An incredible disappointment

Rating: 3/10 (10 January 2013)

The first 5minutes of this Ang Lee creation are thoroughly absorbing as you are introduced to a sublime immersion in an incredibly well handled 3D film experience. The following 20mins offer an interestingly warm and humorous introduction to the childhood of the main character. However a raging cold tap is soon turned on as we are treated to a clichéd flashback/reminiscence scenario as 'Pi' relates his tale in an unconvincing manner to an unconvincing 'author' on various park benches and other random seated areas. Indeed Ang Lee suddenly and without explanation has them at the park after previously seeing them in an apartment eating lunch which is a very heavy handed and lazy attempt at creating a bit of narrative. That's by the by as the heart of the film is obviously the boat experience. It has it's moments, some are breathtaking but not nearly enough so to make up for a very very slowly progressing story that repeats mundane scenes with little variation and in the end despite the visuals becomes quite tiresome. The problem is it doesn't live up to the promise. Pi says he has a tale that will make you believe in God. He doesn't. He has a lost at see alone tale with and not much else. In fact just as you come to the conclusion (after endless attempts at forgiveness) that this film isn't deep, moving or at all inspired the story is turned on it's head in a confusing and upsetting way. The overall feeling is of betrayal. And the manipulative emotional music slapped over the monologue quickly becomes sickening. You are left with nothing except a desire to walk out of the cinema. No sympathy for anyone, no astonishment, no surprise...well that the film doesn't work on any level is quite surprising. Overall is very little here apart from stunning CGI. There are no revelations about the character, his experience or life in general. If it was made by Disney is would undoubtedly have been a more fulfilling and moving film.