Richard Parker

Tonight I went to see Life of Pi.  I read the novel by Yann Martel several years ago and it totally blew my mind!  I have been eagerly anticipating the movie for months because I was intrigued about how filmmakers would capture certain scenes.  I was definitely not disappointed!  This movie is visually stunning and there are some images that are so incredibly beautiful that I had both tears and goose bumps.  I was even holding my breath during the opening credits!  Pi Patel's family owns a zoo in Pondicherry, India.  Because of political unrest his family decides to emigrate to Canada.  They travel on a Japanese freighter along with the animals they hope to sell once they reach North America.  During a terrible storm the steamer sinks but Pi manages to release a lifeboat and escapes with an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a hyena.  Unbeknownst to Pi, a Bengal tiger has stowed away on the lifeboat as well.  The hyena begins eating the zebra and the orangutan, much to Pi's distress.  But soon the tiger eats the hyena, leaving Pi stranded in the lifeboat in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with a full-grown tiger.  They need each other to survive so they forge an uneasy alliance and, eventually, a friendship.  I was crying my eyes out when the tiger places his head in Pi's lap when they are both on the verge of collapse.  Ultimately the lifeboat reaches Mexico and Pi tells his story to officials from the Japanese freighter company.  There is an incredible twist...  Most of the actors in this movie are unknown to U.S. audiences but I was very impressed with their performances, especially Suraj Sharma (in his first ever movie role) as Pi.  Again, the cinematography is spectacular.  Definitely see this beautiful movie!