Life of Pi reviewed by Mark Kermode

Mark Kermode reviews Life of Pi. Adapted from the best-selling book, a young man is shipwrecked in a lifeboat with only a tiger for company. Directed by Ang Lee
Please tell us what you think of the film -- or Mark's review below. We love to include your views on the show every Friday.
www.bbc.co.uk/5live
Fridays at 2pm on BBC 5 live.

[@mrushton3591]

Irfan Khan for me was the best thing about this film, the delivery of lines in those final few minutes made me cry in the cinema for first time in years.

[@sumanthnagabushan1063]

His eyes say all the dialogue …we miss him..

[@T1Brit]

Wonderful film. Breathtaking images, heartbreaking theme. I feel enriched just by having watched it.

[@kermodeandmayo]

Kubrick is American but I believe Gilliam is American born British. As in, he chose to become British.

[@supastar25]

It's just so...impressive...a truly magnificent film. Ang Lee really is a masterful director

[@ForgotMahName]

That was a pretty brilliant analogy for 3D...

[@exitcheese]

cant wait to see this ! i'm an ang lee fan, so i'm so there !

[@jackreacher2260]

A review that's almost as moving as the film itself.

[@T1Brit]

This is why we listen to him.

[@barbarakirk7964]

I can't see the tiger's name (Richard Parker) without thinking Lee Mack or David Mitchell should be quizzing Pi on how genuine the tale was on Would I Lie To You!

[@seaoftranquility7228]

It does sound like a Mortimer name.

[@Lee_Forre]

I truly hope this wins Best Picture at the Oscars. Probably hasn't much of a shot, but it delivered the biggest emotional punch(along with AMORE) but what it did with 3D was astounding. To see it without the enhancement is not remotely the same. Incredible film. Thanks for all the uploads!

[@65g4]

Amazing film so visually beautiful

[@jubzfree]

More about the film please! I don't care about the technicalities of 3D

[@KenFromBeara]

it's brilliant in 2D even

[@davidmaxwaterman]

I wonder how one might get to see this in 3d (again). It seems there's no hope of being able to see it at home.

[@chrishiggins7166]

Director Ang Lee delivers an emotionally crafted, well acted, well directed, stylish & intriguing survival film. (89%) (4.5/5 stars) (positive)

[@tortfeasors]

Keith Lemon the movie?

[@wonderfulwomp]

He did write them down in his second book, there's a pretty extensive portion of it dedicated to his problems with 3D but that has not stopped him ignoring the plot, characters and direction of a whole bunch of films in favour of giving us the same old spiel about 3D every time...

[@Adastra14]

loved this film and liked your review. it would be great if you talked more about the film itself ... thanks :)

[@tll23]

One of the best reviews I have seen by the good dr.

[@sorscha1308]

I resisted watching it for a while (not just because 3D makes me feel sick) because i'd read the book and couldn't believe it would be any good. It's not as good as the book but taken as a film it is fantastic in its own right.

[@bennoclassico]

This is true - he actually renounced his US citizenship, and has been a UK citizen since the 60's, I think.

[@harveygardner14]

Looking forward to see it, the book was tremendous and I loved the stage production :)

[@ameliorated]

It was a good film I saw it today, but i think without the visuals the story wouldnt have stood alone

[@IamSnoogans]

Couldn't agree more with Kermode

[@ZerooOne01]

best of 2012

[@5handshigh]

i shall see it post haste

[@mogwaigremlin7188]

Yeah, there was a few shoddy effects like the hyena fighting the orangutan but that's just me nitpicking. The graphics in this film are the most convincing I've ever seen.

[@DUanglingsociety]

Hugo was a "U"

[@GavanDuffyAnocht]

Kubrick and Gilliam = American. But I think you made your point...

[@timetochronicle]

It was in the original novel by Yann Martel, and it was the point Martel was trying to get across. To take it a step further, you could say religion is about telling stories (and of course, faith in their supposed 'truth') I think, if Ang Lee had removed that element from the film, it would incurred the ire of both Martell, and the fans of the novel who have known it for that undertone.

[@dmoth]

Once again Mr. Kermode has voiced my own opinion perfectly. I enjoyed the film very much and the 3d was indeed the best I have seen too.

[@DimmedDiamond]

This movie sounds VERY similar to Big Fish... story about story telling. A "foreign" guy relives the stories and myths about a guy who in reality was a kind of loser.

[@scotsean]

Kubrick and Gilliam are American

[@ChubbyChecker182]

I found this film to be almost totally boring except for a few tiger attacks, a tiger urinating, and the ending

[@PatrickMillais]

Saw it in 2D unfortunately. Would have been interesting in 3D. It was still brilliant in 2D. Thought the last act was a bit weak... but still a great film.

[@Charmingman93]

Stanley Kubrick was American

[@RamBam3000]

At least, not without mentioning his partner in crime, Pressburger.

[@KenFromBeara]

terry gilliam and stanley kubrick are american. but brilliant directors.

[@ChubbyChecker182]

Loved Le Mode's review of his number one worst film of the year ;-)

[@rhyslloyd3200]

It doesn't work for me I'm afraid. The whole twist of the book doesn't work, because you can't go back and read it again with the new context. It looks good, I can sit through it. But it just isn't there I'm afraid.

[@rhyslloyd3200]

One of my favourite books. Wasn't impressed with the film

[@WOFWD123]

If you love CGI, you'll love this film, if you like entertaining films meh...

[@TituslovesPop]

What are you talking about. You have a very narrow view of British film making and a depressing perspective on CGI. CGI in the right hands is a tool to create images in film which expand its scope. I thought the film was great. He did a fantastic job . 'it is a story about how you must be thankful to God because nature in CGI is beautiful.'=nonsense

[@NoMastersNoMistress]

It's a steaming, stinky, cable of a fable compared something as visceral as Woman in the Dunes. Sorry Mark.

[@joemcmahon206]

I love Mark Kermode's reviews but I do wish he wouldn't spend a minute every time recounting the entire story.

[@HazzJB]

While I think most of your post is a ridiculous sweeping statement, I have to agree that the main message of the film was awful, and despite what Kermode said, it DID feel like it was lecturing me. Sitting through 2 hours just to be told that you should believe in God because living in an imaginary world is more comfortable than facing reality... thanks but no thanks.

[@flarez4157]

i hated the utterly unsubtle religious undertone to the movie

[@Guedingen]

just watched it. I thought it was shallow. CGI don't do it for me either.