Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexis N

  
  Probably one of my favorite movies now. I guess it's a lot like the story of Job, every bad thing that could happen to Pi.. but it all works out. I chose the unbelievable. You get to choose your own ending. This movie is beautiful in every sense of the word.

• Bruce B

  
  From the reviews I expected a lot more from this film then I got. A good story but I was just expecting more from all the talk and hype. Worth watching and its a film that you have to be totally relaxed and ready to keep up with or you will miss the point. Maybe I missed the point. 3… More
  From the reviews I expected a lot more from this film then I got. A good story but I was just expecting more from all the talk and hype. Worth watching and its a film that you have to be totally relaxed and ready to keep up with or you will miss the point. Maybe I missed the point. 3 stars 4-17-13

• Phil H

  
  So many book adaptation these days! Ang Lee is fast becoming a master of lavish epic stories, stories with international spice. This new film bears all the hallmarks of a foreign film to be honest, I was surprised to discover it was American made, amazed in fact. The story is told in… More
  So many book adaptation these days! Ang Lee is fast becoming a master of lavish epic stories, stories with international spice. This new film bears all the hallmarks of a foreign film to be honest, I was surprised to discover it was American made, amazed in fact. The story is told in part by narration from the main character, who is an adult. He is telling a writer about his fantastical story, about his early years in India and his families decision to immigrate to Canada. After a slow build up revolving around his family, his keen interest in various religions, the way he acquired his name and the family owned zoo, we start to get to the crux of the film. Whilst on board the freighter bound for Canada, a storm hits and sinks the ship apparently killing everyone. 'Pi' survives on a lifeboat with a tiger, zebra, hyena and orangutan, this is where the real story begins. Up to this point I'll be totally honest with you all and say the film isn't overly interesting. A slow character building plot showing you Indian family life and how religious minded the young 'Pi' is. Don't let that scare you though, the film is not in the least bit preachy about religion, its a very light view really, 'Pi's' parents are surprisingly easy on him whilst he switches from one to another trying to find his feet. You do kinda expect his father to go ape shit with him but that doesn't happen, that's not what this is about. Of course the CGI in this film is pretty much the main focus, its not what the film is about but it takes centre stage. So how can I put this for you? the film looks like a crystal clear watercolour painting with 'Dali-esque' sequences of beauty that will inspire you, hows that?. Yes the CGI does look a tad obvious from time to time for sure (the animals in the lifeboat) but in general you don't care. Its like a living painting, constantly changing, expressing the sublime miracle that is nature, almost teaching you as it goes, a virtual wildlife show in poetic motion. Lets not forget about those sparkling sunsets, stormy skies, nautical dusk's and twilight's. The sequence at night whilst 'Pi' drifts on the ocean surface surrounded by hundreds of bioluminescent jellyfish is damn near stunning, then a mighty Humpback whale (I think) bursts through the waters surface saturating the screen in a glowing shower of turquoise liquid!...pure fantasy but none the less spectacular. To be frank I found it disappointing that these sequences were CGI, I wanted them to be real. As for the main animal 'character', 'Richard Parker' the Bengal tiger, he's fudging faultless! in fact I'm not even sure if they used a real tiger anywhere, did they??! I really couldn't tell. The story isn't all about fancy effects though as I said, there is a lot more to it than that. The young boy surviving on his own aboard this lifeboat, there is a huge amount of faith naturally, hope, courage, fear, acceptance and understanding. He must learn to deal with his fate, not to blame God for his situation but let God enter his heart and give him the strength to survive. He can't rely on God or a God to bail him out, he can't worry about which religion is right, he must be true to himself. He must also be cautious and firm with his big cat companion, learn to coexist together for the greater good, they need each other after all. In the end various elements from the various religions help young 'Pi' on his perilous journey. The story does a great job of simply showing how similar these religions are, how one is not greater than the other, nor is one anymore correct than the other, there is no definitive way. Sounds heavy but it really isn't, the whole plot plays out like a child's bedtime fairytale, a fairytale with a good message. This visual treat has so many layers its incredible, an Asian/Indian subcontinental core with a dash of Chiwan flavouring from its director. You can clearly see how the animals/mammals in the film are represented and beautifully expressed which is so important to both cultures, the tiger especially. Its so strange that this deep little tale comes from a French speaking Canadian!, it just seems so very close to the stories roots of India, or the far East/Indochina maybe. Sure the ending is a bit depressing, we find out what really happened, the reality, but like the characters in the story you too can choose which tale you preferred. There is actually no right answer, the question is, does the tale make YOU believe in God?.

• Flutie A

  
  Great story & sets an incredible standard as far as visual effects go. I was concerned about all the animals looking realistic, but those fears were quickly removed. The tiger looked especially lifelike, but all the other animals looked real and the scenery is incredibly… More
  Great story & sets an incredible standard as far as visual effects go. I was concerned about all the animals looking realistic, but those fears were quickly removed. The tiger looked especially lifelike, but all the other animals looked real and the scenery is incredibly vibrant, colorful & beautiful. You'll understand why it was up for and won Oscars in that regard. Watch it on Blu-ray! It's definitely going in my collection!

• Matt G

  
  Dull, long, and preposterous.

• Nikhil N

  
  This movie is a visual spectacle, and has some of the greatest CGI and effects since Avatar. It is definitely worth it if you have an appreciation for that kind of thing. But this movie also succeeds on a deeper level. It is a wonderful story about loss and faith, and it is definitely… More
  This movie is a visual spectacle, and has some of the greatest CGI and effects since Avatar. It is definitely worth it if you have an appreciation for that kind of thing. But this movie also succeeds on a deeper level. It is a wonderful story about loss and faith, and it is definitely Oscar worthy. The only flaw is that this movie doesn't trust the viewer's intelligence, and it has a character (at one point towards the end of the film) spell out everything that happened in a nice little package so that even if you were asleep throughout the movie you would understand what happened. Still, its a great movie that has a wonderful story and some of the best visual effects I have ever seen.

• Sanjay R

  
  I went in with lofty expectations, and they were exceeded. I thought this film would be amazing visuals and no story, but there is actually a great story to go along with the amazing visuals. I laughed more than I thought I would, the story is very emotional, the music is great, and… More
  I went in with lofty expectations, and they were exceeded. I thought this film would be amazing visuals and no story, but there is actually a great story to go along with the amazing visuals. I laughed more than I thought I would, the story is very emotional, the music is great, and Ang Lee's directing is impeccable. An unforgettable all around movie.

• Film C

  
  A visually effective movie that is beautifully made, although a very interesting and unique concept it is slow paced and at times slightly dragging, none the less still an achievement for ang lee.

• Josh L

  
  Life of Pi is a fantastic technical achievement, but a slow pace and overlong length sucks some of the joy out of it. The first 45 minutes are used to provide background information on the family and characters, but it's far too much and mostly boring. The middle section is… More
  Life of Pi is a fantastic technical achievement, but a slow pace and overlong length sucks some of the joy out of it. The first 45 minutes are used to provide background information on the family and characters, but it's far too much and mostly boring. The middle section is undoubtedly the best, with some sustained moments of awe and effective relationship building between Pi and the tiger. Unfortunately, the worst part of the movie is the final moments. An ill-advised add in of fantasy or reality takes some of the magic out of the movie and the 5 minutes or so of monologue explaining the other story that also could have happened is downright boring. They should have done the same thing with the other story and actually showed it and taken out some of the less compelling scenes. The special effects are incredibly impressive, especially the fully CG tiger that you never question for a second. Some of the special effects are a little too in your face and showy, but still beautiful regardless. Life of Pi is a movie I admired more than enjoyed as it did not engage me intellectually or emotionally, but it is certainly a well-made film that some will love.

• Matthew Samuel M

  
  An incredible, powerful, and beautiful film. Wow, wow, and wow.

• Mike S

  
  Divine on so many levels, my experience with <i>Life of Pi</i> is a lot like eating at my favorite Indian restaurant. First there is the appetizer: a light, but delectable salad to introduce you to what's coming and get the stomach going. Then there is the ambrosial… More
  Divine on so many levels, my experience with <i>Life of Pi</i> is a lot like eating at my favorite Indian restaurant. First there is the appetizer: a light, but delectable salad to introduce you to what's coming and get the stomach going. Then there is the ambrosial main course, but instead of the usual mixed sizzler of pork and lamb, entailing a side dish of garlic naan bread (mm, my mouth is watering something bad now just writing it), it's a buffet combined of the visual spice of <i>Avatar</i>, the powerful survival themes of <i>Cast Away</i> and the complex human-animal relationships of Rudyard Kipling's <i>The Jungle Book</i>. And yet, the parallels fall short of capturing its entire spirit and essence. Bravely adapted to screen from Yann Martel's bestseller - which, by the way, was said to be unfilmable - the versatile Ang Lee hasn't just beautifully brought it to life, he makes it look easy. Or perhaps better said, as easy as Pi. We should all thank our deities that it was he who got the assignment and not M. Night Shyamalan, who at one point was attached to write and direct this gargantuan project. Also Jean-Pierre Jeunet was among the considered, which is kind of ironic as many of its eye-popping qualities reminded me a lot of his work. Adventurous and deeply symbolic, it chronicles the story of Pi Patel, the son of a zookeeper who already as a child exhibits an unusual fascination for the mysteries of life, by its many faiths and religions. As narrated from his adult and present-day self, he recounts how he became multi-religious; picking meanings and parables from the various religions of the world like hors d'oeuvres from a smorgasbord. "Faith is a house with many rooms", as he explains to a young novelist who is interested in doing an adaptation of his remarkable tale. The most essential part of the story, however, begins with a sea voyage where Pi and his family - by initiative of his rationalistic father - leave their old life behind to settle for a new home in Canada. Along for the journey is all the animals of their zoo, in what basically boils down to a metaphor for Noah's Ark (which is just one of many religious references to discover throughout the film). Their venture soon takes a dramatic turn, however, as a storm plummets the ship to a watery grave, leaving him the only survivor in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Only human survivor that is, as he is now adrift on a lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker. What sounds like the premise of a bad joke, now becomes an epic struggle to stay alive and afloat. You wonder who's gonna eat who, although if you've read the novel or seen the trailers, you should already have the answer. Beyond the trials and tempests though, what really struck a personal chord with me was the matters of faith and inner endeavors. Juxtaposed to my own life, there was a time where I, much like Pi, was searching for the truths behind all things cosmic and earth-bound. What I discovered is that I couldn't identify myself with any one religion. By tradition, I was born and baptized as a Christian, but thankfully I lived in a family that allowed for open and critical thinking, and thus I was encouraged to form my own view and apprehension of the world. I believe that all religions have some truth to them, but none has all the answers. For instance, I am convinced there is a spirit world and a higher power beyond our comprehension. But I don't believe in God as represented in the Bible, but in my own version of "him", as a force and greater intelligence in all things, as opposed to an old man sitting on a cloud, dealing out judgment left and right. I also, like in Hinduism, believe very strongly in past lives and that each life we live comes with important lessons, the wisdom and spiritual evolvement from which we carry into the next. I don't pretend to have found all the answers, only that this seems true in my eyes, based upon instincts and personal experiences. My mind is always open and respectful towards those who believe differently or not at all. And I think that's what I'm trying underscore here: the film's underlying message of tolerance and broader perception. It's a key most valuable, if we're ever going to find that golden balance to bring harmony to our diverse society. I'm gonna stop there though, before this review leaps out of subject and expands into a thesis on my relations to faith. Besides, I think the 10-page essay I wrote in high school covered most of my thoughts on it. And there's so much more to this film than its compelling existentialism. Like the breathtaking visuals, which are as much a marvel to the eyes as they are to the soul. The effects conceived for Richard Parker alone is a milestone in technical wizardry. Although 86% of the tiger shots are CGI and the rest filmed with a real tiger, I honestly couldn't tell the two apart. Truly astounding, if not to say the best application of visual effects I've seen since Gollum and "Rise of the Planet of the Apes". Grand in scope and enchanting in every step of the journey, Ang Lee has with <i>Life of Pi</i> created a stunningly beautiful saga, not soon to fade from memory. A tragic, touching and incredibly piece of cinematic art, which emphasizes his genuine love for transcendent and soulful storytelling. I'm literally in awe with this film, which is, hands down, his best achievement to date. Vibrant, mesmerizing, phantasmagorical and colorful; whichever way you choose to interpret this spectacular adventure (and believe me, you will be left with a lot of thought-provoking choices), it's from any slant a gratifying magnum opus in the borderland between fantasy and reality. Not perfectly so perhaps, but what I can say with great certainty is that I - passionately and with much enthusiasm - already long to come back for another slice of celestial Pi. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mikes-Movie-Reviews/281824101875153?ref=hl

• Daniel L

  
  Life of Pi is a tremendous and breath-taking tale of morality, spirituality, reality, survival, and adventure. It is one of the year's best films.

• paul s

  
  Magical and mystical; full of allegory and metaphor and yet so very human (which perhaps is the point), Life of Pi is a revelation, not only for the story it tells, but for the way Ang Lee chooses to tell it. Every frame of this 3D effort is filled with beauty and love - here the 3D… More
  Magical and mystical; full of allegory and metaphor and yet so very human (which perhaps is the point), Life of Pi is a revelation, not only for the story it tells, but for the way Ang Lee chooses to tell it. Every frame of this 3D effort is filled with beauty and love - here the 3D does not detract... in fact, after a time you forget that it's even there as it is so seamless and natural. Whether you believe in things religious is besides the point here, as you can certainly be entertained and perhaps even brought into a sense of spirituality by this stunningly filmed story that weaves its spell of cosmic proportions around the story of a young man who must rely on himself and his wits in order to survive - his situation does not so much "bring out the best in him" as the bromide usually infers some form of "goodness", but in this instance it brings out the man, or more to the point, humanity that we should all embrace. I found the performance of Suraj Sharma as Pi to be so filled with humanity - he is straight forward, self effacing and thoroughly human. It is with equal marvel that I watched Irfan Khan's performance as the older version of Pi. He is able to exude a certain calm and acceptance of life as he tells his story; you can simply tell that he is at peace with not only who HE is, but with the world around him. I don't want to reveal the allegorical turns here, as it is best to discover them for yourself, but rest assured, you will be contemplating what this film has to say and how it says it long after the closing credits. A wonderful film that is well deserving of the 11 nominations for Oscar... this film touched me in glorious ways and I would recommend its viewing to anyone.

• Manu G

  
  A visually opulent triumph of film-making! Amazing Film!!! It is more than a survival story and it is not about friendship. This story is about faith. Director Ang Lee use all the tools he have to make this movie about a solitary young man not a boring one. It is narrated by both,… More
  A visually opulent triumph of film-making! Amazing Film!!! It is more than a survival story and it is not about friendship. This story is about faith. Director Ang Lee use all the tools he have to make this movie about a solitary young man not a boring one. It is narrated by both, young Pi and the Adult Pi, it uses music all the time so there is not space for uncomfortable silents and the rhythm of the scenes is fast. The film begs interpretation from the multiplicity of religions to the place of mankind in a hostile, Darwinian world. Ultimately the benign brotherhood of beasts and humans is affirmed not so much by lofty philosophy but by the necessity of man and beast working together to survive. In the end, Lee is interested in the individual's place in the universe as he struggles to harness nature and yet live in harmony with these elements. The conflict with the gross cook aboard the Japanese cargo ship taking Pi's family and animals to Canada is emblematic of the challenges facing the gifted with the groundlings. Pi's relationship with tiger "Richard Parker" represents all mankind's struggle to live in harmony with the forces it cannot control. The Life of Pi is everyone's life; the film is one of the best of the year and, even remembering the greatness of The Old Man and the Sea, Moby Dick, and Billy Budd, the best you will ever see about a boy, a tiger, and a boat. Highly recommended!!! Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zoo keeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi finds himself adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.

• Eric S

  
  "Life of Pi" is a powerful film and a visual masterpiece. The 3D works very well and stands alongside "Avatar" when it comes to the future of cinema. In addition to succeeding in technology, the film also has great performances by all the Pi actors. But it's… More
  "Life of Pi" is a powerful film and a visual masterpiece. The 3D works very well and stands alongside "Avatar" when it comes to the future of cinema. In addition to succeeding in technology, the film also has great performances by all the Pi actors. But it's the story that I love, especially how the end leaves it up for interpretation. Ang Lee did an incredible job directing and this is definitely the best film of 2012 in my opinion.

• Adriel Denzel L

  
  An adventure of sweet wonder and an endeavor to the tinkerings human feeling and its nature. A beautiful examination of what it means to live, providing the sparks to intuit one's own discovery of self.

• Emil K

  
  Ang Lee's Life of Pi is certainly something to behold. It is a visual feast for eyes and a story that has a huge heart and many philosophical questions about life, religion, death and human nature. That this film is as complex as it is does not come as a surprise. Director Ang… More
  Ang Lee's Life of Pi is certainly something to behold. It is a visual feast for eyes and a story that has a huge heart and many philosophical questions about life, religion, death and human nature. That this film is as complex as it is does not come as a surprise. Director Ang Lee has always succeeded in creating a multilayered portraits of his characters and this film is no exception. Lee started with more intimate and smaller films like Wedding Banquet, Eat, Drink Man Woman and Sense and Sensibility. Since then he has gone to make bigger films with more epic scale. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which stands still as his masterpiece, was a fantastic mixture of his elegant approach to characters and eye popping action set pieces. That film is a perfect example of epic filmmaking at its very best. Even his most commercial film, Hulk, is something much closer to an art film than straight comic book adaptation. Lee is an auteur who has very unique voice as an storyteller and director. I admire his ability to tell his stories without rushing or unnecessary visual effects. That said it must be mentioned that Life of Pi is Lee's first film which he has made into 3D and to be honest i cannot see ay proper reason for that. I understand that Lee has felt interest for that format and wanted to try something new, but here the 3D effect just does not bring anything special into film. I have seen both 2D and 3D versions of this film and i actually prefer more the 2D one. The whole 3D is more distracting than necessary element. Same goes for Lee's odd choice to play with film's aspect ratio which keeps changing between 1.33 : 1 and 2.35 : 1. That was interesting choice but felt just a gimmick and did not have any impact on me. Without all the visual trickery this could have been as fantastic as Lee's own Crouching Tiger, but now it falls a bit short of becoming something larger than life. There are certainly moments that will have you on the edge of your seat. For example the emotionally devasting god storm scene is truly thunderous moment to watch. There is also fantastic support from cinematographer Claudio Miranda and composer Mychael Danna who has made one of his greatest scores with Life of Pi. Overall this is another accomplishment from Ang Lee and his crew. It has its flaws but films like this does not come that often anymore and i find this story deeply touching and beautiful. For those who are looking for an adventure film with big heart, Life of Pi serves an unforgettable journey that is worth to see.

• Greg S

  
  A religious Indian boy is trapped on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. A mix of LIFEBOAT and (a somewhat faulty) relgious allegory, with the most spectacular visuals of 2012.

• Carlos M

  
  Technically impressive and with astonishing visuals (despite the poor 3D), this is a magnificent and emotionally intense allegory that uses a lot of symbolism to raise questions about God, faith and how sometimes we can be forced to face our inner beasts. A wonderful film of rare… More
  Technically impressive and with astonishing visuals (despite the poor 3D), this is a magnificent and emotionally intense allegory that uses a lot of symbolism to raise questions about God, faith and how sometimes we can be forced to face our inner beasts. A wonderful film of rare beauty, to be seen many times.

• Nadira I

  
  One of my favorite films of 2012. Ang Lee proves once again that he is capable of giving the best story telling in a film. Suraj Sharma did great as a first time actor.

Read all 20 featured audience ratings