MovieChat Forums > Pi (1998) Discussion > Can I still like this movie even if I do...

Can I still like this movie even if I don't find it confusing?

posted 11 years ago by flowerythethird
2 replies | jump to latest

When I first saw this movie, I absolutely loved it. It elevated Aronofsky into one of my all time favorite directors, and became one of my all time favorite movies.

Then I read up on it, and was a little saddened to see so many people make it out to be a "mind bending sci-fi thriller" and such..

To me, it's not about any of that. It's not confusing and it's not very obscure. It makes me sad to see it in the same boat with Eraserhead and Donnie Darko. It has little in common with those movies (even though I love both of them as well)

So my question: Do you guys think it's acceptable just to enjoy it as a simple character-drama film? Or do I have to study up on every single frame to be a 'true' fan..

" Super Bowl XLVIII will be most evenly-matched Super Bowl in 32 years"- AH_Fan

[–] ben-leos 10 years ago

Whatever floats your boat, it's a good movie regardless.

[–] pfr_77 9 years ago

I thoroughly enjoyed Pi and I still am. I don't know why confusion should be a component of enjoyment, and from reading these threads, it seems more that understanding on some level is a necessity for appreciation. I have no issue with "mind bending" although I see it as more about the film's psychedelia, constant questioning of reality, and actually having to think a little to keep up. I don't think there's any need to "study up on every single frame" to get it either. In fact, I think the film makes itself fairly obvious, it just does it in a unique way that I guess most people wouldn't be accustomed to or expect.

I don't think that having it in the same boat as DD or Eraserhead is all that much of a stretch. I hated DD but I'm a pretty big fan of Lynch and Pi brought Eraserhead to mind almost constantly, but that was mostly to do with the cinematography. Pi is a heck of a lot less abstract and surreal than eraserhead though.

pi also reminded me of cronenberg a lot in the way that scenes would build and *pop*