Photo of the Film Life of Pi

“The First 3D Movie Directed by Ang Lee” might be the biggest selling point of the film Life of Pi in mainland of China. With the connection of Ang Lee and 3D technology, audiences will naturally be reminded of the American Cameron and his Avatar and can’t help asking what a 3D film by Ang Lee will be like. However, Life of Pi, which goes far beyond their imagination, has given a big surprise to Chinese audiences who may have been fed up with those previous showy 3Ds. They realize that a film can be so serene in such a literary mood and even storm, wave and lightening can be so romantic like a poem. Though beautiful scenes were made by 3D technology, such a pleasant visual appreciation has far transcended the routine arrangement in 3D films, in which one can hardly find a trace of technology. 

Photo of the Film Life of Pi

Ang Lee once admitted that he was just a slave of films, but just thanks to his faith in film attraction and devotion to films, he has surpassed himself once and again from his Trilogy of Father in strong taste of Chinese culture to pure Hollywood type movies, and from Oscar-winning Crouched Dragon, Hidden Tiger in detachment of oriental philosophy to such an adventure of an Indian child in pursuit of faith. For Ang Lee, he always hides himself in his films, sometimes clear and obvious, sometimes transparent in respect of perfection, and occasionally obscure in a twist of his thoughts and some ultimate questions. The unchanged part is his moderate and even temperament in Chinese blood, his understanding of cultural contradiction and conflict in the mixed circumstance of Chinese and Western cultures. Finally, he raised a question of power of faith and belief in his pursuit in this film Life of Pi. 

Photo of the Film Life of Pi

If we view the film Life of Pi in the perspective of simply 3D technology in the film, we will have a wrong idea. As Ang Lee admitted, his thoughts about the film still remains in an ordinary 2D film, and 3D effect only serves to tell a story in a more vivid scene. In this film, we can find a complicated but exquisite plot of story, distinctive figures, thoughts about religion and faith, mental reflection of a child’s growth and lifelike restoration of varied landscapes in nature.