a film that understands the brutality of war

Rating: 10/10 (13 November 2016)

Hacksaw Ridge is a film directed by Mel Gibson and stars Andrew Garfield, Vince Vaughn, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, and Hugo Weaving. It is about a young soldier named Desmond Doss who is a young man enlisting into the army by saving lives instead of taking them at the battle of Okinawa at Hacksaw Ridge. this film is as passionate about it's characters and it's source material as it does about it's violence. that's how good it is.
after you are immediately drawn into the film, it takes you back to when he was little to when he signed up for war. each moment of this film just loves to pull you into the story which makes you feel present in every situation that Doss comes across. it feels real and raw and worthy of praise. this is a film that not only can show how much of an effect that war can have on a human being but, it shows war, blood, death, ad all the violence you in saving private Ryan times a billion.
the war in this movie is gritty and you will leave the theater shocked at what you saw. limbs are flying everywhere, guts are exploding from stomachs, blood is everywhere, bodies are left to rot in dirt and ash. you feel as if every time a gun is fired, death comes immediately after. it's incredibly brutal, and effective, and painful to look at. when someone is shot you feel as if they're getting shot at. it's very effective and you will watch every explosion on screen without breathing just like the soldiers did in this movie. it's intense.
the characters are characters that you will grow attached to. Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss pulls off an Oscar Worthy performance as the man that saved 75 lives on that field. every emotion coming from him is real and it's emotional. you want him to make it out alive and you want him to succeed. every time he saves a life, your fists will pump in the air. Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell is another Oscar Worthy Performance that shows a ton of humanity into all the spit he brings to each soldier's face as he screams at them. Hugo Weaving does a great job as the alcoholic and abusive father that needs to deal with a troubling past, and Teresa Palmer whom I've never been a fan off pulls a great performance as Desmond's wife. Mel Gibson got really talented people to play the parts he has handed out and it shows.
This movie is an incredible war film of faith, heart, humanity, and Violence and what it can do mentally to people. Mel Gibson has really outdone himself and I will be happy to see him be recognized as a great director once again.