Pre-Review of Life Of Pi

There are only two types of people in the world: those who have seen  Ang Lee's  Life Of Pi, and those who haven't; of the people who have seen it, there are only two types: those who love it and those who hate it. If you read this blog with any regularity, you are probably the type of person who does or would love this film; but you probably know someone who--unlike yourself--does not consider film to have any meaning, views cinema solely as entertainment, not meaning anything, a picture on the screen and a story,...
This is the movie you want them to see.
Ideally, instead of going to dinner before the film, go to dinner afterwards, and that way, you can really discuss it; or, if they are impossibly pragmatic, go to dinner, then plan on going to coffee afterwards, but insure, for your own satisfaction, that you can talk to this person after they have seen this film, because you will regret it if you don't (and also, if you go to coffee afterwards, save dessert for then, too, so you can really drag out the discussion),...
If you have all ready seen this film,...

Do NOT be content that the film tells you everything you need to know; it has only told you enough to deepen the mystery, because even the decoding requires decoding, don't for one minute think the film is giving you the whole story because the real meat that our Richard Parker wants is hidden throughout the story, reflected in the larger whole, and we must find it, so search it out (we have to get The Hobbit up first, and I had to see Life Of Pi tonight because it's leaving town tomorrow, so it will still be over the weekend before I can get the review up, but I also have to see Hitchcock this weekend because it leaves town Monday; in other words, you might want to check your own theater listings to insure the films you want to catch are still playing)... Ask yourself, what is the real lotus flower hidden within the forest?
If you haven't seen it,...

I don't blame you; really. Granted, it has been nominated and awarded a ton of honors, and will most likely be nominated for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, etc., by the Academy (not to mention everyone else), and that is a reason to see it (as we have discussed many times, the films and film makers getting awards this year will determine the types of films and makers of films in the next two to three years). But, if you read this blog, then you are interested in films which offer you more than just entertainment (although we both know they are never just that) but Life Of Pi directly verbalizes what it is you want out of a film, and--even if, like myself--you know what is going to happen (the whole plot is laid out at this link, if you really want to know) you will still be caught off guard; I assure you two things. First, there are many beautiful things in the film; secondly, nothing is simple.
Eat Your Art Out,
The Fine Art Diner