Life of Pi Film Review In the film “Life of Pi,” an Indian family (and the animals from the zoo they own) moves to Canada to start a new life. The cargo ship they were on sank and, during the following chaos, he ends up on a lifeboat with a ragtag group of zoo animals that also managed to escape: an orangutan, a spotted hyena, a zebra with a broken leg, and a Bengal Tiger (named Richard Parker). DIRECTIONS: Write a critique about the film “Life of Pi.” The critique must be at least onepage front and back. In your critique, please address the following items: Discuss how well the plot was developed by Ang Lee, the director of the film. Provide a brief summary of the film and explain how effective the film was in telling Pi’s story from exposition to the resolution. o What was the climax? Did Pi experience internal (psychological) or external (outside forces) conflicts? Was the plot confusing or missing elements of the written story? Discuss the theme of spirituality, faith, and determination in the film. Explain how at least two of these relate to the plot and the characters Pi and Richard Parker. o Cite/Reference at least three (3) specific examples in the film where spirituality, faith, and determination are seen or talked about in the film. Discuss the production of the film (settings, special effects, make-up, props, etc.) and how well it was done. o Did it help or hurt the overall presentation of the film? Provide specific examples and analyze them. NOTE: This information should be in the critique—it is not meant to be used for the organization of your response. STANDARDS ADDRESSED: Writing 1.2 Organization and Focus: Establish coherence within and among paragraphs through effective transitions, parallel structures, and similar writing techniques. Creative Writing 2.0 /Listening 1.01 Listen to comprehend, interpret, and respond to imaginative texts and performances such as film and video productions. Creative Writing 3.0 /Listening 2.01 Analyze and evaluate ideas, information, issues, and experiences from films
Due Date:____________________________
Student Name: ___________________________________________
Communication
CCC
Must Haves Engagement of the Reader
4
3
2
Hooks the readers and captures attention in a way that demands to be read.
Generates interest early on and maintains it throughout.
Presents in a lackluster manner, generates ambivalence in the reader.
Fails to hook the reader and capture attention.
Includes effective introduction, developed body, and satisfying conclusion; functions as a whole with a clear flow and purpose. Consistently free of errors with grammar and mechanics.
Includes introduction, body, and conclusion; essay moves forward purposefully.
It’s hard to tell where the beginning, middle, and end are; focus wanders.
No clear beginning, middle, or end; lacks focus.
Reasonably free of errors with grammar and mechanics.
Lacks control of errors with grammar and mechanics.
No control of errors with grammar and mechanics.
Summary
Provides a brief summary of film without disclosing ending, includes enough information to satisfy reader.
Provides a summary either much too short or much too long, may be vague or tell too much.
Provides little or no significant summary.
Opinion/Critique
Thesis clearly indicates opinion with consideration of essential questions and is supported throughout review.
Thesis delivers an opinion that is unclear or vague with little support throughout the review.
Thesis is missing or lacks opinion and is not connected to support in the review.
Supporting Details
Substantial details from the movie strongly support opinion. Quotations, scenes, and characters are specifically referenced.
Provides a summary that is either a little too long or not long enough but does not give away ending, is not quite as compelling. Thesis states opinion with some consideration of essential questions and is supported throughout most of review. Details from the movie support opinion. Some quotations, scenes, and characters are specifically referenced.
Few details from the movie and little evidence support opinion. Rare references are made to quotations, scenes, and characters.
No details from the movie and little evidence offered to support opinion. Fails to reference quotations, scenes, or characters.
Organization
Grammar and Mechanics
Critical Thinking
Movie: ___________________________
Total Points Earned:
1
