It�s a fight of savages, wild animals and natural conditions
Bakang Israel | Friday January 29, 2016 15:27
The film transformed cinemas into a jungle over the weekend, with the sounds of the wilderness from native Americans, flowing waters, grizzly bears and hunting spears smashing against flash and trees. The characters look barbaric and filthy, which is riveting to watch as this is a rare surprise to western delight. This adventure film is based on Michael Punke’s novel of the same title name, which is itself based on the true story of frontiersman and fur trapper, Hugh Glass.
In an expedition of the uncharted American wilderness, legendary 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, Glass endures unimaginable grief as well as the betrayal of his confidant John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy). Guided by sheer will and the love of his family, Glass navigates a vicious winter in a relentless pursuit to live and find redemption. The plot explanation has already spoiled the surprise; yes the film prides itself with some of Hollywood heavyweight actors such as DiCaprio as the lead character. This name has proven to carry some weight in sales. Movie fanatics will remember that Titanic hit the $2 billion mark in 1997. DiCaprio has also sizzled in movies like The Departed, The Wolf Of Wall Street and Titanic.
Also adding more craziness to the film is none other than Tom Hardy as supporting lead actor.
I have to admit I did not follow Alejandro González Iñárritu as a big time director before. However, after The Revenant I have repented and now I believe in him. He is an artistic director who has won accolades such as an Oscar in 2014 for Birdman, and already bagged a Golden Globe this year for The Revenant.
Action
The thing about Western films is that they are action-loaded from start to finish with that Texas cowboy kind of setting. Meanwhile for this blockbuster the grudges are between the native Americans also known as (Red Indians) and the white men usually tussling over land, resources, with women being the catalyst to their rage towards each other. The Revenant is an 1800 AD film so it infuses gun fights with wild man archery. It was very mind-blowing witnessing native American men bravely taking on Glass (DiCaprio) and Fitzgerald (Hardy) who were equipped with guns. In that sense the film accurately depicts how native Americans and whites fought in the olden days. The highlight action moment for this film is probably Glass’ fight with a grizzly bear, which was totally awesome. This was reminiscent to Dwayne Johnson’s Hercules battle with a mountain lion. The use of special effects such as CGI computer was good. The grizzly bear looked so real, it seemed as if the vicious animal was right there in the cinema. The Revenant touches on life lessons, for example when Glass is badly injured and becomes a burden. Euthanasia is eloquently portrayed as one of the emotional themes.
Fitzgerald with his selfish nature is a deceptive villain type of character who volunteers to look after the injured, but later deception creeps into his, which shows that trust shouldn’t come easy. DiCaprio and Hardy compliment each other in this film. They bring the best out of each other.
The Revenant has a similar concept to that of The Gladiator starring Russel Crowe where a man loses everything then goes on a mission to seek justice against those who wronged him. I felt that this movie is very engaging because it uses native American language hence the English subtitles. The movie is in a way very funny and exciting to watch because of its wild habits. It was so thrilling to see Glass (DiCaprio) in the wild on his fugitive and tracking quests eating raw fish and bysen liver.
The movie transmits themes of war, racial prejudice, weakness, pain, courage, treason, vengeance and justice amongst others that had DiCaprio (Glass) chasing Hardy (Fitzgerald) in the freezing cold winter temperatures. The film was shot in the icy conditions of Canada, and Argentina.
Reception
The pelt hunting barbarians have tracked their way up to the top of the box office chart after five weeks on circuit. The film has a less impressive premiere revenue of $474,560 after its US only release on December 25, 2015. However after its worldwide release this January, the film surpassed its $135 million budget with a staggering return of $225 million to date.
Box Office
New movies in circuit leading at box office:
1.The Revenant
2.Star Wars: The Force Awakens
3.Ride Along 2
4.Dirty Grandpa
5.The Boy
Ratings
For its wild experience, The Revenant has earned that blockbuster thriller certificate and I give it a whooping 10/10. The way Hardy and DiCaprio transformed into filthy hunters with distinct English accents deserves credit.
Movie: The Revenant
Genre: Action |Adventure |Western |Thriller
Duration: 2hour 36mins
Age Restriction: 13
Release Date: January 22
Director: Alejandro González Iñárritu
Main Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio stars as (Hugh Glass), Tom Hardy (John Fitzgerald) and Will Poulter as (Jim Bridger)