Pi
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Movie Reviews of Pi
Movie Review: One of the Best
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very stylish film that deserves more attention from film viewers. I've read some reviews about this film and I was upset to find some people that did not like the film because of some camera techniques or the non sense of the story. First of all, although in many scenes the camera shakes a lot, tilts, and uses unusual angles, the effect of this only adds to the insanity that is going on in the movie. The story is meant to be paranoid, painful, disorientating, stressful for the main character Max Cohen, and the effective use of camera angles brings the audience into the movie. If you felt nausiated by it, it was meant to make you feel that way. Second, the story if of course non sense because cleary the stock market, Pi, and the Kabalah has no significant similarities. Instead of focusing in on the technicality of this, why not focus on the character who is obssessed about finding those similarities? Thirdly, some one pointed out that this movie was cheaply made, and it is true that this movie had one of the movie industry's lowest budget. However, the director geniously turned that disadvantage into an advantage to create something that is totally unique. I really cannot say anything negative about this movie except for near the ending where I thought needed more explanation, however, that discovery was only for Max Cohen, so we don't really need to know what happened but the fact that he did come up with some kind of a revelation. Anyways, great film, and I would definately recommend this film to anyone.Movie Review: Pi: A glimpse into the abyss of a paranoid genius.
Summary: 5 Stars
Pi is a movie for the thinking man, and definitely not for the squeamish. Both Orwellian and Kafka-esque in its mood, the film is photographed in black and white, which only enhances the moods of paranoia, delusion and grandeur which Max exhibits. The soundtrack will probably irritate most viewers...much of the music sounds like nails scratching on a blackboard. However, the soundtrack greatly adds to the story and accentuates everything which Max experiences throughout the story. Pi has some deep concepts as well. Many of us probably detested math, algebra and trigonometry in high school. Yet, Max explains mathematics as a form of communciation in which everything can be expressed. Too bad I never had mathematics explained to me in this manner. I might have shown more interest in my homework. Max's genius leads the viewer on a pathway to hell as Max attempts to break the enigmatic code of "216", and fight for his life against Wall Street corporate thugs seeking his secrets, and Ultra-Orthodox Hassidic Jews attempting to discover the secrets of God. This is some deep stuff. I strongly recommend the DVD version of Pi. If some of the material is too deep or cerebral, the Director's commentary will answer many unresolved questions. The deleted scenes are also an added bonus. Although definitely not for the mainstream movie fan, Pi offers a great deal for the sophisticated viewer.Movie Review: Connecting with the Unknown/Infinity/Reality
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are fascinated by mathematics/fractals, the Kabbalah (Cabala), psychology and one human being's unexpected/ unsought for connection to Ultimate Reality/Infinity/G-d this film will meet your expectations. The filming technique is just as important as the theme/message in this film. It is deliberately done in black and white and with minimal dialogue ... therefore when Max, the computer specialist experiences what at first appears to be a blinding light with a migraine headache or perhaps, even a seizure, the viewer is drawn, pulled. tangled into the intense emotional experience and questions of what it all means. It gradually dawns on the viewer this is something much Bigger than what it appears ... Max has been working on a computer program to discover an answer to a very important formula. He discovers the answer which is a set of numbers that connects him to Ultimate Reality. One does not exactly know what the final outcome will be ... the Hasidic Jews want his computer program/formula and so do Wall Street executives and a large corporation. The chase is on and there lies the mystery of the film ... This film will appeal to a highly discriminating group of people who initially like the basic themes set forth in the first sentence of this review. Anyone else will find fault as the approach to this film is almost avant garde but highly effective to achieve maximum impact. Erika Borsos (erikab93)Movie Review: Search For Structure
Summary: 5 Stars
I am not a mathematician. However, I can usually see how things work, the schematics, the overall structure of something. Looking for the structure of a thing,the theory, the pattern, is something that fascinates me. It is part of the work I do. This film is therefore very appealing to me. No, a better word is compelling. The young man in this film is searching for a (or THE)pattern, the structure of random numbers, the web inherent in Chaos theory. Other, more selfish people in the film try to use the protagonist, but those people are also searching. The Hasidic man is searching for the structure of the Deity, the numeric key to the name of G-d. The stock broker is searching for the overall numeric pattern of the Market. All seek an explanation, born out of Wonder. So, I can't bring myself to dislike any of the people in the film who are searching for the Answer, the Structure. All of us, to a greater or lesser degree, are searching for answers, the why of things. The search for the why or how of things is what enobles men and women. As a Buddhist, I should say "the path is the Goal," but that is too pat an answer, even if it is correct. This film is a wonderful examination of our shared obsession of Seeking. It explores both the depth of mind and the limitation of Mind. It is as engrossing and compelling a film as any I've ever seen. I recommend it. It deserves (and requiries) more than one viewing.Movie Review: TEXTURAL! PART SURREALIST, PART ABSTRACT! GREAT!
Summary: 5 Stars
This film is an exploration of textures featuring chiaroscuro bi-products of its black and white film technique. It also features some great computer filtering processes and editing. Aside form being completely UN-Hollywood (and all the better for it, regardless of what any other reviews say), it takes the viewer through a certain set of motions in a certain sequence to achieve a certain effect. That effect being an atmosphere of chaos, cathexis, frustration and paranoia. Disney, this ain't!
Perhaps, the reason some reviewers didn't enjoy PI, has to do with exactly that. They called it amateurish and shallow, with a storyline that is more befitting of a poorly executed art film, but I beg to differ. There are a few things that in the case of PI, absolutely PRECEDE the content of the storyline. Those things are: Composition, Design, Texture, and Depth. These are elements that, as a viewer, affect your reaction to ABSTRACT pieces. These are elements that allow you to completely divorce the visuals from any linear coherence your mind may have been searching for. For me the storyline was inconsequential.
If you watch the film with this in mind, you are certainly going to enjoy going for a ride into a black and white abyss of textures and shapes. Think of it as looking into a moving Kandinsky-Picasso-Dali-Klee-Itten-VanGoh-Munsch collage. It is absolutely insane. GREAT!