So, I finally
watched "Life of Pi" the other day. First thing first, I never really
wanted to watch the movie, for generally the movie kills the true marvel and
excitement a book originally provides.
I first read Life of
Pie(2001), Yan Martel, in 2005, right after I completed my secondary school,
and it was life changing. Not in the context of reading the book, I had to
reconsider my point of view of 'God doesn’t exist'...well the old man is still
dead for me, but because the book is an inspiration for faith, self belief,
learning the adaptation, loving everyone near you, and also keeping the
expectation low. Ah.. Keeping the expectation low? Yea, Never believe that the
close ones that you believe will be there forever. Remember, Richard Parker
abandons Pi in the beach of Mexico? While I loved the book, never did I think
that a movie can be made out of it.
Come on, if Ron
Howard and Tom Hanks can make a mess of brilliant (movie like) stories of Dan
Brawn, we are bound to think like the way I thought. In fact, among all the
book movies I have watched, only two didn’t disappoint me, "Into the
Wild" and "Lord of the Rings"; need I say anything about the
sheer genius of both films? No. So, I didn’t think Aang Lee and Suraj Sharma
and electro-natural Richard Parker could change my obession of books over
movies.
What I saw was true
magic. Suraj, in his first movie, as a young Pi, did a a job, that is too much
to describe in words. Whoever made Richard Parker, deserves a kudos. And Aang
Lee never let the essence of the story die, albeit making some changes to let
the movie flow according to narrative. Its one of those movies, that after watching them, you will come out as a
changed man, and if you have a thing for spirituality, you definitely will. The
struggle for survival, the quest for life, and a belief on the god (of three
religions at once in fact) from the young pie, while floating somewhere in the
pacific, with a Hungry and thirsty Royal Bengol Tiger, makes you love the
movie, and your life and realize how lucky you are to be like what you are
today. For 227 days, Pi confronts Thirst and starvation, and fear, and tames
(well not exactly) Richard parker. And so does the movie, for all two hours+ of
it, you will be spellbound to the visual brilliance and story telling of the
movie.
Spoilers.. Do not read if you havent watched
the movie.
You might not like
the movie in the end though. You cant help but wonder why did Pi (Now played by
Irfan Khan) had to tell the two versions of the story, and let the third person
chose which one was true? Why did Richard Parker had to desert Pie (I explained
why, in the beginning right?) and many more. The movie diverts significantly
from the original story of the book too.
The whole narrative
of the Pi's childhood is missing. The mother (Juhi) is shown significantly more
religious in the movie. In the movie, Pi is old enough to have a love interest.
He never quite manage to tame Richard parker in the movie. And, in the movie Pi
and Richard Parker only stay a day in carnivorous island (Oh, I forgot to
mention, carnivorous island was a part I never liked in the book. The book
develops making you feel like the story is real, and this episode ruins it
completely).
Well, you just have
to go in the theater and watch the movie (Yes, Theater and Theater only, small
screen definitely ruins the experience), and I believe you will come out
praising the brilliance of the movie.
Note: I am not a Movie critique by
any means.
