Life of Pi

Going to see it tomorrow. Our cinema doesn't do 3D anyway. Glad you've recommended it as it's had mixed reviews. I haven't read the book either as I don't seem to have the concentration for books these days.

Don't think I will see this as I hated the book. Everyone else I know seems to have loved it.
Think it was the awful graphic descriptions of animal suffering. Don't think I could bear it on the screen. I'm sure there was a deeper message in there but it was lost on me.

You and I must be on the same wavelength nightowl I too hated the book. My DD loved it and has just been to see the film and raved about that too

I went to see it in 2D, I didn't read the book and am not sure it would be the type of book that would appeal to me, nevertheless really liked the film loved Pi and Richard Parker even though he was computer generated, just as well really! Looking forward to seeing Quartet tomorrow, there are a lot of good films out at the moment.

have read the book and really enjoyed it, took the grandchildren age 10 and 13 to see the film and we all thought it was brilliant.

Quite possibly the most beautiful film I have ever seen. Got quite emotional seeing it and it's one of very few films that has left me with silent tears running down my face at the end [ made a beeline for the loo ].Not a fan of computer generated films but in this case it worked perfectly. Sometimes I felt like a child looking at [through?] a kaleidoscope. May dig into the book to get a feel for it but doubt if it's a book that I could read these days. Almost want to go and see it again because it's so visual [and even tempted to see it in 3D]. I think Mark Kermode said it's the one film he's seen where the 3D effects made the film even better. Stunning [and I want to go to India even more...]

A very good review I've just read on Empire Film says 'ultimately Pi cannot find meaning with nature itself for nature is without sentiment', and the Mark Kermode review [as ever] sums it up perfectly if I can do a link [which I probably can't]. I always say a good film is one that stays with you, and this one isn't going anywhere for a while.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUGjivtBtWk

Saw the 3D version yesterday. It was visually stunning, thoroughly enjoyed it.

The lad wasn't even an actor; just went along to the audition because his brother was going. I think Ang Lee is a genius. I was thinking back to other films that have left me in tears at the end and waking up the next morning still thinking about it and realised that Brokeback Mountain had the same effect; I'd forgotten that Ang Lee had directed it as well. I do want to see it again [although the shipwreck scene freaked my out being a non swimmer and pretty scared of water]. And I love tigers; saw one close up at London Zoo many years ago, just inches away the other side of an one way window. I was thinking last night how important the scene was where the boy tried to feed the tiger the piece of meat when he was in the zoo. It's a film with such depth and meaning you can just dip into it over and over again.

Going to see it tonight, probably 2D since my friends have booked the tickets.

I saw it in 2D and it was still stunning. Can't wait to hear what you think of it [wish I was coming with you]. Enjoy!

I want to see this film (I haven't read the book either). I saw the trailer at my local cinema recently and it looked amazing. Crimson I was stunned by Brokeback Mountain too! I felt like going around telling everyone who would listen just how great it was .

Very much a womans film, Brokeback Mountain I think. Men I know who've seen it found it very uncomfortable viewing. The bit at the end where he opened the wardrobe door crippled me. And I've only just remembered that he died a few years ago as well . Ang Lee seems to put some sort of soul and spirituality into his fims.

'Stunning' is the word, crimson. The CGI was so convincing. I hope Ang Lee gets an Oscar for having the imagination to believe he could make a film out of the book and then being able to realise it in such a captivating film. And an Oscar, please, for the special effects. I too saw it in 2D but would love to see it over again in 3D.

Oh I'm so glad you loved it too! Yes; I want to see it in 3D as well. I also can't wait to [eventually] get the dvd and watch 'the making of'; I always find it so fascinating when they explain the process behind the realisation of something on such a scale.

Crimson yes! That part tore me up too . Heath Ledger passed away during the making of 'The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus'. So sad!

Read the book (a reading club choice) several years ago.Thoroughly enjoyed it.Looking forward to the film it looks amazing!

I have just returned from the Life of Pi. It is amazing...literally took my breath away and was so philosphical both in terms of the story and the beauty of the film making.

Crimson mentions that she thought Brokeback Mountain was more for women than men, but my husband also broke down in the wardrobe scene and thought i one of the best films ever, as did our three sons. We have all watched it several times and it is in our top ten of films (actually Ang Lee is in there three times in our list: Ride with the Devil, The Ice Storm and Brokeback Mountain) and now of course The Life of Pi.

He is a great story teller in films.

Seen Life of Pi in 3D on Saturday. Great effects loved the film apart from the first boring twenty minutes. The book is the same boring for the first third then gets to be a good read.

Yes; The Ice Storm is a little gem of a film. Many years ago, after my marriage had broken up I went to Cornwall for a week..when I got back my son had bought me a new telly and a video of Crouching Tiger, because he knew how much I'd wanted to see it. I haven't seen Hulk, not thinking it was my kind of film and possibly not one of the directors best, and not sure that I've seen Ride with the Devil; may try to get a copy of that. There is only one thing bothering me about Life of Pi but I don't really want to mention it on here [there was a reference to something on a film forum]. In the book was the 'alternative' story mentioned or was it added on to the film as was, I believe the island? Glad your menfolk liked Brokeback Mountain; the S.O. wasn't all that taken with Pi, but I don't think he 'gets' some films that are a bit deep.

As far as I remember, the island was in the book too and I seem to remember the 'alternative' story as well. I didn't find the first 20 minutes boring. Some of the scenes of the animals in the zoo park were idyllic. And it set up the story of Pi's relationship with Richard Parker.

The 'alternative' story is playing on my mind. But, again it's all in the book and the story in that I shall, ultimately, believe what I want to believe. I loved the start of the film; it reminded me of a documentary I saw recently about a tiger that was filmed over many years on a reserve in India; she was often filmed wandering round old temples. I need to go and see the Hobbit soon but don't want Pi to be replaced in my mind. Just watched an interview with Ang Lee and, sadly, realised he will never watch the film that he created and get the pleasure from it that others have; he describes himself as a vehicle; a vessel with which to create the film but he can't watch it as a film.

I love the book but going to have to wait for the film to come out on DVD. It finishes at our cinema this week and I've just seen the Hobbit. It'd be pushing my luck to do two whole films in one week, I suppose.