Movie Review of Life of Pi

Synopsis: (from Wikipedia) "Life of Pi is a 2012 American 3D live-action/computer-animated adventure drama film based on Yann Martel's 2001 novel of the same name. Directed by Ang Lee, the film is based on an adapted screenplay by David Magee, and stars Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Gérard Depardieu, Tabu, and Adil Hussain.

The storyline revolves around a 16-year old Indian boy named Piscine Molitor "Pi" Patel, who survives a shipwreck in which his family dies, and is stranded in the Pacific Ocean on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker."

My Review: I have wanted to see this movie since it came out but wanted to read the book first.  I really shouldn't have waited, I regret not seeing this one in the theaters. The digital effects are amazing and in my opinion surpass Avatar.  At times you can tell the tiger is animated, but for the most part the majority of the animals are very realistic.  I think the movie was much better than the book, I like how it summarized the first 20 or so chapters nicely and moved on quickly to the bulk of the story.  Obviously the book is so long that it couldn't fit everything into a 2 hour movie so I think it did a great job of including the key points of the story.

 

My Rating: Definitely a must see movie in my opinion and I enjoyed it so much more than the book.  I give it a rating of Four Paws.

Audio Book Review of Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Synopsis: "Martel's novel tells the story of Pi--short for Piscine--an unusual boy raised in a zoo in India. Pi's father decides to move the family to live in Canada and sell the animals to the great zoos of America. The ship taking them across the Pacific sinks and Pi finds himself the sole human survivor on a lifeboat with a hyena, an orangutan, a zebra with a broken leg and Bengal tiger called Richard Parker. "Life of Pi" brings together many themes including religion, zoology, fear, and sheer tenacity. This is a funny, wise, and highly original look at what it means to be human."

My Review: Hmm had a hard time rating this one. It was very tedious at first and thank goodness I go the audio version otherwise the book would have been put aside for something else. I really could have done without the almost first 2 CDs of theology lessons (was almost 2 hours of listening). For how wordy everything was, it didn't seem to describe things enough for me to get a clear picture of the setting or characters. The story finally started to pick up steam about half way through, maybe because the author could focus on a more limited story line and characters. Then ending is very interesting though (the last CD/10 chapters) and made up for the beginning a little bit. All in all it was a ehh book for me and one that I suggest seeing the movie if it isn't in your normal reading interests.        

 

My Rating: This was definitely a difficult one to rate, as far as writing style it didn't suit me but the story part was great.  I give it a rating of Two Paws.

Bedtime Story: Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel

Synopsis: "A modern classic that no child should miss. Since it was first published in 1939, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel has delighted generations of children. Mike and his trusty steam shovel, Mary Anne, dig deep canals for boats to travel through, cut mountain passes for trains, and hollow out cellars for city skyscrapers -- the very symbol of industrial America. But with progress come new machines, and soon the inseparable duo are out of work. Mike believes that Mary Anne can dig as much in a day as one hundred men can dig in a week, and the two have one last chance to prove it and save Mary Anne from the scrap heap. What happens next in the small town of Popperville is a testament to their friendship, and to old-fashioned hard work and ingenuity."

My Review: This is such a classic I couldn't leave it out of Munchkin's library. I know I loved this one as a kid, even though all I could remember was that Mary Anne ended up in the basement of the new building with a new job. I love the story about how with hard work and others working with you there is so much you could accomplish. I really like how even though Mary Anne is becoming obsolete, Mike still gets her work and they eventually find a new job for her. I love the illustrations though they are a little small for really young ones, but I am sure Munchkin will eventually love this book.

My Rating: A fantastic book from nearly everyone's childhood (at least the people I have known). I give this one a rating of Three Paws and a Stump Wag!

Good Night! Sweet Dreams!

2013 Challenges Update

So I meant to update you on my challenge progress at the beginning of the month but you all know how time gets away from me. Anyway, here is the update on all of my current challenges for this year.  Huge progress on some and none on others but I hope to remedy that soon!

 

 

 

SERIES CHALLENGE

I haven't gotten any reading done on this challenge, but I have obtained the books I need on the Lone Star Sisters series and the Daughters of the Glen series.  I am hoping to dedicate the month of June to reading series of books.

 

 

MENTAL ILLNESS ADVOCACY CHALLENGE

Again I haven't gotten any reading done on this challenge, but once I finish a couple of my requested reviews and the Spend My Money books for this month, Speak or Wintergirls is next on my list.

 

 

AUDIO BOOK CHALLENGE

I am actually in the middle of listening to my first Audio this year, a little over half way through the Life of Pi and hope to finish soon. I think the next one will be Heat Wave.

 

GOODREADS CHALLENGE

I committed to reading 100 books this year and am way ahead of this challenge, currently at 57 read.  I am thinking I may be increasing this goal to 130 depending on where I am at 6 months.

 

 

 

So that is the current status of my 2013 challenges, hopefully I will make more progress on them in the next couple of months!!  Hope your year has been filled with books that you are enjoying, that is more important than completing a challenge in my opinion.

 

 



Monday Reading List

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is a weekly meme hosted by Shelia at Book Journey. Share what books you have finished in the last week, are currently reading and what might be coming up next!

Reviews Posted Last Week:

Links will take you to my review

 

Stealing Parker by Miranda Kenneally
Last Regress by Rachael J. Thorne
Cynful by Dana Marie Bell (After Dark)
Little Blue Truck Leads the Way (Bedtime Story)
Bone Vol. 1 Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith (Graphic Novel)

Books Finished Last Week:
Reviews will be posted at a later date

Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site
 

Currently Reading:

October Night by Theresa Oles - Kindle - 11%
Life of Pi by Yann Martel - Audio Book - On Disc 6 of 9
Twelve Months by Steven Manchester - Nook - on page 62 of 212
Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Manchtev - PB - on page 27 of 352


 Books to be Read Soon:

True Grit by Charles Portis (Book v. Movie)
Chasing Dragons by Doug Jaffe (Requested Review)
Luminaire by Ciye Cho (Requested Review)

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Well not much reading got done due to being super busy in the office and the nightmare that is teething.  Poor little Munchkin cut his two front bottom teeth this last week which resulted in some sleepless nights and long days.  Unfortunately, we already see his top ones starting to come in too, so there will not be a break between :(

I do still hope to get some reading done (at least finish listening to Life of Pi while baby proofing the house) this week!

Hope you all have a great day!