Great survival story with beautiful 3D

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2012)

This movie was better than I thought, not just because of the 3D, but because it's the story of a boy's heartfelt story of survival. After his family decides to move their zoo from India to North America, a terrible storm capsizes their ship. The boy, named Pi (short for Piscine, which is French for pool),finds himself awash on a lifeboat with a giant Bengal tiger. Pi must not only learn to survive at sea, but keep himself from being eaten!
The story is told through flashbacks given by an adult Pi, played by Irrfan Khan, as he recalls his tale to a journalist who wants to write about him, played by Rafe Spall. Teenage Pi is played by Suraj Sharma and he gives a very convincing performance of a boy who has lost everything, but still hopes to survive. There are also flashbacks of Pi's boyhood as he finds enlightenment with various religions and discovers love for the first time. You learn a lot about this boy's background before the main story actually happens.
Visually, this is one of the most impressive movies I have ever seen. Right from the beginning, the opening shots of the various animals at the zoo are shot beautifully. The 3D is also very effective. The shipwreck scene, which is quite long, was amazing to behold, with the water effects and animals floating. The Bengal tiger, named Richard Parker, is mostly CGI, but at times he looked so real and so up close that my hairs stood up. There are also other impressive scenes involving luminous jellyfish and agile flying fish.
The movie has several spiritual messages, due to Pi's multi-religious lifestyle, and that may turn off some viewers. The ending may also confuse viewers (I was left scratching my head for a while), but these are the only real flaws I find with the movie. Pi's story of survival is very engaging and beautiful to look at. I think Ang Lee has created his best film yet.