Spellmans, #6) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Isabel's hostile take over of the family's PI firm has not gone well. As her parents rebel, she tries to juggle the cases and the paperwork side of the business.
All this is served with multiple storylines and plenty of laughs. The characters are as rich as always, and the ending is great. No, this isn't the last we'll hear from the Spellmans, but the ending of the book explains the title perfectly.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-last-word-by-lisa-lutz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
All this is served with multiple storylines and plenty of laughs. The characters are as rich as always, and the ending is great. No, this isn't the last we'll hear from the Spellmans, but the ending of the book explains the title perfectly.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-last-word-by-lisa-lutz.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Lenard (726 KP) rated Spenser Confidential (2020) in Movies
Sep 15, 2020
If you wanted to turn this into the series it is, you should not have hired Mark Wahlberg to play PI Spencer. I read many of the later Robert Parker novels in the series so Cissy is a huge shock when Susan is his soul mate. Bokeem Woodbine looks more like Hawk than Winston Duke (although Winston Duke is a convincing young Hawk). I am probably biased since Spencer is such a long-in-the -tooth character now and this is a first in a series type movie.
Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Magpie Murders in Books
Jul 25, 2017
Absolutely innovative and intriguing listening
Listened to on Audible.co.uk.
Listening to a murder mystery about a murder mystery was as intriguing as listening to a book about a book. A total reinvention of classic Agatha Christie type tale revamped for the modern reader. Is it guessable? One of the mysteries is, but the other solved by fictional PI Atticus Pund was definitely more of a mind bender. It leaves you analysing clues in the same way the narrator tries to do. As an Agatha Christie fan, I was hooked.
Well read and written by the literary genius that is Anthony Horowitz.
Listening to a murder mystery about a murder mystery was as intriguing as listening to a book about a book. A total reinvention of classic Agatha Christie type tale revamped for the modern reader. Is it guessable? One of the mysteries is, but the other solved by fictional PI Atticus Pund was definitely more of a mind bender. It leaves you analysing clues in the same way the narrator tries to do. As an Agatha Christie fan, I was hooked.
Well read and written by the literary genius that is Anthony Horowitz.
Paige (428 KP) rated The Fountain (2006) in Movies
Jul 27, 2017
So pretty
This movie is so pretty that after I watch it I am upset about how the actual world doesn't measure up. Aronofsky's best and most underrated films. I always associate him with hyperfocusing on a central idea- in Pi, it was truth; in Black Swan, perfection; Requiem for a Dream, addiction. This one is focused on death, but is actually his most uplifting movie. There are three stories that run in parallel, which few directors pull off, but it is done exquisitely in this.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Bring the Night in Books
Sep 8, 2023 (Updated Sep 8, 2023)
Suicide? Or Murder?
Los Angeles in 1939 was experiencing a rash of suicides, but in the middle of them, PI Nate Ross is hired to prove one was murder when a brother and sister walk into his office wanting him to find the truth about their father’s death. The cops quickly ruled it another suicide, but they insist that it was murder. It isn’t long before Nate is finding more questions than answers and receiving threats. Can he figure out what is going on?
The suicide or murder question is a common trope of mysteries, and this book doesn’t spend long before Nate is certain it was murder. I had a couple of the twists figured out, but I didn’t grasp the full picture until the end. Even then, I had to think about the ending to make sure everything made sense; a little more exposition would have been nice. Nate is fun to be around as always, and the rest of the cast is interesting as well. As a PI novel, there’s a little more language and violence than in the typical novels I read, but it was still minimal. The use of slang from the time is a bit over the top, but it does help bring the period to life. Fans of the genre will be glad they picked up this book.
The suicide or murder question is a common trope of mysteries, and this book doesn’t spend long before Nate is certain it was murder. I had a couple of the twists figured out, but I didn’t grasp the full picture until the end. Even then, I had to think about the ending to make sure everything made sense; a little more exposition would have been nice. Nate is fun to be around as always, and the rest of the cast is interesting as well. As a PI novel, there’s a little more language and violence than in the typical novels I read, but it was still minimal. The use of slang from the time is a bit over the top, but it does help bring the period to life. Fans of the genre will be glad they picked up this book.
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2103 KP) rated Revenge of the Spellmans (The Spellmans, #3) in Books
Mar 9, 2018
Izzy Spellman is enjoying her time off from the family PI business. But then she gets a client who thinks his wife is cheating on him. That's not the case, but the wife does have some secret. Meanwhile, little sister Rae is accused to cheating on her PSAT's and Izzy moves into her brother's basement. Yep, it's more wacky fun with my favorite dysfunctional family. I did feel things were feeling a little too familiar at this point, but it was still lots of fun.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-revenge-of-spellmans-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.
Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2013/05/book-review-revenge-of-spellmans-by.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.