Visually stunning, but remains focused on a deep main idea

Rating: 9/10 (8 December 2012)

Every decade or so, a film with such potency is released that it is clear that it will be a classic. I had the honor of watching one such film, Life of Pi, the depths of which I am still exploring. Ang Lee's masterpiece is visually breathtaking, and yet in all its beauty remains focused on its main idea, a feat not claimed by many VFX heavy movies.
The visual effects weren't just high quality, they were bursting with creativity. The animals are nearly indiscernible from their flesh and bone counterparts, but they pale in comparison to the stunning shots of the still, mirrored ocean reflecting the light of the rising sun; glowing fish swarming around the life boat at night. Some of the shots were so perfect I nearly cried.
The strange thing about this film is that I don't have much to say about it, and I suppose that should be the goal of film--simplicity. The acting was flawless; it did what it needed to do without wasting time being "cool." That characters weren't breathtaking in any way, but they served the super objective, keeping the focus on the ideas rather than the characters. In the end, I wasn't thinking, "Oh, that Pi kid was really interesting." I was left to ponder on the ideas presented (I will discuss those ideas under the spoiler warning section for those who wish to see more evidence) That's what film should do.
Life of Pi is simply the embodiment of the purpose of film. It presents an idea, develops it, and supports it. It is subtle. It doesn't ram the ideas down our throats with superfluous narrative, nor does it waste time explaining things that don't benefit the ideas. If I were to answer the question of "What is film?" I would direct people to Life of Pi. I feel like I have experienced not merely a bedtime story, but a dream, straight from the mind of Ang Lee.
**Spoiler Alerts** **Spoiler Alerts** **Spoiler Alerts**
As I have heaped such prestigious amounts of praise on Life of Pi, I feel the need to explain more in depth the reasons for my comments on the depth of the ideas in Life of Pi. Many people have accused Life of Pi of merely being a "Call to Conversion." And while it does deal with religion, it is not merely about that. It is a story about faith and how that faith teaches us about the nature of our hearts.
In the beginning of the film, Pi and his family are sitting around the dinner table, where his father is lecturing him on the benefits of science and reason. His mother interjects, and says while science does teach us about the intricacies of the world, faith is the manner in which we learn about what's, "In here," pointing to her heart. The faith-based events following that scene are analogies that support that idea. Their move to Canada represents changes in life, and how people should strive to view them as opportunities. The shipwreck represents discouragement/disappointment when opportunities don't work out as planned. But as Pi reads in his survival manual, "Do not lose hope." It represents viewing challenges as a way to grow in strength. The floating island represents places which are, "Good enough." It warns us not to become complacent, and that in staying there, we are slowly being eaten alive by loneliness. It is not our home. When Richard Parker leaves, he doesn't look back, symbolizing letting go and not looking back.
Finally, in the end, the Japanese businessmen ask why the ship sank, not believing Pi's outlandish story. So Pi told them a realistic story grounded in reality. Pi's entire experience was an analogies for his mother's comment during that conversation. It doesn't matter that the ship sank, what matters is how we grow as a result. The realistic story much like science gives a more explainable answer to what happened, but it would have taught Pi nothing. The fantastical one was better because it taught him more about the nature of his heart, showing the usefulness for faith. It argues that simply believing in things unseen requires us to give up trying to use our minds and instead live by our hearts. Pretty deep stuff if you ask me.