Life of Pi

Any big-screen adaptation of Yann Martel’s acclaimed novel Life of Pi is bound to have its challenges.

The material doesn’t lend itself to any traditional cinematic narrative structure, with much of the story consumed with a teenager’s journey of self-discovery while stranded at sea with an adversarial tiger at his side.

So while the adaptation directed by Oscar-winner Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain) and written by David Magee (Finding Neverland) might not successfully translate the moral complexities and internalized emotions from the page, it does offer some spectacular imagery that fits the existential subject matter.

The story, told in flashback, follows the struggle for survival of a teenager named Pi (Suraj Sharma), whose family dies in the sinking of a freighter filled with zoo animals, leaving him stranded for months aboard a lifeboat with a fierce Bengal tiger as his primary companion. Both man and tiger are resilient and resourceful, and later realize their companionship is a key to survival.

Along the way, Pi is driven to desperation and experiences a spiritual awakening when he realizes his own beliefs clash with some Indian customs and traditions from his upbringing.

Lyrical and innovative, Life of Pi boasts some lush 3D cinematography and seamless visual effects. They combine to create an abundance of powerful imagery, some of which feels more driven by spectacle than substance.

From a story perspective, Life of Pi is not as harrowing as another recent one-man show, 127 Hours, despite the presence of the tiger to interact with the protagonist. But comparisons between the two should keep in mind that the former is a fantasy adventure in magic realism while the latter is essentially a thriller.

After all, Life of Pi is pretty far-fetched at face value, and is about as profound in man-versus-nature terms as The Jungle Book, but it remains consistently compelling.

The film showcases a riveting shipwreck sequence as well as a remarkable lead performance by newcomer Sharma. It also shares its title character’s affection for animals by filling the screen with shots of creatures large and small (although some of the more intense tiger confrontations likely will frighten youngsters).

This certainly isn’t your average boy-and-his-tiger story, with more than enough visual flair to keep from getting waterlogged.

Rated PG, 127 minutes.