I made sure to refrain from watching this trailer until I finished the book, and pleasantly found it was a good decision, cus of course I have a better understanding now of what’s going on. But I think, even to the uninitiated, this trailer is most definitely WHOA. Excellent use of both music and silence, and the cinematography looks breathtaking (if not a little overboard with the CGI).

But I have my doubts, as I always have with movies based on novels. Life of Pi (the novel) was a journey of survival and faith, most of which was entirely personal, so I don’t know how they’re going to pull that off in a movie, which is so glaringly third-person. There wasn’t a lot of dialogue (or should I say, monologue) spoken aloud. Maybe they’ll go for a silent film, or whatever you call those movies/shows that don’t have a lot of dialogue but still achieve their desired effect (like Mr. Bean); that would be interesting, but definitely not an easy feat. I’m gonna tip my hat to the director if she can manage that.

Regarding the book – I enjoyed it a lot! It was funny, amusing, clever, thrilling, and even amazing, whenever it needed to be. I thought I’d be bored by a story about a castaway but that wasn’t the case. I loved how insightful it was; I learned plenty of tidbits about a world I’m living in but so beyond my imagination. Plus one of its main themes, religion, was tackled without being too preachy. It was just right. The only thing I wasn’t too happy about was the ambiguous ending. I mean, I have nothing against endings that make you think, but I found it cruel that the book has spent 90% of its pages intently making the reader believe an unbelievable tale, and does it well, only to suggest something else entirely on the last few pages. I was like, “Wait, what? Seriously? You mean to say…. Noooo! Say it isn’t so!” in the end. But that’s also the brilliance of it I guess; that the ending is the same, but as to what the true story is – the unbelievable and imaginative? or the factual and unremarkable? – remains a question, a mystery, and it’s up to the reader what to believe. (Which isn’t far from the question of religion, now that I think about it. Clever!) Personally I desperately want the Richard Parker story to be the truth, but I’d be lying if I say Story #2 does not also tug at my reasoning. I guess the mystery is still a mystery for me.

Goodness, I hope I haven’t already spoiled the book for all of you, what with all this rambling. Lol. Three things, in conclusion:

1. The trailer makes the story seem like this one big, spectacular, enthralling, majestic adventure, and it is, in a way, but it doesn’t show the gruesomeness, the loneliness, the despair, the morbidity, the fear that is also ever-present in the book. It’s like they’re showing the clean version, a big misrepresentation, as most of the novel was downright dirty. What else can you expect from a book about surviving 227 days in the middle of the Pacific Ocean in a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger for company? But yeah, I’m getting way ahead of myself. It’s still just a trailer. 2 minutes. They couldn’t show everything.
2. Piscine Molitor Patel, not Pissing but Pi, is someone I want to meet. I know that’s impossible, but still. I want to talk to him and ask questions and be enlightened! Regardless of which account is the truth, bottom line is, the way his mind works is a miracle in itself. Brilliant!
3. Richard Parker PWNS! :))) + I love the fullness, humanness of the name, Richard Parker. I’m possibly getting my own cat soon and I’m already obsessing about names…and now because of good ol’ R.P., I’m seriously considering giving a full human name to my would-be cat. Ha!