A visual treat with an interesting narration

Rating: 8/10 (7 December 2012)

The plot opens with many interesting branch stories such as the naming of Pi ( the hero) and Richard Parker ( the Bengal tiger). It explores Pi's yearning to learn about multiple religions and their shared thoughts. His child like curiosity to befriend the tiger and a rude lesson on animal behavior from his dad. It is a fast paced narration that makes the audience sit tight and enjoy the first half of the movie well.
The story then moves on to a ship wreck in a storm and Pi and Parker being stranded in a boat for many months. Pi realizes the rules of survival in animal world as defining one's territory and establishing a means of communication. This approach helps him to coexist with the tiger in high and rough seas albeit with trepidation. They part company once they find a shore but Pi is left with a bitter feeling that Parker didn't show any emotion while parting! Suffice to say that the second half of the movie alternates between exciting encounters between Pi and the Parker and boringly long sea scenes.
I felt that the story line could have been tightened to bring together many loose ends. The religious exploration of the early years, emotional binding with a girl etc do not find a strong connect to the later part of the story. Even the Japanese quest to find out why the ship sank seems irrelevant to the narration.
The visual effects are stunning and acting is superb. They would justify one visit to the theater.