Life of Pi (2012)

Directed by Ang Lee

Based on the novel by Yann Martel

Starring Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Kahn, Adil Hussain 

(and Richard Parker)

Runtime 127min. - Rated PG 
4 Stars (out of 4)

Now In Theatres

If you watch "Life of Pi" and don't find yourself lost in its magnificence, then cinema just isn't your thing. This is a film that should soften even the hardest of hearts. I know this because my heart is hard. I was once very religious and considering a career in ministry. Now I recall those times as if I had been brainwashed. Maybe I was just naive, or stupid. These days I see religion as a gateway to all sorts of irrational, illogical and dangerous philosophies.

I mention my spiritual background because "Life of Pi" is saturated with religious references. The main character, Pi, practices Hinduism, Catholicism and Islam simultaneously. He also teaches a college-level class on Kabbalah. Pi is the kind of person who speaks to God as if he expects an audible answer. Even when he might be justified in cursing God or questioning His benevolence, Pi offers prayers of gratitude. I'd probably be disgusted with this level of faith in a real human, but Pi is a fictional person in a fictional story. Also, I can't honestly say I wouldn't adopt an extreme faith if I were subject to such harrowing circumstances.This film is just too damn good not to enjoy. My brain knew this and underwent some involuntary compartmentalization so that I could avoid any internal conflict.


What I came to realize is that "Life of Pi" isn't a film about religion, but a film that chronicles the birth of a religious parable. There are some people who believe in a literal translation of scripture. However, the majority of Christians I've known have looked at the more sensational biblical stories as interpretation of actual events. Take Noah for instance. The bible says the world flooded and Noah took two of each species of animal on a giant boat until the waters receded. As far as we know, the known world was the area surrounding the Mediterranean. An area that probably has flooded in the past according to some geologists. It's also a desert, so the number of species would have been much less than the literalists believe. So is the story true? Maybe. But probably not as extreme as it seems at first glance.

Pi's story is full of fantastical elements. Some of them are possible. At one point the sea is glowing in the dark. I've read that this happens with certain species of plankton and algae. But Pi's story also features bio-luminescent jelly fish that add to the visual effect. Again, this is possible. As Pi marvels at the eery glow a whale comes up near his boat and breaches high in the air, coming down with a huge splash. Not impossible, but these three elements coming together at the same time are highly unlikely.

Richard Parker and Pi

Then there's Richard Parker. If a computer-generated tiger could be nominated for best-supporting actor, Richard Parker would deserve the Oscar. Pi's family owned a zoo and was shipping them to North America when their boat sank. Pi ended up on a lifeboat with an orangutang, a zebra and a hyena. The Zebra was severely injured and the orangutang was no match for the hyena. That hyena soon turned its attention to Pi, but then a Bengal tiger rushed from under a small canopy and effortlessly destroyed the hyena. So Richard Parker becomes Pi's one and only companion during his weeks at sea. It's a tumultuous relationship. Pi is constantly on the defensive and makes an effort to keep his companion well fed. Like the glowing sea and whale breach, a boy and a tiger sharing a boat is not impossible.

The impossible doesn't come until near the end of the story. I refuse to spoil it though.

Pi eventually washes ashore and is questioned by representatives for the Japanese freighter that sank. They are understandably in disbelief of his story and demand one that is logical. He gives them what they want. Or at least what they thought they wanted. His logical story is cold and sad. When we switch back to the present day where Pi is telling his story, his one-man audience takes the time to audibly notice the parallels between the colorful story and the logical one. It wasn't needed. Actually, it was an affront to my intelligence. This is a PG movie however, so maybe it was for the benefit of a younger audience. It was the one and only aspect of the film that I found fault with. A minor fault, but made noticeable due to the greatness of the work.

The TV ads say "Life of Pi" is as good as "Avatar". Baloney. It's better than Avatar in every conceivable way. "Avatar" was to be seen as a visual spectacle and nothing else. "Life of Pi" uses visual spectacle to tell a truly remarkable story. "Life of Pi" was adapted from a novel. "Avatar" as a novel would make a nice door stop.

The CG effects in "Life of Pi" are better than "Avatar" also. Almost all of the animal footage is done with computers, but some scenes are exceptions. I couldn't tell the difference. Putting animals and humans in danger is never a good option, "Life of Pi" is proof that CG has finally reached a point where it's no longer needed. The success of the CG is thanks in part to the fact it's complemented by beautifully composed frames. Even something as simple as the sky reflected in the water becomes a great work of art in the hands of Ang Lee and his cinematographer Claudio Miranda.

I'm going to cut this review off here because I know I could write another 30 paragraphs in praise of the film. But then who would read it? You probably got the point by now. It's a great film. It deserves Oscars. Lots of them. That I can look past its religious overtones and find inspiration is a testament to the power of this film, and of film in general.

I'm going out on a limb and saying this is the best film of the year. It's also one of the best I've ever seen.

If you haven't seen the film or read the book than you're probably curious how a tiger gets a name like "Richard Parker". That was actually the name of his previous owner who accidentally signed the wrong spot on his paperwork when he donated the tiger to the zoo. That story probably could have been funnier.