Saturday, November 24, 2012

Life of Pi: A Fan's View

Life of Pi (or LoP) is like a beautiful painting that comes alive in front of your eye, immersing you (literally) in its dazzling world. It doesn't hurt that you are watching the movie in 3D which actually makes you feel that you are part of this painting. Right from the picturesque Pondicherry to the vast expanse of the Pacific to the floating Meerkat  island and the quaint household in Canada. In one scene you feel like you looking at normal clubhouse only to realise that you are actually looking from within the pool with people floating and swimming across the screen. Another memorable scene is that of the flying fish.

The movie is a visual delight. It is poetry recited to music. It is a story of hope during the time of hopelessness. It is a story of companionship, even if it comes from the most unexpected quarter. It is story of  holding on to faith when all hope is gone.

Not for a single moment do you realise that most part of the world is created on computer, everything seem so real. You believe that this world is real. The sea turbulent from the storm, glowing from all the algae, the skies full of stars, grey and menacing from the storm., the lightening bolts flashing across the screen, the animals, the fish in the water, the humpback whale that jumps over the boat, most importantly, Richard Parker, look so real and dazzling and awe inspiring.

In the centre of it all is Pi and his forced companion Richard Parker. Throughout you feel joy, you feel despair, you feel pain from all the loss, you feel irritated, but never once do you feel bored. It is beautiful and touching scene when you see Pi take Richard Parker's head and put it on his lap and says sorry to him and consoles himself and Richard Parker.

Though the faith and God angle of the movie really doesn't get to blossom, the movie is a sheer delight to watch for its dazzling visuals. It's hats off to Suraj Sharma for doing what Tom Hanks did in Castaway, spend majority of the movie just accompanied by Richard Parker and surrounded by water. To think about it, Tom Hank is a seasoned Actor whereas for Suraj is doing just his first film, is really admirable. Tabu is absolutely beautiful and tender. Irrfan Khan is his brilliant self as the narrator. But the real hero is a computer generated Richard Parker, a Bengal Tiger who is so believably ferocious, wild, magnificent, tender, you jut fall in love with him.

All-in-all it is a visual experience that needs to be seen, that needs you to immerse all your senses to enjoy it, A two thumbs way up.

For me the proudest moment came in the closings. To see my dearest and bestest friend's name appear as the credit rolled up. It made me feel like a real proud papa with  a swelling chest full of pride. I knew that what I witnessed was cinematic magic and he was part of it. He helped to create a spell that transported me to different world. I couldn't be more happy and proud for him.

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