Brokeback Mountain and Life of Pi are two grand creations of the wildly acclaimed director Ang Lee. Both have been praised immensely by critics and audiences alike, while also being celebrated by major award shows, both being nominated and winning various accolades.
Of course, this has led fans to compare the two movies to decide which is better of the two. Indeed, this usually comes down to personal taste, but there is still a chance of objectivity when looking at the two movies seperately.
Brokeback Mountain: The Story Feels More Personal
Even though most people will probably never be cowboys or find themselves in a similar situation that the two main characters of Brokeback Mountain found themselves in, the story of this movie feels very personal.
Perhaps it's the way Ennis and Jack express their feelings to each other or the way they feel when they are away from each other - whatever it is, it definitely makes their story feel very personal, even to those watching the movie for the first time.
Life Of Pi: The Concept Is Quite Unique
While Brokeback Mountain was definitely a unique story in its ability to bring to the forefront a topic that had never been done before, Life of Pi did something completely different and yet so similar with the popular "survival story" movie genre.
Both movies are adaptations, but at the core of Life of Pi lies a concept that is quite unique. What if a teenage boy from India survives a shipwreck and finds himself in a boat with a tiger that wants to eat him? Apparently, it makes for a life-changing journey.
Brokeback Mountain: The Lead Actors Did An Outstanding Job
It's unarguable that Suraj Sharma did a great job playing the teenage Pi in Life of Pi, but the lead actors of Brokeback Mountain weren't critically acclaimed for nothing.
In fact, all three lead actors (Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Michelle Williams) were nominations at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs, with Gyllenhaal winning the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor, despite being the only one of the three not to be nominated at the Golden Globes.
Life Of Pi: The Plot Is Thrilling
Survival movies are usually quite thrilling if they are done right. Luckily, for Life of Pi, the writing was outstanding and the plot delivered what it should have.
It's easy to empathize with Pi's situation and worry about him, even though the audience knows from the beginning that he survives the whole ordeal because he is the one telling the story in the first place.
Brokeback Mountain: The Romance Is Filled With Drama
Brokeback Mountain is often remembered as a drama first and a romance movie second. In fact, it is regarded as one of the best dramas of the 21st century - and it definitely deserves the title.
But what makes it so special is that its romance is filled with drama throughout. Ennis and Jack don't want to admit their feelings, at first, and even once they do, they realize they can't just be together because it's not that simple. Moreover, there is conflict because of their differing views on their relationship, which further dramatizes the situation.
Life Of Pi: The CGI Is Breathtaking
One of the most essential elements of Life of Pi that made it the massive success that it became at the time is down to its breathtaking CGI.
Of course, there are many instances when the CGI is subtle, but when the more dreamy sequences begin - that's when the work of VFX artists really shines through and shows just how beautiful this movie is.
Brokeback Mountain: The Score Is Simple Yet Beautiful
Brokeback Mountain also has a special element of its own, which is its simple yet very beautiful score that is so easy to remember and that so many fans absolutely adore.
Composer Gustavo Santaolalla actually scored the music before filming even began, just by reading the story and talking to Ang Lee once. Santaolalla would go on to be nominated at the Academy Awards, the Golden Globes, and the BAFTAs for his work on the film (winning the Academy Award).
Life Of Pi: The Symbolism Makes The Story More Layered
At the most basic level, Life of Pi is an interesting survival-adventure story, but once looked at closer, it's easy to see the numerous instances of symbolism throughout the film that makes the story more layered.
From the colors that change the look of the different scenes to the animals Pi first ends up with in the boat, the movie is full of small and not-so-small details that symbolize the aspects of his being and the main themes of the story.
Brokeback Mountain: The Cinematography Is Gorgeous
When talking about the way the two movies look, it's easy to get lost in the beauty of Life of Pi and forget just how gorgeous the cinematography in Brokeback Mountain actually is.
The wide landscapes of nature with shots of mountains, lakes, and valleys contrast with the simple serenity of the urban environment. But the focus is always on the natural element of the story, which is even in the title - Brokeback Mountain.
Life Of Pi: The Entire Experience Feels Surreal
One of the most interesting yet hard-to-crack aspects of Life of Pi is that the movie is an entire experience that feels completely surreal and can't really be replicated.
The way the story is told by the adult main character makes it seem like it actually happened, but once the audience gets deeper into Pi's adventures and sees the same things he claims to have seen, it's much more difficult to say where reality ends and fantasy begins.