"Hacksaw Ridge" Review - A Green Lit Hellfire

IN…FREAKIN…CREDIBLE. “Hacksaw Ridge” may be the best war film I've seen since “Saving Private Ryan”. You can say whatever the hell you want about Mel Gibson; I even have things to say about him. But one thing everyone can agree on is that he is a fantastic director. It’s truly amazing to see such beauty and perfection in a film, and boy did Mel ace it on every level.

There is not a dull moment in the plot. Whether it be the love story, boot camp, a heart to heart conversation, or the drums of war, every scene is shot and edited with such perfection, which keeps you invested in the plot every second. The music helps as well, as each musical piece is wonderfully invested in whatever the tone of the scene is.

The war scenes are the best though. If you do decide to go see this movie, then I must head you a warning: you pay for what you get (in a good way). The war scenes are shot so eloquently, but also in such graphic ways I’ve never seen a war film show. The realism of the settings and the shots fired and the blood spilled adds for an intense and sad thrill ride that will leave you speechless all the way till the credits. The performances by each soldier, especially Andrew Garfield and Vince Vaughn, do nothing but intensify the harshness of WWII, and that’s saying something, considering how dark Mel decided to go for this movie.

I judge war movies much tougher nowadays. I hate films like “American Sniper” that just use words like “god”, “greatest country on earth” and “values” just to get patriots going crazy. If you want a true patriotic movie, this is the one you’re looking for. In a world full of fear and an obsession with guns, this was the script Hollywood needed to shine some light on, and I’m so glad Desmond Doss will finally get the recognition he deserves. The movie does him justice, and frankly, Doss himself does the world justice by being himself.

P.S. Hugo Weaving plays a general in the film. So the Marvel Universe really IS connected!

Two Nebs Up!