A Visual Masterpiece

Rating: 9/10 (1 July 2013)

Life of Pi
**** (out of 4)
127 mins/PG
Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall, Gerard Depardieu
Director: Ang Lee
Plot: When a young Indian boy is involved in a shipwreck he is forced to survive alone at sea, with only a tiger for company.
JJ's Verdict: 'Life of Pi' is one of the most beautiful films I have seen in my entire life. Many viewed Yann Martel's book unfilmable and to perfectly honest it almost is. How can you make a tiger, zebra, hyena and a human be on a single rowing boat at the same time? How can you fill an island with thousands of meerkats at the same time? And how can you have hundreds of flying fish soar past you at once? The answer to all these questions is wizardry. Special effects that look so real and amazing that you can actually believe that a tiger could tear Pi to pieces.
The film starts off describing Pi's life from a boy (well narrated by Irrfan Khan) and each of these scenes, from how he got his name, to finding his first love, are made with such charm and innocence. As a boy, Pi starts to discover faiths and ends up being Christian, Muslim and Hindu at the same time. While funny at the time, it brings up amazing philosophical arguments like if you believe in everything, then surely you believe in nothing.
Further on in the film, once he has become stranded in the sea, Suraj Sharma's scenes are nothing short of first class. The emotional stress he shows, and how he acts so well with the tiger despite never actually being on set with one. The film also brings up many more questions on life such as dreams and reality.
A modern classic, 'Life of Pi' is that rare film that can make you think so much while being entertained by it's stunning visual effects. Ang Lee should be so proud of his remarkable achievement. Unfilmable? Think again.