7-8/10: A strong tale of a life's task and spirit of a nation

7-8/10

In short:
Life of Pi meets cry of the wild (and a modern version of Bambi) - likely to bring tears to your eyes. It's not as clear cut as these movies should be and has the feeling of Hollywood over it (messy and at times stressed).
If you can look beyond the CGI and some of the battles in the movie not being depicted too well (not extremely badly either) you will not regret spending a minute on this movie.


In long:
You see the hunter leaving footsteps on the white snow as he walks forward - like the words on a page writing a tale or someone walking on a beach with the waves coming in - (this should to most make it clear that the subplot will be clearly visible without being detracting).

Sadly a huge miss by costume draws attention away allmost instantly as the hunter lacks any cover for the neck in the cold windy weather, he has what amounts to a v-neck and such an opening would drain the hunter on warmth and energy - something a hunter would know and never do (leave a huge area of skin bare in winter - hunting is slow, any skilled hunter wears cloathing to suit the occation).

It weaves in plottwists smoothly (as impying the main characters son is the son of one of his "friends") which is a sign of a good script, which this no doubt has.

The ending continues the clear cinematographical language by using a black view - ending in the abyss finishing the analogy with life and the challange you choose or accept which makes this movie similar to Moby Dick in some aspects but with a further reaching plotline and subplot.
Not to forget to mention that the main part of the subplot is about the rebels taking refuges on mount Jisan fighting off the Japanese army. The tiger is the core of the nation, pride over the values it has so far reached.


Pro's
• Script
• Clear subplot
• Acting
• Use of environment
• CGI tiger over captivated and trained one

Con's
• Wirework (exaggerated at times)

End notes:
Did you notice the intro drew heavily musically from the Platoon (1986)?
A little more time, clarity, better wirework and this could have been a 9.

Ignorance is only a bliss if you haven't reached awareness.
My imdb posts are getting altered.