The Revenant was impressive in a variety of ways and was entertaining from start to finish. Photo courtesy of foxmovies.com

5 out of 5 stars

I can’t remember the last time I was able to walk out of a movie theater feeling my emotions shaken up and my heart aching.

However, after I went to see “The Revenant,” I was overpowered with intense feelings of sentiment and grief long after the curtain fell.

“The Revenant” is a story about legendary frontiersman Hugh Glass and his battle

dealing with injuries and abandonment while trekking trough harsh, winter terrain.

This movie is brutal, and packs a powerful punch with every scene.

The Revenant was on my “must see list” ever since I first saw the trailer.

Additionally, Leonardo DiCaprio is one of my favorite actors, so I was incredibly

eager to see what his role had in store. More so, I think I was most eager to see if his

performance would be Oscar worthy so he can finally stop getting snubbed by the

Academy because let’s face it, the man deserves an Oscar already.

I had heard so many good things and read numerous positive reviews about The

Revenant, so my expectations were very high going into the theater.

Once I sat down, I experienced a movie that did not disappoint.

This movie is so intense and raw. Every scene in The Revenant is a continuous and

antagonizing battle of perseverance and survival.

DiCaprio forces the audience to feel a powerful sense of anguish and suffering

through his performance of Hugh Glass.

The acting throughout the film is passionate and intense. The Revenant doesn’t have

a lot of dialogue, and the constant despair the audience witnesses throughout the

film is hard to endure at some points. There are so many brutal scenes and heart

wrenching moments, it is very hard to be bored while watching. This is an

unrelenting film that is ruthless, gritty and full of passion and misery.

While the storyline and acting were gripping throughout the movie, one of the huge

takeaways from this film is the cinematography. The scenes and camera work are

breathtaking as the snow-ridden woods, nestled far away from any signs of

civilization are portrayed as if you are right there in the Rocky Mountains with the

characters.

I was in complete awe watching the camera work done for this movie. The different

perspectives and angles were so dynamic and were by far the biggest fascination for

me. There were times I felt I was the one rushing through the icy river and I was

right there having blood splattered on my face.

Overall, I would give The Revenant five stars and would strongly recommend it. The

acting is powerful and the cinematography is flawless.

After this performance, I believe that 2016 will be the year Leonardo DiCaprio

finally wins his long awaited Oscar. If he doesn’t, this world can be dubbed is as cold

and cruel world as the snowy wilderness depicted in The Revenant.

Amanda Hefner is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected]