Life of Pi- movie review

The first half 25 minutes of the film are almost lyrical as they introduce Pi in the backdrop of Pondicherry of 1950s. The stark difference in quality of production between indigenous cinema and Hollywood hits you through this breezy phase of the film, which displays in its resplendent glory, the pluralism of this country. One can’t help but fall in love with India. It’s ironical that it takes a Taiwanese director to do it so beautifully. The brief voyage part of the film which follows next is flawless in its depiction and what follows thereafter is the crux of the film. A shipwrecked Pi, saving himself from the sinking ship, then the tiger and the sea and finally the elements he encounters along the several weeks of cast away is what forms this incredible saga. No words can do justice to the vision of Ang Lee, which needs to be seen in 3D to be appreciated. The last 20 minutes, albeit a necessary postlude, drag on to dampen the experience a wee bit. This is the stuff Oscars are made of. 4.5 Stars