Life of Pi is a fantasy film that is dramatic and also philosophical in nature. The film covers a lot of ground. It begins as a chronicle of one boy’s life and how he grows into a man that decides to believe in God. The God part of this film makes it somewhat predictable. It certainly wasn’t written by Ernest Hemingway who seemed to hint at an atheist reality. Instead, this film, which began as a bestseller book, takes us through the fantasy story of a man who survives a shipwreck and over 200 days at sea with a Bengal tiger. We are given two stories and offered the choice which to believe. In that way, minus Pi’s God theme, it reminded me a lot of K-Pax, which wasn’t a “God” themed film but also a fantasy film with 2 options to believe. K-Pax led you closer to the truth of the dual story In my opinion. In K-Pax, the fantasy option is a lot more easily swallowed (pardon the tiger pun). We are actually told by Pi in the end that if the fantasy story is preferable to the real story by a listener, then that listener is choosing to believe in God. Hmmm.
There is a touching and romantic scene where “Pi” asks a girl what her dance symbol meant. She tells him it was meant to show a Lotus flower in the jungle. When there is an allusion that God will enter the story, that would have been a perfect chance to include a Lotus flower. Sadly, we get an explanation more suited to Tim Burton’s Big Fish: Nonsensical albeit human. Believing in God is such a personal activity I certainly don’t think a fantasy film can help me perform it. If one is looking for emotion and fantasy to believe in, church and the Life of Pi will fill that desire well. On the other hand, if one wishes to look at things as they are, neither church nor the Life of Pi will open any heavens.
While it started out intriguing and the middle scenes were nothing short of cinematic beauty, Life of Pi failed to address the real question which is: “How can a man have faith when he is alone against nature?” I would have liked to see that study continue throughout the film. As it is, it stops half-way through. Those who believe in God will find a warmth in this film that may strengthen their beliefs. At the same time, despite the amazing cinematography, atheists and shades in between will enjoy only that: a big screen version of Nat Geo HDTV. All will be entertained but no philosophies will be turned.
One of the reasons I identify with poets is because they reduce consciousness down to the smallest point. William Carlos Williams gave us “The Red Wheelbarrow” in which he illuminates an images of a red wheelbarrow. It is so short, so simple and yet it is one of the most beloved poems of all time. Could it be we crave simplicity? Perhaps simple things are the best connectors between people. Maybe all the religions got big because they are based on such a simple premise. Sure, people try and make them complicated but the golden rule for all religions (as far as I can tell) is this: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” That’s pretty simple and yet profound.
One day I went out running and my mind was already racing. As I got halfway through my run, I stopped with a side ache and hunkered down in crouched position. I saw ants carrying sand into their ant hill. Grain by grain, one ant at a time. I thought of the simplicity of the “Red Wheelbarrow.” I thought about how my racing mind was taking in way too much. Work, home, money, writing, people … all too much. I saw the universe in a grain of sand. I saw the wisdom of being able to meditate on a grain of sand as if it were a 
gigantic boulder or a mountain or even … an earth! Meditation is not always sitting in the lotus position contemplating the cosmos. Sometimes it can be done in a very ordinary way on a very ordinary journey like a run. As I focused on the ant and his solitary plight, I found my head muscles relaxing. I realized I would benefit by focusing on one project, one grain of sand so-to-speak. My anxiety was greatly relieved in that moment. Have you thought about your universe in one grain of sand, or whatever it may be in simple way.
I think our youth generation today is very flat and mundane in what they know how to do. They play Xbox games and value their levels on Xbox. The sad fact is that employers will likely not give a rip about Xbox skills. As a result, they will not find jobs. I encourage all job seekers to spend time developing new skill sets. Getting yourself above the pack is really the only strategy for getting a good job results on your chosen job search site.
In Silver Linings Playbook Bradley Cooper plays a manic bipolar who is fixated on getting back with his wife who has cheated on him and secured a restraining order. Meanwhile, Jennifer Lawrence plays an admirer with issues of her own. There is some trouble here, the movie starts off clearly being about bipolar and metal illness and later waters all that psychology study down making it like a low grade Hangover or other romantic film Bradley Cooper has starred in. I was hoping for a more realistic portrayal of mental illness. I don’t know why, Hollywood is never good at that. Maybe it shouldn’t be expected to be. It was still highly entertaining as a romantic comedy.
