OSCAR-WINNING director Ang Lee experiences filmmaking in 3D for the first time with this handsome adaptation of the acclaimed novel by Yann Martel.

Life Of Pi is the first film since Avatar to fully exploit the eye-popping format, immersing us in the central character's water-logged odyssey, including a terrifying sequence in angry seas reminiscent of Titanic.

It’s a tour-de-force of technical wizardry: a school of flying fish darts straight at the camera, causing us to duck and weave; the walls of a freshwater pool seem to stretch down into inky blackness forever; and shards of moonlight break through overlapping tree canopies laden with chattering meerkats.

Yet all of this gorgeous wrapping would mean nothing without a deep emotional core, and once again, Lee elicits stunning performances from his ensemble cast that leave us choking back tears.

Life Of Pi is a deeply moving tribute to the endurance of the human spirit in the aftermath of senseless tragedy.