Life Of Pi - User Review
- IndiaGlitz, [Friday,November 23 2012]
The following article is by IndiaGlitz user Biju Peter and it is not IndiaGlitz's take towards anyone or anything..
Life of Pi is directed by Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Hulk, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon) based on the novel written by Yann Martel and scripted by David Magee.
The title of the film starts rolling with a soft Tamil melody demanding your attention immediately with cool 3D shots of animals in a zoo. The movie is told as a flashback by the main character Pi, played by Irfan Khan to a writer who wants to adapt his story into a novel. Set in Pondicherry, the character of Pi and his parents are introduced. Pi Patel (real name Piscine Molitor Patel played by Suraj Sharma), though raised as a Hindu believes in all other religions. His parents (played by Tabu and Adil Hussain) run a zoo in Pondicherry but eventually decide to sell the animals and move to Canada. They embark their journey in a Japanese ship along with all animals.
Tragedy strikes them in the form a thunderstorm and the ship sinks in the ocean; however Pi manages to escape in a lifeboat  not alone but with an injured Zebra, a Hyena, a orankutan and a Bengal Tiger (called Richard Parker). The rest of the movie shows how Pi manages to befriend the tiger and continue the journey without losing his faith in God and hoping to survive. The film ends with a small and interesting interaction between Pi and the Japanese police who try to take an account of the ship wreckage incident.
As if the survival antics of Pi with the tiger are not enough to entertain you, Ang Lee takes you through his own adventure world of flying fishes, glowing sea creatures, carnivores islands, thousands of meerkats, water bodies which turn poisonous in the night etc. The visual effects by Rhythm and Hues studio (Chronicle of Narnia) are outstanding and believable. Cinematography by Claudio Miranda is brilliant and is one of the strong reasons for you to watch the film. Be it the reflections shots, the beauty of the ocean in day and night, close-up shots of the tiger  all look stunning and like post cards. The scenes of thunderstorm looks little exaggerated but its shot in such a way that it creates a fear in you.
Suraj Sharma is the heart and soul of the film. ItÂs difficult to believe that this is his debut film and that too at an international level. And how can I not praise the TigerÂs performance. ItÂs there till the end of the film along with our hero and acts equally well .unbelievable graphics. Irfan and other actors donÂt have much to perform but do their roles aptly. On the negatives, while I agree Tabu and Adil Hussain are good actors, I felt a Tamil origin actor would have suited more for the roles. The background score could have been better.
ItÂs difficult to make a film out of this story, but I should say that Ang Lee has succeeded here. Overall, ÂLife of Pi is a good and interesting watch for the entire family.
Rating - 8/10. Good Watch
Watch 'Life Of Pi' Tamil Trailer