Life of Pi

( 5 )

Overview

Yann Martel's ponderous adventure novel gets the big-screen treatment with this Fox 2000 adaptation helmed by director Ang Lee. The coming-of-age story surrounds the son of a zookeeper who survives a shipwreck by stowing away on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger by the name of Richard Parker. Suraj Sharma heads up the cast as the young boy, with Gérard Depardieu, Adil Hussain, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, and Bollywood actress Tabu also starring. ...
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Note: Life of Pi was nominated for Best Picture, Best Achievement in Directing, Best Achievement in Cinematography, Best Achievement in Film Editing, Best Achievement in Music - Original Score, Best Achievement in Music - Original Song, Best Achievement in Production Design, Best Achievement in Sound Editing, Best Achievement in Sound Mixing, Best Achievement in Visual Effects, and Best Achievement in Writing - Adapted Screenplay
Academy Awards® and Oscar® are marks owned by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

More About This Product

Overview

Yann Martel's ponderous adventure novel gets the big-screen treatment with this Fox 2000 adaptation helmed by director Ang Lee. The coming-of-age story surrounds the son of a zookeeper who survives a shipwreck by stowing away on a lifeboat with a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena, and a Bengal tiger by the name of Richard Parker. Suraj Sharma heads up the cast as the young boy, with Gérard Depardieu, Adil Hussain, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, and Bollywood actress Tabu also starring.
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Special Features

Closed-Caption; A Remarkable Vision
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Editorial Reviews

All Movie Guide - Jason Buchanan
One boy's struggle to survive being shipwrecked at sea with a fierce Bengal tiger becomes a poetic meditation on faith and perseverance in Ang Lee's Life of Pi, a stunningly gorgeous adventure drama with a rich spiritual subtext. It's largely a one-man show that seduces us with lucid 3D imagery, and it resonates as a drama thanks to newcomer Suraj Sharma's ability to convincingly alternate between youthful vulnerability and ageless bravery as his character experiences an intense crisis of faith. As the film opens, a young writer Rafe Spall sits across from Pi Irrfan Khan and waits to hear a story so incredible that it will shake the foundations of the skeptical scribe's beliefs. The tale begins innocently enough, with a young Pi Sharma attempting to establish his spiritual identity while growing up on the grounds of his family's zoo in a French region of India. Yet just as Pi begins to experience the joys of first love, his father announces that the family will soon be starting a new life in Winnipeg. The clan and all of their exotic animals travel to Canada by boat, but a massive storm sends the vessel plunging to the ocean floor, with the terrified Pi, an injured zebra, a hyena, an orangutan, and a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker just barely managing to escape in a lifeboat. After the skies clear and the wild animals begin to clash, Pi finds himself alone in the middle of the ocean with Richard Parker as he prays for a rescue that never comes. In the days and weeks that follow, Pi and Richard Parker establish a mutually respectful bond that helps both to endure when it seems that all hope is lost. It's only later, when a pair of Japanese insurance adjustors turn up seeking to verify Pi's remarkable story, that we discover the crucial role that faith played in keeping him alive on the open seas. The first thing that grabs you about Life of Pi is Claudio Miranda's lush, intoxicatingly vivid cinematography. Opening with shots of the animals in Pi's father's zoo, director Lee establishes a peaceful, Zen-like tone as Miranda's camerawork brings to mind groundbreaking nature documentaries like the recent Planet Earth or the gorgeous Born to Be Wild. Subsequently introducing us to the protagonist as he begins to share his tale with the eager young writer, screenwriter David Magee endears us to Pi by offering a glimpse of the childhood events that would shape his spiritual beliefs and personality. Whether peppering Pi's memories of his beloved uncle with gentle humor, portraying an early bout of heartbreak with poignant brevity, or showing a painful life lesson that will later play a crucial role in the plot, Magee front-loads Life of Pi with a profundity that's perfectly complemented by Miranda's gorgeous images and Lee's inspired stylistic flourishes. The talents of all three coalesce beautifully, giving the film a rich sense of soul-searching that's violently shattered when the boat carrying Pi and his family to their new lives sinks in a scene that's sure to be remembered as one of the most intense and awe-inspiring shipwrecks ever portrayed on film. An unforgettable shot of Pi sinking beneath the waves as the massive ship plummets into the abyss is positively breathtaking, and young star Sharma handles the physically and emotionally demanding scene like a seasoned pro. Later, as the film settles into the rhythms of Pi's epic struggle to survive being stranded at sea with a traumatized and hungry Bengal tiger, Sharma remains in top form as Lee and Miranda turn what could have been a stagy section of the movie into a thing of visual splendor. Likewise, Magee's screenplay keeps things consistently interesting by conveying just what a profound effect the experience is having on Pi as he faces a series of unexpected challenges. It's never dull or repetitive, and by taking us inside of Pi's head as he fights to keep himself and Richard Parker alive, the filmmakers give a rather simple story compelling depth. At times it feels as if each scene in Life of Pi is more beautifully rendered than the last -- not just visually, but subtextually as well. By the time Pi reveals a side of the story few would see coming, the development catches us off guard without feeling gimmicky; it adds to the film's reflective tone rather than detracting from it, and ends Pi's incredible tale on a note that's deeply spiritual without being preachy. That's a particularly fine line to walk, but in the capable hands of Lee and company, it's done with flawless balance.
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Product Details

  • Release Date: 3/12/2013
  • UPC: 024543751854
  • Original Release: 2012

    • Rating:

  • Source: 20TH CENTURY FOX
  • Region Code: 1
  • Presentation: Wide Screen
  • Sound: Dolby AC-3 Surround Sound
  • Language: Français
  • Time: 2:03:00
  • Format: DVD
  • Sales rank: 37

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits
Suraj Sharma Pi Patel
Irfan Khan Adult Pi Patel
Ayush Tandon Piscine Militor Patel - Child
Tabu Gita Patel
Adil Hussain Santosh Patel,
Rafe Spall Writer
Gérard Depardieu Cook
Technical Credits
Ang Lee Director, Producer
Steve Callahan Consultant/advisor
Cameron Croughwell Stunts
Mychael Danna Score Composer
David Lee Co-producer
Dean Georgaris Executive Producer
David Gropman Production Designer
Bombay Jayashri Songwriter
Avy Kaufman Casting
David Magee Screenwriter
Claudio Miranda Cinematographer
Gil Netter Producer
Tim Squyres Editor
David Womark Producer
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Scene Index

Disc #1 -- Life of Pi
1. Chapter 1 [:26]
2. Chapter 2 [3:32]
3. Chapter 3 [1:09]
4. Chapter 4 [6:04]
5. Chapter 5 [:41]
6. Chapter 6 [1:52]
7. Chapter 7 [1:37]
8. Chapter 8 [5:41]
9. Chapter 9 [:23]
10. Chapter 10 [4:14]
11. Chapter 11 [:19]
12. Chapter 12 [3:42]
13. Chapter 13 [1:43]
14. Chapter 14 [:43]
15. Chapter 15 [3:19]
16. Chapter 16 [1:38]
17. Chapter 17 [8:11]
18. Chapter 18 [4:57]
19. Chapter 19 [3:51]
20. Chapter 20 [2:28]
21. Chapter 21 [:36]
22. Chapter 22 [2:48]
23. Chapter 23 [1:11]
24. Chapter 24 [2:52]
25. Chapter 25 [5:19]
26. Chapter 26 [:16]
27. Chapter 27 [1:59]
28. Chapter 28 [1:45]
29. Chapter 29 [:18]
30. Chapter 30 [2:54]
31. Chapter 31 [4:43]
32. Chapter 32 [1:38]
33. Chapter 33 [3:21]
34. Chapter 34 [:30]
35. Chapter 35 [3:46]
36. Chapter 36 [:33]
37. Chapter 37 [2:51]
38. Chapter 38 [9:29]
39. Chapter 39 [1:23]
40. Chapter 40 [2:32]
41. Chapter 41 [7:40]
42. Chapter 42 [3:56]
43. Chapter 43 [7:42]
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Menu

Disc #1 -- Life of Pi
   Play
   Set Up
      Audio
         English Dolby Digital 5.1
         English Descriptive Audio 5.1
         Español Surround Dolby Digital 2.0
         Français Surround Dolby Digital 2.0
      Subtitles
         English Subtitles For The Deaf And Hard Of Hearing: On
         Español Subtitles: On
         Subtitles: Off
   Scenes
   Extras
      A Remarkable Vision
      Theatrical Trailer
      Sneak Peek
         Play All
         The Blu-Ray Experience
         Safe Haven
         Hitchcock
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Customer Reviews

Average Rating 5
( 5 )
Rating Distribution

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(5)

4 Star

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Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews

  • Posted April 29, 2013

    Well done!

    I read the book first and I really enjoyed the movie. The special effects were great!

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 17, 2013

    more from this reviewer

    Well, a few years ago my family got very sick on a cruise ship,

    Well, a few years ago my family got very sick on a cruise ship, but now I know how it could have been much worse. The intellectual "twist" at the end of this movie is worth the time spent terrified and/or seasick. Might fit well on a Double Bill with another of my favorites: Joe Versus The Volcano. OR how about Cast Away? Long but visually satisfying is this monumental Life Flick.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Posted April 5, 2013

    Watch Over and Over

    I and my friends and family love this movie. The special effects were amazing. The story line was moving and exciting. I have seen this 3 times now! I enjoyed this movie very much.

    Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 5, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

  • Anonymous

    Posted April 12, 2013

    No text was provided for this review.

Sort by: Showing all of 5 Customer Reviews