WHEN PI IS MORE THAN JUST MATHS

Just like a relationships, when you go into a movie with expectations, I always say that you'll end up being 'hurt'. Hahahaha...

However, I'm glad that "Life of Pi" turns out to be awesome. It did live up to its standard and Ang Lee really did an amazing job with its cinematography.

I love it because you can interpret it in so many different ways and it gets me thinking about its meaning, and to explore further what's behind the delicate storyline. In addition, the narration were done most beautifully, with illustrative words strung together to create a beautiful fantasy in your mind, even though the visuals were already magical.

The main story revolves around a flashback about an Indian boy, whose family had to sail to Canada due to political issues in India. Because they own a zoo, they need to ship the animals together with them so that they can sell off the animals for money.

When the ship they are sailing on sank, the boy escaped with a zebra, which suffered a broken leg. He later saved his Tiger, Richard Parker. Also on board is a hyena and later, an Orang Utan floated to the life boat as well.

The next day, the Hyena killed the Zebra so that it can be served as food.

Seeing this, the Orang Utan fought back and got killed in the process. The boy, afraid of the Hyena tried to fight back and at this time, Richard Parker leaped out to kill the Hyena.

Terrified, the boy saved himself by creating a raft, tied to the boat. He would go to the boat for food, but will then avoid Richard Parker.

On the boat, he develops an amazing relationship with Richard Parker - one of which has helped him stay alive for 227 days.

He said, "My fear of him keeps me alert, tending to his needs gives me purpose."

** SPOILER ALERT **

When he was found, he cried not because he was happy, but because Richard Parker had left, without a proper farewell.

The most touching line in the movie was when Pi said that the saddest thing for him was that he was unable to express his final words to someone/something, because they left so suddenly, without a proper goodbye. He wasn't able to thank his father for his amazing advice, his mother and brother...

Oh, at that point, you can only imagine how hard it was for me to hold back my tears.

I know how it feels because I never had a chance to do so when my Grandpa left; so much I wish I could say to him before he greets God and Heaven. And it pains me to think that he died alone...

And yes...that I know how it feels and so I was feeling Pi.

Later, he told his story to two Japanese who were investigating the case of the sunken ship and they don't believe him.

So he told a different story.

A Chinese sailor, his legs were hurt due to the fall when trying to escape. A cruel French cook, who was also on-board said that they should sacrifice the Sailor (since he is already hurt) as bait and food. He and his mother who is against this tried to fight back but they lost. The next day, the boy's mother confronted the evil cook and was killed in the process. The boy was furious! The next day, he killed the cook.

It was said that the zebra is the sailor, the hyena is the cook and the Orangutan, the mother.

However, there is no indication on which is the real story - it is up to you to interpret. I think most people would feel that the second story is true, not because of anything, but because in the movie, the way the boy told it, it was filled with emotions. Makes you feel his fear, his sorrow and pain he faced throughout the whole ordeal.

Pi asked in the end to the author who is interviewing him, which story do you prefer?

The author said, "the first one"..

Pi said, "and so it goes with God"

Note that Pi did not ask which do you believe, but rather which one do you prefer.

At first, I was struggling to understand - why would this story make you believe in God?

Of course the obvious reason would be that he believed in God and God helped him survived. But I think it is beyond that.

I then figured out, based on my own interpretation is that if you liked the first story, then it's like believing in Noah's Ark, or the Bible for that matter.

It's about believing and about faith in something that might seemed unrealistic but perhaps there is a truth behind it. Hence, it is about believing in God.

Perhaps there are things that happened, but told in a prettier tale to hide the ugly side of humanity.

By using animals to represent the characters in the story, one hides the ugly side of humans, and for that matter, how he, Pi himself changed from a sweet boy to a murderer because of anger and the pressure of surviving in the wild. Situations and environment can change a person and I guess that's what Pi was trying to convey through the character of the tiger. Tigers are force to be predators, to survive in the nature. Hence he clever used a tiger to represent himself - fierce for survival.

Once he landed in Mexico, the tiger left without a goodbye - that represents how this boy lost his need to be a predator, in a way I think he cried also because such an instinct just left his body and he becomes the sweet boy he once was.

Another interesting thought I have involved the other part in the story in which Pi asked the Priest, why would God sacrifice his own son for the sin of others. I guess indirectly he meant, why are humans so ugly, but still, deserved to be loved?

Then when we see the story of the animals, we realised that perhaps that is how God feels about us - that we are actually harmless, and we are only doing certain things for survival. That perhaps is the circle of life.

When it comes to cinematography, you gotta give it to Ang Lee for the cinematic pleasure offered by the film. From the scenes in the middle of the sea and also the imaginary island were created to awe audience with magical effects. I know why people called it the next Avatar - I think it is because just like Pandora in Avatar, the sceneries in the movie awe you. On top of that, I love how cleverly Ang Lee used 3D effects to make Pi's imagination so enchanting. 

This is the type of movie that you won't regret paying RM20 for 3D.

You get visually and psychologically satisfied for sure! 

Acting wise, I give full credit to the young Indian boy, Suraj Sharma for his brilliant acting. Seriously, he did all the scenes seamlessly, and really, delivering top notch performance to depict relevant emotions that make the movie a success. Imagine, the whole movie is about a boy and a tiger, and if the lines and acting are not delivered well, the whole movie wouldn't be able to touch people's hearts and would, in fact end up being ridiculous. 

Another thing I'd like to point out is how brilliant the writing of the script is. The narration that supported the story was brilliant - half way through the movie, I had to tell my friend how impressed I was with the lines - just descriptive and colourful in itself even without visuals.

Definitely worth a watch, and perhaps by far, the top movie for 2012.

TC-My Ratings: