When I first watched this film in the theatre, I was around 17 years old, a freshman in college.
As a teenager, I always dreamed of traveling around the world, learning new languages, and experiencing new cultures. Even though I normally don't watch dramas in theaters, I really enjoyed this film (plus, I was the only one in the theater). After watching the film, I felt renewed and fell in love with Julia Roberts all over again. Then I decided to read the book.
To be honest, the book was hard to read. The EAT part was really good, but the PRAY part was really hard to get through especially with all the spiritual terms in Hindi. Also, Elizabeth Gilbert's frank relationship problems was hard to get through because I had not experienced anything like it.
As a teenager, I always dreamed of traveling around the world, learning new languages, and experiencing new cultures. Even though I normally don't watch dramas in theaters, I really enjoyed this film (plus, I was the only one in the theater). After watching the film, I felt renewed and fell in love with Julia Roberts all over again. Then I decided to read the book.
To be honest, the book was hard to read. The EAT part was really good, but the PRAY part was really hard to get through especially with all the spiritual terms in Hindi. Also, Elizabeth Gilbert's frank relationship problems was hard to get through because I had not experienced anything like it.
HOWEVER, some time ago I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, which got me to listen to the PRAY section in one sitting. The words and the concepts that were too complicated for 17 year-old-me flowed so easily. I understood everything that Gilbert explained. So I picked up the book and read the book from the start to the end once again.
Here is something that the film does not portray enough: the protagonist's struggle and her reason behind why she had to take the year long trip to Italy, India, and Bali.
From the start of the book, I felt the author's personality. She's an attractive lady who is so lovable yet jealous and desperate to be loved. She wants to be cherished by others, especially by a guy. But, because of this constant longing for love, her relationships with men have been failures. She goes through a long and hard divorce, but during the divorce, she ends up meeting another guy and being in a pretty serious relationship with him.
Relationship alone is hard, but to be stuck in a divorce and living with a another man must have been stressful and very difficult. The author goes through depression and finally decides to leave everything behind and go to different countries to find God and balance in herself.
Here is something that the film does not portray enough: the protagonist's struggle and her reason behind why she had to take the year long trip to Italy, India, and Bali.
From the start of the book, I felt the author's personality. She's an attractive lady who is so lovable yet jealous and desperate to be loved. She wants to be cherished by others, especially by a guy. But, because of this constant longing for love, her relationships with men have been failures. She goes through a long and hard divorce, but during the divorce, she ends up meeting another guy and being in a pretty serious relationship with him.
Relationship alone is hard, but to be stuck in a divorce and living with a another man must have been stressful and very difficult. The author goes through depression and finally decides to leave everything behind and go to different countries to find God and balance in herself.
I understood what she must have gone through with her depression and loneliness. It must have been very stressful. Feeling lonely even with the presence of a loved one is probably one of the worst things in the world. This was missing from the film. There were scenes when Julia Roberts cried in the bathroom, and during a really short arguing scene with David. But that was it. Julia Roberts is beautiful, but I think that there should have been at least some prominent dark circles under her eyes. She just looked too beautiful, at least for that first portion of the film.
The rest of the film is actually pretty okay. I love the scenes from Italy because of the pictures of the food, rather than descriptions of the food. Also, it's Italy. even though it was through my screen, I got to see Italy (hopefully I get to visit Italy before I die).
The rest of the film is actually pretty okay. I love the scenes from Italy because of the pictures of the food, rather than descriptions of the food. Also, it's Italy. even though it was through my screen, I got to see Italy (hopefully I get to visit Italy before I die).
I was disappointed by India because it lacks the spiritual learnings that the author describes in the book. The film portrays the close relationship between Liz and Richard from Texas, but that was pretty much it. The book is full of the author's findings and understandings of her spirituality (not that I buy her findings of spirituality). But the film only licks the spiritual portion, and dedicates almost twenty minutes of film time to Tulsi's wedding. It was pretty and colorful. It's not something we see everyday since not all of us are Indian, or have the opportunity to go to an Indian wedding. But, it was a little bit ridiculous.
And, India ends with Julia Roberts touching an elephant that happens to be walking by. Huh?
And, India ends with Julia Roberts touching an elephant that happens to be walking by. Huh?
AND THEN CAME JAVIER BARDEM.
He is probably the sexiest man alive. Story wise, the love line was almost too cheesy and transformed the film into a chick-flick. I mean, it is almost too ridiculous.
But, it didn't matter because it was Javier Bardem. I am not so sure what Felipe looks like in real life, but Javier Bardem did pull off the Felipe that was described in the book; Felipe is also this loving person who is full of energy and charisma. Even if Javier didn't pull it off, it wouldn't have mattered because he is Javier Bardem.
The first time I watched the film, it seemed like Felipe wasn't leaving Liz alone.
It almost felt like he was bothering her when she was trying so hard to find her balance and finding peace by herself..
He is probably the sexiest man alive. Story wise, the love line was almost too cheesy and transformed the film into a chick-flick. I mean, it is almost too ridiculous.
But, it didn't matter because it was Javier Bardem. I am not so sure what Felipe looks like in real life, but Javier Bardem did pull off the Felipe that was described in the book; Felipe is also this loving person who is full of energy and charisma. Even if Javier didn't pull it off, it wouldn't have mattered because he is Javier Bardem.
The first time I watched the film, it seemed like Felipe wasn't leaving Liz alone.
It almost felt like he was bothering her when she was trying so hard to find her balance and finding peace by herself..
But when I watched this film for the second time, I saw the real tension from Julia Roberts. There is a scene where Liz runs away from Filipe when he asks her for a nice week on an island far away from the village. Liz argues that she is falling from her balance and that she does not need anther love affair and leaves Filipe. The serious tension in that scene was actually supposed to be present from the beginning of the film, but was shown in the latter part of the movie, which was both a disappointment and a relief. I was disappointed that I was not able to see this tension from the start, yet relieved that there was at least a big tension before the film ended.
When I watching this scene, I had to ask myself some questions because it felt like even after Liz's "healing time" in Italy and India, she was in the same place. So the questions I asked myself were: When is the right time to be in a relationship? Who is the right person? Is falling in love okay at all? If relationships are hard and will keep us from staying balanced, why even bother being in a relationship?
Then at the end, Ketut explains that being off balanced is a part of being balanced. This was the answer from the medicine man.
So Liz goes back to Felipe and has a happy ending and they sail off to the island for a romantic week away.
Hm... Not a very satisfying ending, but it certainly is better than Liz denying Felipe and moving back to New York for her "balanced" life.
When I watching this scene, I had to ask myself some questions because it felt like even after Liz's "healing time" in Italy and India, she was in the same place. So the questions I asked myself were: When is the right time to be in a relationship? Who is the right person? Is falling in love okay at all? If relationships are hard and will keep us from staying balanced, why even bother being in a relationship?
Then at the end, Ketut explains that being off balanced is a part of being balanced. This was the answer from the medicine man.
So Liz goes back to Felipe and has a happy ending and they sail off to the island for a romantic week away.
Hm... Not a very satisfying ending, but it certainly is better than Liz denying Felipe and moving back to New York for her "balanced" life.
In conclusion, the book is way better than the film. Like most books that get adapted into a film, there is just a lot more details and stories that are not mentioned or portrayed in the film. However, Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem were a good fit for the characters.
I have to say that the central theme of the film was more focused on the word travel rather than spirituality like the book. The film almost focuses too much on the pretty side of the spiritual journey of a hurt, lonely, and desperate woman.
It is certainly inspiring and heart-warming, but not very true to the real story. Also, the ending is icky, which I am not a huge fan of. But because there really aren't a whole lot of films about a female character traveling across the world to find inner peace, I do like the film. I love the cinematography, and the cute medicine man. I wonder if there would have been a drastic change in the film if it were directed by a female director rather than Ryan Murphy.
Also, I wonder if there could be another way to develop the character - from a skinny, dark-circled, gloomy Julia Roberts to a happy, blond, healthy Julia Roberts.
Anyways, I do conclude that Eat, Pray, Love is indeed a chick flick.
I have to say that the central theme of the film was more focused on the word travel rather than spirituality like the book. The film almost focuses too much on the pretty side of the spiritual journey of a hurt, lonely, and desperate woman.
It is certainly inspiring and heart-warming, but not very true to the real story. Also, the ending is icky, which I am not a huge fan of. But because there really aren't a whole lot of films about a female character traveling across the world to find inner peace, I do like the film. I love the cinematography, and the cute medicine man. I wonder if there would have been a drastic change in the film if it were directed by a female director rather than Ryan Murphy.
Also, I wonder if there could be another way to develop the character - from a skinny, dark-circled, gloomy Julia Roberts to a happy, blond, healthy Julia Roberts.
Anyways, I do conclude that Eat, Pray, Love is indeed a chick flick.