The Life of Pi is a harrowing story of a young boy who finds himself stranded at sea on a small life-boat. With only a fearsome Bengal Tiger as his sole companion, young Pi must rely on his resourcefulness and his deep faith to keep them both alive as they drift through the vast ocean.
From the director Ang Lee (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), The Life of Pi is a visually stunning cinematic piece that completely envelops the use of 3-D for a mesmerizing effect. The film was adapted to the screen from the award-winning book by Yann Martel that was a world wide best seller. Fans of the book will be happy to know that the movie stays true to the story and does not veer off into the typical Hollywood approach of gutting literature in the hopes of increasing box office sales.
For those that have never read the book, the screen adaptation does a remarkable job of imparting the message of faith, hope and character that was so perfectly cultivated and captured in Yann Martel’s work. The heartbreak that young Pi endured, and the courage and faith that he exudes is a wonderful testament to the human spirit.
Not being one to spoil a good thing, I would rather talk of the reasons to see the movie then give you the typical film review play by play. As I have said above, the story itself is heartwarming and beautiful and the screenplay does not detract from the book, but rather does an excellent job of capturing its essence.
The visuals in the movie are well worth the price of admission, and the blend between CGI and live action are seamless. The way the colors stand out in the movie gives it a mystical feel, that at times make it feel like some psychedelic flashback as the colors and beauty of the images fill your senses and dazzle your eyes.
In the end you are left with the question, was it true? Was Pi’s adventure an actual event or something spun from his imagination? And in the end, does it matter? Does something have to be true to capture your imagination and lift your spirit? Or perhaps we can make things true through the strength of our belief. Capture miracles and magic with the power of faith alone. Wouldn’t that be something?
A fantastic movie that gives life to a beautiful book.
