Life of Pi review: Jonsi and Pi

What is there to say about Life of Pi? Only that instead of reading this review you should be watching it. Actually no keep reading.

I will say though, that the ending warrants discussion (possibly for a future blog post after I see it for a second time), and that it is one of the most beautiful movies I have ever seen. One thing I have truly like about Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), director of Life of Pi, that I can say is consistent in every movie I see of his, is his stunningly gorgeous camerawork. He captures images that stand alone as art. For example, he shows reflection of water, one of the main symbols he goes back to, and the way he shows it the viewer simply cannot tell whether what he his looking at is reflection or actually real. He also shows what I can only describe as a sea of meerkats on a mysterious island which reminded me of the sea of sheep in Brokeback Mountain. I love how he sees the art in real things your everyday person would not.

The story is very compelling. It centers on an Indian boy (Pi) whose family owns a zoo, but decides to pack it all up and sell the animals in Canada because Pi's father has a business opportunity there. Well things go terribly wrong during a storm on the freighter and Pi is the only survivor along with the tiger from his zoo. The two have to learn throughout the film to be able to coexist in the limited space they are given on the lifeboat. That is where I will stop with my synopsis.

The only thing I can say negatively is that the beginning of the film is a tad too religious for me but it truly serves a purpose, so I can't really complain. Pi, as an young man and an adult is interested in the many religions of the world and becomes a Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Hindu. He does not just accept these religions however. He questions each holy man on his search for spirituality, which I enjoyed, because he asked the very questions I have about these religions as well as others I am sure.

I will end by saying that I almost felt as I had felt the time I saw Jonsi (Sigur Ros) live. I felt as though it was my personal moment with him (Pi, Jonsi, Ang Lee) even though the concert hall or the movie theater was packed I felt as though I was being let in on a secret. I escaped reality for the 2 incredibly short hours of the concert/movie. And that if nothing else is why you, beloved reader, should see it, because it is not just a movie it is a wonderful experience!

Spiritually yours,

ARK

Django Unchained Review

Django Unchained is the new Tarantino film about a bounty hunter who frees a slave to help track down and kill 3 brothers. Along the way the freed slave, Django (Jamie Foxx), is trained by the bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz (Christoph Waltz), and becomes the fastest shot in the US. After the brothers are killed Django tells Dr. Schultz how he was separated from his wife, and the two strike a deal to get Django's wife back.

Django Unchained in my opinion is up there with Inglorious Basterds (also by Tarantino). It is a true Western, and one that deals with some very heavy subjects and showed what the brutality (much of what Tarantino is known for) of slavery could have actually been like. It doesn't sugar coat things, it in no way was glorifying slavery, it showed how sick and twisted people could be. Mainly how twisted Calvin Candie (Leonardo DiCaprio) could be.

The greatest thing I found about DU is the acting. The performances given by Waltz, DiCaprio, Samuel  L. Jackson, and Foxx were amazing. I have loved every performance I have seen of Christoph Waltz and I think he is beyond deserving of any award he receives. I was impressed with Jamie Foxx, going in to watch the movie I was very skeptical of him, even though I saw him in Ray and yes he was great, I just haven't really seen him since, nor have I been interested to. I had no idea DiCaprio could play such a fantastic villain, it's not that I didn't think he had it in him I just would not have thought of him to play a villain. He frightened me by his horrific ideas about how slaves brains work.

There were a few problems I had with DU. As I said above it was a real Western, I loved it for that. It features old style western music and amazing sets. However, about 30 minutes into the movie rap music starts playing and it felt so out of place with the scene that it took me out of the movie. I would forgive this if it had been the only time, but it happened numerous times, almost every time I got sucked back in to the action and plot, rap would tear me away. Maybe what the rappers were rapping about fit what was going on, but I didn't listen that closely cause all I could focus on was how out of place it was.

Then there was a very minor problem, that most people wouldn't care about, but I did because Tarantino claims he never wants to make a bad movie and wants to leave a legacy of only good films behind. There was a scene where Django walks up to Candie's bar orders a drink and whips out a self rolled white cigarette. Tarantino seemed to focus on how the smoke looked coming out of Django's mouth, with the swirls and the thickness of it. It did look very cool. Meanwhile it kept cutting back and forth to Dr. Schultz and Candie talking, then back to Django. Although when it cut back to Django one time the cigarette was no longer white, it was brown. Now with any director, be it Darren Aronofsky, PT Anderson, the Coen Bros, whoever.... I would not care at all. I would have overlooked it, but a guy like Tarantino who cares so much about his legacy and is only going to make like 3 or 4 more movies ever I just would think he would want to be more careful. Not saying I would dock him points for this, I'm not that guy, just pointing it out.

I am a huge fan of this film and of Tarantino, and if it sounds like you would enjoy it too check it out, tell me what you think!

ARK

Argo Review

I go back and forth a lot with Ben Affleck (the director and star of Argo), sometimes I love his work and sometimes a really don't.

The premise of Argo is that the US Embassy in Iran is taken over by rebels, but 6 out of 66 people escape to the Ambassidor of Canada's home. This ended up putting the 6 in more danger because if the Iranian's found out, they would not even capture the 6, they would simply kill on site. The other 60 were being tortured and held for ransom, but they still had their lives and were technically safe. This is where Ben Affleck's character comes in - he specializes in sneaking into countries and getting people out. So, he hatches an idea to do so and proceeds to set that idea in motion.

Overall the best thing I found about the movie was that the tension slowly builds to the heart wrenching climax, very much like the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. The acting was top notch, with a cast that really can't be matched. With Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine), John Goodman (Big Lebowski), Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad), and Titus Welliver (who played the man in black in Lost). So many familiar faces filled the cast that you are bound to say "oh hey it's that guy!" at some point.

Really the one thing I would have to complain about would be Ben Affleck's acting. As much as I like how he directs, he just doesn't have a wide array of emotions and acting choices. I think he's realized this and this is why he plays such straight, cool guy roles. It just somewhat takes away from knowing that he could have gotten almost any actor he wanted to play the part.

Overall, Argo was a great movie, worthy of the nominations its received.

So there you have it, a short but sweet review on Argo.
If you think this is a movie you would like check it out, then drop a comment.

Peace,

ARK