With a concept and construction that redefines what it means to be viscerally captivating and visually stunning; “Life of Pi” stays the course on a journey of whimsy, self discovery, and pure imagination.
And while aspects of the film may indeed at times venture into overly existential areas, as the rapid fire words-to-live-by segments pelt viewers like so much rain. Pi and his powerful passenger never cease in offering daring intrigue and harrowing adventure. It takes a confident director such as Ang Lee to scoff at the “never work with children or animals” mantra, and a more confident one still to place said animal on such a confined center stage. But Lee, ever the picture pioneer, pilots his simple man-in-a-boat vessel well through the rocky waters of wonder and disbelief, always with a clear vision of its ultimate harbor. Lee supremely knows how to convey a great story, and whether he’s capturing doves in flight or the majesty of a tiger perusing its prey, one thing remains utterly certain…you will be entertained. A respectable amount of behind the scenes footage and a massive cache of artwork make up the discs bonus features. By far the most superior of the three documentary offerings is the four-part “Epic Journey,” which clocks in at over an hour and pours over the film which; as the documentary soon points out, took over 4 years to develop. The two remaining docs, “Remarkable Vision” and “Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright” also do well to highlight key features of the film – mainly its remarkable special effects – but at only 25+ minutes between them, neither is given the exposure they should have commanded. The film’s impressive array of artwork is also on display in the “Stills Gallery,” and a complete set of “Storyboards” for seven of the film’s most crucial scenes completes the menu. So whether you bet large that Pi will find the true meaning of life, or you lay it all on the instincts of a ravenous tiger, “Life of Pi” is a dazzling and dangerous entrancing dance.
Studio Synopsis: “Life of Pi” follows Pi Patel, a young man on a fateful voyage who, after a spectacular disaster, is marooned on a lifeboat with the only other survivor, a fearsome 450 lb Bengal Tiger named Richard Parker. Hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery Pi and his majestic companion make an amazing and unexpected connection.
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Running Time: 123 minutes
Rating: PG
Number of Disks: 2
Special Features:
- Documentary: Remarkable Vision
- Documentary: Epic Journey
- Documentary: Tiger, Tiger Burning Bright
- Stills Gallery:
*Art by Joanna Bush
*Art by Haan Lee
*Art by Dawn Masi
*Art by Alexis Rockman
*Storyboards
Additional Resources:
Central Cast: Suraj Sharma | Irrfan Khan | Ayush Tandon | Gautam Belur | Adil Hussain | Tabu | Ayan Khan | Mohd Abbas Khaleeli
Director: Ang Lee
Central Writers: David Magee | Yann Martel
Theatrical Release: November 21, 2012
Blu-Ray/DVD Release: March 12, 2013
Genre: Adventure | Drama
Supporting Cast and more Writers found HERE