Life of Pi

Director: Ang Lee

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irfan Khan, Ayush Tandon, Adil Hussain, Tabu, Rafe Spall, Gérard Depardieu

Distributed By: 20th Century Fox

Release Date: November/December 2012

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This is quite simply one of the most moving and beautiful stories I have ever read and it is lovingly translated onto the big screen with the utmost respect of the source material.
Ang Lee infuses Yann Martel's fascinating and intriguing story with absolute care and attention to detail.
The whole thing looks gorgeous, even the opening scenes in the Zoo are exquisite!
Irfan Khan is brilliant as the adult Pi and I really like that we get to see him retelling his amazing story to Rafe Spall's writer and their scenes together are subtle yet meaningful.
The first section of the story is set in the vibrant and bustling Indian town of Pondicherry and you really get a sense of Pi's life as he deals with an unfortunate version of his name at school and his quest to find his purpose in life.
Ayush Tandon's portrayal of Pi is a joy to watch as he displays the makings of a smart and confident boy. I also really like Adil Hussain and Tabu as Pi's parents.
The religious themes in the book are full of warmth and this too is translated really well, as Pi ponders the meaning of spirituality.
The first proper scene with Richard Parker is just what I was waiting for; a wonderful and powerful scene that is quickly dealt with, but lingers in the mind.
As Pi's parents decide to move to pastures new, I felt a pang of emotion for what Pi is leaving behind and this is one of the achievements of the film; every scene is filled with emotion, every character is clearly defined and grabs hold of your own emotions.
I saw this in 3D and it is truly mesmerising! The sea comes to life as storms rage and the Tsimtsum sinks and Pi's life is forever changed.
Each scene on the Pacific is truly breathtaking and as Pi gets accustomed to living on a lifeboat many of his scenes are quite heartbreaking!
Four dangerous animals on a lifeboat is an amazing concept and the book goes into quite horrific and accurate detail of just how they define the social hierarchy and I'm quite glad that these scenes are swift and mostly gore-free so as not to spoil the magical tone of this beautiful visual experience.
Suraj Sharma is absolutely amazing as the sixteen year old Pi, who is faced with sharing a lifeboat with a Bengal Tiger and this is the true heart of the film.
Whether you're an animal lover or not, Richard Parker comes to life majestically and is so well done that I totally forgot that this is CGI work! Richard Parker simply becomes real and his and Pi's relationship and dependence on each other is a beautiful and inspiring thing to watch. So many scenes moved me to tears and I particularly love that this is exactly how Irfan Khan reacts as Pi remembers how he and Richard Parker part ways.
The second story is a scene of much contention in the book, but I'm glad they used it here; it makes the whole thing more intriguing.
For me, when watching this, I am on that boat with Pi and Richard Parker and Ang Lee, along with his cast and crew do it justice.
It's so satisfying when a book you love becomes a visual experience that fills your heart.
Mychael Danna's score is also hauntingly beautiful!
Life of Pi is a truly amazing and uplifting story in all sorts of ways; watch it and experience the wonder!!
~~Nikki~~