Eat, Pray, Love. Why Not Indeed.

My Review of the Movie

Eat Pray Love

" I used to have this appetite for life"

Elizabeth Gilbert.

Let me clarify some thing straight off the bat.

I have never read Liz Gilbert's Book and although I know a few who have read Eat, Pray, Love it escaped my limited reading time making my review here a review of the movie only.

For some reason and apart from the media hype, this movie attracted me even before it was released, so I knew that I would venture to a cinema to see it, before it came out on DVD, which is often my preferred choice for movie watching. Having said that I did attend the cinema to see Slumdog Millionaire and loved every bit of that amazing movie too.

As for Slumdog Millionaire I especially enjoyed the effect the big screen had in it's favour for this movie and for its viewers, because when the loud music vibrated around us all, whilst watching the big screen in the cinema, the movie parading before our eyes, utilising amazing colours, magnificent dancing and rhythm, combined with excellent acting, the drama presented itself effervescently, drawing my companions and myself mercilessly into this,  sometimes poignant, happy, sad and all time great movie. 

I diverged from my review of Eat Pray Love and I am sorry, however both these films had a similar effect on me, one of total absorption as the cinematographic camera rolled along exposing me to the spell binding beauty of four quite different continents and their unique collection of peoples with their unique languages and gestures, keeping me enthralled all the way through.

Julia Roberts was heaven sent for this movie as she maneuvered her way around Bali, New York, then Italy, India and back again to Bali. I would not be surprised if she learnt as much from her role portraying Liz Gilbert, as she would, had she also taken this life sojourn her self. Julia a savvy actress who plays to perfection her role, as this thirty something, new age woman, who seeks the raison d'etre for her life purpose thus far.

I had heard conflicting reports about the movie, such as, it moved too slowly in the beginning. Which incidentally I did not find this to be true for me personally. Also, that our leading lady was apt to be a little self obsessed and to use the word of a friend, narcissistic. I might have thought this too from the book had I read it but for me the film did not portray Liz as narcissistic. More so I felt it portrayed her as a woman who was seeking her life path and had the intestinal fortitude to walk this personal path of her own accord.

How often have many of us dreamed the dream but not had the required determination and desire to deposit ourselves onto that path of the unknown, leaving the universe to guide us to our destiny. Of course we all have our own personal agendas and Liz's as it works through the movie is to Eat as she has not allowed herself to eat in such a long time and what better place to achieve this feat than the home of good food and feasting but, Italy. Then there is the striving for the inner peace and harmony of self which she found in an ashram in India. Bali is the place she goes to in the beginning and at the end of the movie and this is the place where her life and her perceptions are challenged to the hilt and where unexpectedly she finds the love and balance that she was seeking all along.

As I said this movie might not be for all and some might even say that it is a  'chick flick' but before you place the movie into a niche, check it out because it actually has so much to offer in many areas.

Stars out of 10 I will give it 9*********

It seems I will be going back to the movies again soon. I was lucky enough to have a phone call when I reached home informing me that the little raffle ticket I was given with my ticket has won for me another day out with a movie ticket, a free lunch and a bottle of champagne. Now what next to see? lol

This will be my dilemma.

Cheers Milli. 10

 

  Liz Gilbert Site here.

   

Elizabeth Gilbert Quote...

"There is so much about my fate that I cannot control, but other things do fall under the jurisdiction. I can decide how I spend my time, whom I interact with, whom I share my body and life and money and energy with. I can select what I can read and eat and study. I can choose how I'm going to regard unfortunate circumstances in my life-whether I will see them as curses or opportunities. I can choose my words and the tone of voice in which I speak to others. And most of all, I can choose my thoughts."