his film image released by 20th Century Fox shows Suraj Sharma as Pi Patel in a scene from "Life of Pi." (AP Photo/20th Century Fox)

DVD review: ‘Life of Pi’ a feast for the eyes, a challenge to the mind

By Sean P. Means

| The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Mar 11 2013 12:49 pm • Last Updated Mar 13 2013 03:18 pm

Grade » A-

DVD » "Which story do you prefer?" asks the adult Pi (Irrfan Khan) at the end of "Life of Pi." It’s a philosophical question worth pondering after seeing director Ang Lee’s wondrous adaptation of Yann Martel’s supposedly unfilmable novel.

The story, ostensibly, follows teen Pi (played winningly by newcomer Suraj Sharma) as he, his zookeeper father (Adil Hussein) and their family leave India for Canada.

But the cargo ship carrying the family and their zoo animals is hit by storms and sinks, taking the family, crew and many animals with it. Pi survives on a lifeboat, his only company a ferocious Bengal tiger named Richard Parker.

With Claudio Miranda’s sumptuous cinematography and Mychael Danna’s evocative score (both Oscar winners, along with Lee’s direction and the stunning visual effects), "Life of Pi" paints a beautiful portrait of survival, while raising intriguing questions about the nature of God and the power of storytelling.

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