Stunning!...

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2012)

First off, it looks stunning; every shot has been meticulously worked out and executed with a high degree of skill and care. The VFX are quite amazing (I have to say for the record that I watched it in 2D). For me the film is in three parts, the story of Pi before he leaves India, the story on the ocean and the story when he makes it to land. It's the middle section I found the most compelling; every time there's a cut- away from the boat I couldn't wait to get back. A very metered pace to proceedings allows the audience to become enwrapped in this tale. Ang Lee is very good at this kind of filmmaking and I have to applaud him for this particular effort. Over all, visually stunning and beautifully made; I thought the young actor Suraj Sharma, who plays Pi on the boat was truly excellent in the role. It may not be to everyone's taste (too few explosions for some I suspect), but I certainly enjoyed it – it's well worth a look.
SteelMonster's verdict: RECOMMENDED
My score: 8.2/10
You can find an expanded version of this review on my blog: Thoughts of a SteelMonster.