Life of Pi

   I haven't read the book yet, but Kelly went with me to see the film today (in glorious 3D! And there was a whale shark cameo!). And though the pacing was sometimes agonizingly slow (is this film really an hour SHORTER than Django Unchained?), overall I liked the film very much—at least it has kept me thinking since this morning.

   Upon looking up the meaning of the name of the Japanese ship with the non-Japanese name, I ran across these other tidbits that I liked:
   From The Examiner: "All matter, including you and I, has rhythmic movement within it and our quest should be to create a proper rhythmic harmony within ourselves…you feel happy when you sit near an ocean because your vibrations try to synchronize with the frequency of the waves.” —Ed Viswanathan in "Am I a Hindu: The Hinduism Primer"
   And from a blog: "The name of the ship, Tsimtsum, comes from the Kabbalist concept of tsimtsum, where God withdraws himself to make room for the creation of the universe. The sinking of the ship may symbolize God withdrawing from Pi to make room for Pi to develop as an independent creature. 
   The lifeboat ordeal is a metaphor for the human condition. We aspire to higher things (religion, justice, salvation), but we are entrenched in our own basic animal needs. These aspirations and needs are brought together in the lifeboat. If the aspirations are grand, the journey will be perilous.
   The motif of the reconciliation of science and religion as equal ways to understand the world stems from the concept of pi - using the irrational to explain the rational. Throughout the book science and religion, two seemingly opposite areas of study, intermingle and complement each other."
   Also, I love tigers. And whale sharks. And the film has some visually-stunning moments. And the Spin! pizza afterwards made it a perfect afternoon.