A Visceral, Visual, Mystical Masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (1 February 2016)

I've seen The Revenant three times and intend to see it again. It's a flat-out masterpiece.
This film is widely misunderstood, in the way many great works have been. When I read comments like "non-credible plot twists" and "boring," I remember that critics called Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 "very wearying." Missing the message, they called Hemingway's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Old Man and the Sea, "boring." They called Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby "not too probable."
If you're looking for a feel-good Hollywood movie that does your thinking for you, then no, this probably isn't your film.
If you're looking for philosophical depth, breathtaking cinematography, and cutting edge film making, go buy a ticket.
The Revenant is a classic hero's journey, and it's a shamanic one as well. DiCaprio's character, Hugh Glass, is ripped apart physically and mentally. Along the way he is healed and reborn. By his journey's end, he's transformed.
We all have our own bear to fight in life. We all have the choice to give up or go on. Ultimately, we all must examine our motives. The Revenant's themes resonate more powerfully with each viewing--and the glory of Nature through Lubezski's lens never gets old.