Saw this film the other day and wanted to get my two cents in. As my first wife said to me 25 years ago as she left with her luggage in tow - I love you - I'm just not in love with you.  In other words - she gave me a B when the reviews of me were screaming A - that's the Revenant is.

SPOILERS AHEAD

This one did not live up to the entire hype for me. On the plus side - the acting and cinematography were really both top notch.  They did create a time and place that you really thought you were in.

My criticism is this - once the poor fok is half eaten by a grizzly the size of an elephant - I think you have enough of life vs. death struggle.  No - he has to face Savage Indians,  jump his horse off a cliff, etc etc. Yep - I got the premise the first time - a man is going to survive the impossible to avenge the death of his son. It just became like - you think bear mauling is impossible - well how about this - or this - or this!

Cut 45 minutes of unnecessary conflict out of this one and I'll give it an A - right now, I rank it a B.  

This one didn't do a whole lot for me, and I usually like these kinds of movies. Atmospheric ones. But it was fine. Nicely shot. Well acted. Bit too long.

I saw Man in the Wilderness with Richard Harris as a kid. It's based on the same story.

I really enjoyed it, beautifully shot and acting was strong too... I agree with Dave that some of the post bear attack stuff could have been truncated... but I let it slide as the extra time was put to good use with more of the stunning externals!

Saw this twice. The first time was before the wide release. I hadn't read any reviews or heard any hype, so I got to go in cold. It's a little slow, but every scene has an immediacy to it that keeps it from dragging too much. It's dour, but I love some human misery in my films. I don't even expect it to be tempered with lighter moments.

There isn't much to it in the end. I think that's a fair criticism. With that in mind, I basically viewed it as a meat-and-potatoes action/thriller film with some arthouse embellishments. That's enough for me. Solid film IMO.

I believe this one is worthy of awards if only for the bear attack alone!

I have to admit that as writers, we are told to put our characters through big obstacles, but OMG this poor guy, you just want it to end it's so bad what he goes through.

The bear attack was amazingly shot and gut wrenching. A friend of mine had to cover her eyes and even yelled out a few times ....as a writer these moments make me smile at how well they are done when they can provoke emotions like that!

You pretty much know where it's going though and the end is sort of flat but I was there for the ride and wanted him to get revenge. Very solid film worth of awards IMO.

Yep, that bear (attack) alone deserves an award.

Enjoyed The Revenant, and Bone Tomahawk  thoroughly - both 'boy' films I'd typically shy away from.

Tarantino should take a lesson from BT imh.

Quoted from LC Tarantino should take a lesson from BT imh.

He'd need to study for a degree to do that. I'm very rarely impressed by other writers, but Craig Zahler really knows that part of history and I just couldn't compete.

In regard to The Revenant, I really enjoyed it. It's an action and adventure, with plenty of action and adventure in it. Couldn't ask for more... indeed, it seems some would have preferred less. Sounds a little like asking for less kung fu from a kung fu film to me though.

I don't think the film, actors, filmmakers should get an Oscar for it though, but that's only because Oscars are bullshit anyway.

**SPOILERS**

I was so caught up in the flow of it all (mostly thanks to the cinematography) that I didn’t really notice the mechanics behind it.  I thought the bear attack was brilliantly handled -- that explosive moment of encounter followed by the drawn out mauling -- hard to watch.    

One point -- that final shot at the end, was it me or was that a ‘breaking the fourth wall’ moment when Glass looks into the camera?

Quoted from stevemiles was it me or was that a ‘breaking the fourth wall’ moment when Glass looks into the camera?

A lot of people in my theater complained about that as well.

Not just me then.

It was totally out of step with the rest of the film -- just an odd inclusion.  

Look closely and I'm pretty sure DiCaprio subtly mouths the word 'Oscar?' as he does it...  

Quoted from stevemiles Look closely and I'm pretty sure DiCaprio subtly mouths the word 'Oscar?' as he does it...

Made me LOL! - thanks.

Quoted from stevemiles Not just me then. It was totally out of step with the rest of the film -- just an odd inclusion.

I think during the end. Blood hits the camera. Splatters on the screen. I heard some guy behind me say - "Why, why would you do that in a serious movie like this? You do it in John Wick, or in a John Woo movie. Not here."

I don't mind stuff like that, don't nitpick.

Just saw this today.  Wow, was I ever impressed!

The look of the film is absolutely gorgeous.  The way it was shot was absolutely awesome.  The bear attack, fight scenes with the Indians, and the final hand to hand fight were all done with a skill and precision I can't say I've ever seen before.

The whole thing was just expertly done, including the dream scenes.  I also enjoyed the interwoven stories of the Indian searching for his daughter and Leo trying to survive to get his revenge.

If you're going to see this, do yourself a favor and see it at the cinema, where it's meant to be viewed.

One of the most visually stunning movies I've ever seen and there are several scenes I'll never get out of my head.

Grade - A+

^^^

If you would have gotten your hands on the script. You'd be out on Page 1. :)

I kid, I kid.

Quoted from Demento If you would have gotten your hands on the script. You'd be out on Page 1. :) I kid, I kid.

Very possible.

Something I didn't say in my mini review, that I wanted to falls into what you said...

This movie is all about the execution...and that's not saying anything bad about the script/story.  When you pull something like this off, it's 1 in 1,000...or 10,000.

Just amazing the the way shots/scenes were set up...and "shot".  You really got the feeling you were there with these peeps, in these woods, on these mountains, and struggling to survive.

It's quite simply, a visual masterpiece.  The story is compelling enough to work alongside the visual splendor.

Wow, this is great! I'm gonna write a scene in my latest feature in which the hero floats in an icy river and doesn't die. And my buddy Jeff won't comment on the implausibility of it!  Woohoo!

;D ::)

Quoted from Dreamscale This movie is all about the execution...and that's not saying anything bad about the script/story.

I agree. This movie isn't really about a story. Even though it's based on a true story, the story here is just there as a set up. This is one of those movies that are "an experience". Where you fall into the atmosphere of the movie, sit there silent and get engrossed in it.

A fine film. I agree with others that this script wouldn't sell itself. The bear attack is worthy of the hype and I don't get the early rumors that it looks as if Leo was raped by the bear. ???

I was cold after seeing this. Had to take a hot shower. I love knowing the fact that this wasn't a green screened movie. That the actors were out there. It was beautiful scenery. The dark tone of the film reeled me in.

My only complaint is that some of Tom Hardy's dialogue escaped me. Not sure if it was his accent or sound editing, but I missed a lot of what he said (which sucked).

James

Quoted from stevie Wow, this is great! I'm gonna write a scene in my latest feature in which the hero floats in an icy river and doesn't die. And my buddy Jeff won't comment on the implausibility of it!  Woohoo! ;D ::)

Coming form the Aussie Bloke who hasn't seen a movie in 20 some years.   ;D ;D ;D

Bro, this is something you literally can't comprehend unless you see it at the cinema.

Oh my gosh I just saw this and am buzzing. Obviously the cinematography and directing is amazing, but from the writing perspective there's so much to go into thematically, how that connects to plot, the sheer depth of it...

I was jotting down notes as I left the cinema, not sure if I'll get round to typing them up as it would be a loooooong post! We'll see. But I feel this really is a great film, in the old fashioned sense of the word.