after a ponderous slow start it gets really good

Rating: 8/10 (29 December 2012)

Was hatin on this movie for the first stretch, very ponderous, and neither the all encompassing mysticism nor the humor was grabbing me. Other things I didn't like included the two actors in the roles of storyteller Pi and novelist. Couldn't buy that the almost Sabu-cute youngster ended up looking like that, sorry, but...with all them bollywood beauties to choose from, why that guy? the novelist guy's performance I just didn't like at all, his performance seemed terribly mannered to me, annoying.
But once the storm comes on the ship we begin to get something worth waiting for. Maybe there might have been a little less... I mean why are movies getting so long lately? I was completely taken in by the 2nd 'believable' monologue regarding what took place on the lifeboat, as the artistes intended, dismayed at Pi's apparent fabrications accompanied by the emotion! So when all was revealed, metaphorically, that was quite a coup. Began to appreciate the substance of his movie in one blow. nice We were wondering coming out about the tiger being Pi but Pi being there but... it makes a lot of sense, with Pi sort of "behind" the tiger. Especially when the tiger leaps off the boat and comes at Pi. This would be when Tigerpi considers or attempts suicide after all he's seen. nice And then I really admired that for all the talk of God, Pi denies that the ship was sunk on account of whatchacall "an act of God", which in this case would be the Christian thing to do, allowing the bereaved families to collect compensation? That's how I interpret it anyway. Very nice!