This movie shows that as long as you can still grab a breath, you fight. The Revenant is a visceral experience. Visually stunning & heart-pounding.

Rating: 9/10 (8 January 2016)

Inspired by true events and Michael Punke's novel of the same name, The Revenant captures one man's epic adventure of survival and the astonishing power of the human spirit. In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, renowned explorer Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio) is brutally attacked by a bear and left for dead by members of his own hunting team. In a quest to survive and guided by revenge for his betrayers, Glass must endures life-threating injuries, sickness, the harsh environment, hostile natives, and others to make it, back to home. Can Glass navigate the cold & vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption, or will this story of the rural survivalist, end tragic? Watch the movie to find out, if you really want to! Without spoiling the movie, too much, I have to say, the visuals in this film, has reaches a new level of remarkability. It's a fully immersive, dimensional look, with jaw-dropping long takes and strikingly physical realism. Filmed in the remote wilderness of Canada and Argentina, the cinematography for this film, is one of the main reason, why I really wanted to see this movie. Beautifully shot by Emmanuel Lubezki and director Alejandro González Iñárritu, the film is famous for using only natural light to highlight these amazing set-pieces. Some of these tracking shots, were so complicated, due to cold weather conditions, the remoteness of the locations and director Alejandro González Iñárritu's strict aesthetic plan, that the film was infamous for its trouble-some long production. Even season actors like Leonardo DiCapiro and Tom Hardy, have stated out that this is one of their hardest movies to shot. And yet all of the film's visually arresting set-pieces would have been in vain had the viewer failed to connect with the characters. Lucky for them, I found the main and supporting characters to be very appealing. I was very invested in the human element of this tale of survival and retribution. Both Leonardo and Tom Hardy were astonishing in their roles; however, Tom Hardy's performance as John Fitzgerald is definitely the better of the two leads. I like the fact, that he's ruthless, greedy, tough and somewhat scare. Still, I think the movie made Fitzgerald, seem like a one-dimensional villain with him, killing his kid, than what was more like, what was exactly from fur trappers, back then. Leonardo DiCaprio's character in the movie, was the same. He seem a little too super human, good-hearted and embellished to be taken as a real Hugh Glass. Scenes like him, surviving a huge cliff drop and multiply waterfalls was a little too unrealistic for my taste. In my opinion, I think the movie would have a more realistic tone, if they kept, Hugh Glass's account, closer to the real-life event. The film took too many liberties. Unlike the movie, Hugh Glass didn't single-handed put down a bear; he had help from fur-trader buddies. Plus, that event happen in summer, not winter. Another thing, unlike the movie, which has Hugh Glass swim, in ice-cold temperance water, most of the way, down the river. In real-life, he make a crude raft and floated downstream. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense that he swam, because of hypothermia. Then, there was the ending, which I will not spoil, that I have mixed feelings about. It was action-packed, but somewhat disappointing as well. All, I have to say about it, is the 'Revenge in God's hand' arch wasn't well-developed. Still, it was better than what happen in the real-life account. Still, despite, the loose adapted of Hugh Glass's account; DiCaprio's version does have more of the punishing feel; because of that, it's more entertaining. Seeing Leo put himself truly through the ringer for his art is worth-watching on its own. So he deserves some credit. After all, it's pretty hard to do, all those survival stunts, eat raw meat, speak two Natives language, and risk hypothermia. Also, Leo's Glass' loneliness, desperation, bond with his mixed race son, and painful memories all make him a sympathetic and moving character, an all the more extraordinary, accomplishment given how little dialogue DiCaprio has. Yet this movie is not a film for all people. Some of the "Terrence Malick" style, symbolism was a bit off, and confusing. It does comes off, as somewhat self-indulgent and pretentious at times. Still, the movie is somewhat passable for its 156 minute run-time. While, the runtime is long, it's not as slow, as certain critics, make it out to be. Overall: The utter ferocity of the action and performances, added with the breath-taking visuals makes, this survival epic, a must-watch from me. Check it out.