Yann Martel’s novel, “Life of Pi,” is a five-star rater in Goodreads. It is a story
of friendship, fate, and religion rolled into one without being too preachy.
The
book lovers, moviegoers, curious and whatnots rejoiced on the idea that it is
to be adapted into a film by no less than, director Ang Lee of the Brokeback
Mountain and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Life of Pi even trended in Twitter (but blurs
the line if it headlined because people want to see it or rather because of
memes that is finally, Cherry Pie Picache (one of Philippines’ renowned actors)
will have a biographical movie).
Nonetheless, my friend and I went to the
cinema last night. We both have read the novel.
In
fairness to Lee, the film was able to stay true and breathe life to the journey
and perils of Pi and Richard Parker, the Bengal tiger. It was an eye candy of
sorts when the written words in the novel materialized, right before our very
eyes. The animated animals seemed natural, breathing, eating, gnawing…
The
only caveat though for moviegoers who failed to read the book first was that the
movie adaptation may perhaps bore them. Almost all the scenes were monologues
and sometimes exchanges of lines between Pi and the journalist (who wanted to
write down his amazing journey).
This
is not a movie of shallow form, if you want a dose of laughter or cheesy lines
and corny moments watch MMFF film entries instead, they are still showing. The Life of Pi is
a movie for the intent listener and smart audience. It did not disappoint.
But
as for me, there’s something lacking, which I could not pinpoint. Maybe because I have
read the novel first, have imagined, and directed the scenes on my mind, long
before I queued in the theaters.
What mattered most was Lee's effort to stay true to the novel.
What mattered most was Lee's effort to stay true to the novel.
P.S.
Les Miserables next!
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