Life of Pi

Once thought to be unfilmmable by its readers, Yann Martel's epic novel Life of Pi is now director Ang Lee's epic 3D movie. It's one of the most colorful films of this year, or maybe of any other year.

Pi Patel (Irrfan Khan), born in India and living in Canada, gets a chance to tell his life story to an interviewer (Rafe Spall). As a young man (Suraj Sharma), Pi took up Christianity, Islam and Hinduism all at once. His family owned a zoo, which political circumstances forced to move to Canada. On the way there, natural circumstances sank the ship they were traveling on. Only Pi and a handful of animals make it out alive. In a short time, though, it's just Pi and Richard Parker, the Zoo's resident Bengal Tiger.

For 227 days, Pi has to tame Parker's savage instincts for the good of them both. To do that, Pi must keep his faith alive, just as much as he'd keep himself alive.

Its bright 3D cinematography by Claudio Miranda is what keeps the film alive. At times magnificent, and at other times frightening, its visuals are as vast as the ocean Pi finds himself in. Among its most incredible effects include a swarm of flying fish, a glowing whale, the shipwreck, and the lifeboat seemingly in the sky. Hopefully, we have either our Oscar winner for Visual Effects, or the close runner-up.

What makes the novel work on-screen are Pi and Parker. As Pi, Suraj Sharma is compelling as he faces the world around him. Parker, who is actually a mainly CGI creation, looks and acts likes a real, feeling big kitty. What makes their relationship work is that they bring out the best in each other. While Pi learns to remain strong, Parker has to humble himself, even somewhat, before his “guest.” As rendered by screenwriter David Magee, this shipwreck story makes great use of its two hour run-time.

Simply put, Life of Pi needs to be seen in a theater soon. Its epic scope justifies the continuing existence of the big screen in this day and age.