A Wonderful, Exciting and Imaginative Tale, Showing a Beautiful Vision

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2019)

I was a fan of Yann Martel's novel for a long time before I watched this movie, addicted to the detailed descriptions of Pi's day-to-day life and the use of dry humor. After I had seen this movie, it became clear to me that not since the Lord of the Rings has there been a better translation from book to screen. This is a fabulous experience and a feast for the eyes.
Acting:
Suraj Sharma as Pi is an amazing young actor. This was his first major role and he absolutely crushed every scene he was in, with his expressive eyes and face and intense line delivery. His character is fascinating yet simple, and it becomes very easy to root for the "skinny vegetarian boy". The fact that he carries most of the film on his own shoulders is a major achievement.
Irrfan Khan as adult Pi Patel is also a great choice. When this man tells his tale, you feel the weight of all these experiences radiating off of him, and he even exerts a surprisingly high amount of genuine emotion by the end of it.
Tabu and Adil Hussain as Pi's parents are great, given the modest amount of screentime they get, and give strong natural performances.
Rafe Spall as Yann Martel is allright, and it is visible that he is trying hard to be just as natural and realistic as his fellow castmembers. He mostly succeeds, and is likable enough not to be annoying.
Direction:
Ang Lee was the perfect choice for this kind of story: he knew how to present the culture appropiately, has a keen eye for good visuals, and brought a sensitive and magnetic feeling to the whole thing. Thanks to his expertise, the story becomes absolutely gripping on both land and sea.
Cinematography:
The digital imagery with the life-boat scenes and on the ocean are mesmerizing, not just because of CGI, but because how it is presented to us. Claudio Miranda made the journey as immersive as possible with his choiches for certain shots and made something absolutely beautiful. On land, most shots do a good job establishing the mindset and tone of the scene, but are very interesting in terms of lighting or movement, which feels like a bit of a missed opportunity.
Plot:
Even though a lot is cut from Martel's novel(particulary the first act), the story still feels very familiar from what you already know and some added things actually are very nice. It is not until the actual disaster that strikes Pi's life that the movie truly becomes engaging. The long journey passes effortlessly and is sometimes nail-bitingly intense or fills you with awe. The core message is translated perfectly and at the end you feel just as Yann Martel intended you to feel.
Music:
Mychael Danna delivered a beautiful score, mixing epic orchestral and soothing tunes with wonderful traditional Indian music. At certain scenes you just FEEL the music and the evoked emotion washing over you like the ocean waves.
Production Design:
The town of Pondicherry in the 20th century feels every bit like the mix of French and Indian that it is, without seemingly much effort. Just like CGI, that is the sign of good production design. The Tsimtsum and the lifeboat feel like right out of the novel, and the "island" as well. It is in departments like these that Martel's vision is truly brought to life.
Costumes and Make-up:
As Pi travels further, it affects his clothing and physical look. By the end of it, he is so ragged and changed that you truly believe he has been out there for a very long time. It is subtle but very effective work, just as the costumes for the people of India, blending traditional sweeping dresses with simple shorts and dark shirts.
VFX:
The absolute best thing about this movie. We of course start with the tiger. That thing is real. No question. Not Gollum, Ceasar, Joi or Thanos has even come close to how real that beast looks. It is an absolute triumph of CGI that will likely never be topped. Every growl, movement, facial gesture feels natural and like the real predator. The ocean is less convincing, but it isn't really trying to be. It feels like this endless giant swell of water that you just float on for end, looking harsh and unforgiving or gentle and beautiful. It is a character by itself, and wonderfully made. The other animals like the mercats, orang-utan and hyena are equally impressive, and only a very perceptive eye could see that none of it is real.
Editing:
The "fading" cuts as we go through several events in Pi's life help support the illusions of a tale being told, and keep us engaged for most of the runtime. Intensity is however a bit lacking in the first act, and sharper cuts could have been made more to give some more energy to Pi's youth.

Tone:
This movie really feels like a "story". not a screenplay, but a TALE. We view the world partially through PI's imaginative eyes, and truly get a sense of wonder, grandeur and fear at the right moments. It is amazingly well done.
Overall Concensus:
A gorgeous looking, well directed and acted movie, with incredible effects and a near-perfect translation from book to screen. 8.6/10