Life of Pi
Life of Pi Image
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Metascore
79 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 44 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.8 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 527 Ratings

Your Score
0 out of 10
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  • Starring: Adil Hussain, Ayush Tandon, Gérard Depardieu, Irrfan Khan, Suraj Sharma, Tabu, Tobey maguire
  • Summary: Based on the best-selling novel by Yann Martel, is a magical adventure story centering on Pi Patel, the precocious son of a zookeeper. Dwellers in Pondicherry, India, the family decides to move to Canada, hitching a ride on a huge freighter. After a shipwreck, Pi is found adrift in the Pacific Ocean on a 26-foot lifeboat with a zebra, a hyena, an orangutan and a 450-pound Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, all fighting for survival.… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 44
  3. Negative: 0 out of 44
  1. Empire
    Reviewed by: Olly Richards
    Dec 17, 2012
    100
    To produce a coherent film from Martel's tricky novel would be achievement enough, but Ang Lee has extracted something beautiful, wise and, at times, miraculous.
  2. Total Film
    Reviewed by: Matt Mueller
    Nov 25, 2012
    100
    A riot of saturated colour and delirious imagination, Ang Lee's adap radiates spirituality. But it's also a simple, thrilling and gently uplifting tale of a boy, a boat and a tiger. Take the plunge.
  3. Wall Street Journal
    Reviewed by: Joe Morgenstern
    Nov 23, 2012
    80
    Mr. Lee's film is stronger as a visual experience - especially in 3-D - than an emotional one, but it has a final plot twist that may also change what you thought you knew about the ancient art of storytelling.
  4. Movieline
    Reviewed by: Alison Willmore
    Nov 20, 2012
    60
    The story of Pi and Richard Parker already has the clean simplicity of a myth and really doesn't require significant elaboration, but following in the footsteps of the source material, the film provides elaboration anyway, demonstrating a condescension to the audience that dulls the spectacle it punctuates.

See all 44 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 123 out of 139
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 139
  3. Negative: 10 out of 139
  1. Elbert
    10
    "Life of Pi" is full of visual marvels, but in the end, what really shocked me, was it's emotional power. The film manages to build up such an incredible climax, filled with so many different emotions, that I, honestly, couldn't bear it and the tears just came. So "Life of Pi" is an extraordinary film that has both visual magnificence and emotional depth. I highly recommend it.… Expand
  2. JamesL
    8
    I initially did not want to see this film as I thought I would be bored. However, I went and caught the 3D edition and thought it was one of the best films of the year. The cinematograhpy alone is worth the price of admission. The 3D enhances instead of detracting as it often does. I thought it got a little long at sea but that was a minor issue compared to the excellent philosophical questions raised and the brilliant film making. I would not put it in my top five but it definitely makes mytop ten. One of the big surprises for me in 2012.… Expand
  3. Jailhouse_McGee
    7
    Life of Pi might well be the most beautiful picture of this year. Ang Lee effectively uses 3D to tell a story that most people consider impossible to put on film. It works, and it looks amazing. My only complain is, that looking for the films substance, I am grabbing thin air. Life of Pi is a amazing adventure, but as a spiritual journey it fails to really touch me. Still, it's fantastic enough to recommend it generally.… Expand
  4. James1998
    2
    Watching paint dry is more exciting than this. I cannot understand the amazing reviews, thought it was utter rubbish. The visuals and sounds were very good, but the story was extremely dull and lifeless it often induces deep sleep. The story generally had no meaning and drained of all life it fell asleep 10 mins in and didn't remember the ending or of anything that happened. I wanted to stop sooner i bored out of my mind. The 2 stats came from the visuals and sounds, not the movie… Expand

See all 139 User Reviews

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