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Life of Pi

Starring: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan and Adil Hussain
Directed by: Ang Lee
Screenplay by: David Magee
Based on the novel by Yann Martel

      I'm starting to think that the end of 2012 is bringing some quite good films.  Here's another.
     Pi Patel is a young boy from India who is forced to move away from India along with his family.  His family runs a zoo and they are taking the animals on a ship with them.  Along the way, the ship encounters a massive storm and sinks, leaving Pi and a ferocious Bengal tiger as the only survivors.  This is the amazing story of how the two will survive the high seas together, and how they will bond.
     This is truly an incredible story, one that will have you on the edge of your seat for much of the duration of the film.  Pi is a character who we can become very attached to, and while it seems like we would be very afraid of the tiger, we also become very attached to him.  This is one of those films in which there are two main characters instead of just one, but this is the strangest duo of main characters. But while they may be a strange pair, they have an incredibly strong bond that has the potential to make viewers a little emotional at times.  As the adult Pi Patel says in the film, "it's a story that will make you believe in God".
      Life of Pi is an excellent film in all areas.  It's shot well, directed well, and the special effects are amazing on a level that is rarely seen even in today's age of special effects technology.  All the actors give strong performances.  
      My biggest problem with the film lies with the story.  It's extremely depressing at times because of how attached one can become with the main characters.  Every time they have to deal with new hardships and when their strength is tested again, we can only hope they will overcome it.  This makes for a pretty depressing movie, but at least it ends on a good note and leaves us with hope that things will get better for the main character.
      Overall, this is an extremely well made movie.  It does not make my top 5 of the year, but still an excellent film.  I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to see this film at first, but now that I have, I can honestly say that this film is a must see for those of you who are on the fence with what to do.  It's worth the money, so go see it while it's in theaters!
I give Life of Pi an A-.

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