The Revenant, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, is visually stunning but simplistic

Leonardo DiCapriobattles theelements in the frontier adventure The Revenant, director Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu'sepic, extremetale ofendurance and survival based on a true story.

DiCaprio playsHugh Glass, an early 19th-century explorer and fur trapper leading a band of colleaguesback to base whilecrossing through a brutal, unforgiving land.

Considered a front-runner for the upcoming Oscars, the film waspartially shot in Canada and features Canadians in its cast.

• Saskatchewan's Isaiah Tootoosis, 8, debuts in film with Leonardo DiCaprio

• Indigenous actor takes turn as stuntman in The Revenant

• The Revenant stars B.C. First Nations actor alongside Leonardo DiCaprio

• N.W.T.'s Melaw Nakehk'o makes her Hollywood debut in The Revenant

• The Revenant sees Vancouver's Gracey Dove star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio

The Revenant isvisually stunning, but thestory is simplistic. ThoughOscar-winner Inarrituand DiCapriohave recounted (on multiple occasions)the punishingchallenges of bringing this tale to the screen, all that agony makes the movie something to endure rather than inspire, says CBC film reviewerEli Glasner.

Watch Glasner's full review of The Revenant in the video above.

Rating: 3out of 5 stars.