The book was released in 2001; the movie was released in 2012. I didn't read the book and only watch the movie tonight. Even though it won so many awards, I had no expectations for the movie since I thought it was only a children's story about a boy trapped at sea with a tiger. I was unprepared for such a meaningful film.
The beginning uses humor to capture the audiences' heart and sets up the entire premise of the rest of movie. But after that, the journey is told. And it is told spectacularly. If you don't want any spoilers, I would recommend you stop reading here and watch/read the Life of Pi.
Now, I understand the high-praise and accolades that the story has captured. This is one of the finest examples of story-telling I have encountered in my life. The entire story is just remarkable. The story of how the name came about and the fact he's at sea for 227 days (22/7 was commonly used for Pi once) is slick. But it's the story about belief that creates much of the substance of the movie. And it starts with the difference between Pi's parents and then Pi's interest in various religions. Then, the ending creates the overarching theme: Life is better with belief.
I cannot even begin to adequately express how incredible the story...