Violent bloody war film

Rating: 7/10 (24 May 2017)

Hacksaw Ridge is a very violent war film. Bodies are blown apart, knives are slicing people, and bullets or grenades are flying in close hand to hand combat.
This movie directed by Mel Gibson portrays a true story of Desmond Doss (Andrew Garfield). Garfield seems to have escaped the trap of Spiderman with a few films this summer that stretch his acting skills. In Ridge, he works hard to portray a young man who is an honest, hard working religious person who wants to help his country in the battlefield of Japan but won't use a gun. He wants to be a medic. Doss is a generally happy kid despite an unpleasant home life due to his drunken father's aggressive behavior.
The early part of the film shows Desmond when he's young, but I got a bit confused about who was who, and where they were flashing back or forward to. That part could have been better edited for clarity. Like most war films, there are so many guys that it's hard to remember who is who. Doss undergoes a titanic battle to get thru the Army's red tape to actually become a medic. Once deployed, the face Hacksaw Ridge, a huge 90 degree angle cliff several hundred feet tall leading up to the killing plateau.
From there on out, the scenes are blood and violent. Can Doss withstand the pressure to not pick up a gun? Can he stay true to his word and serve God in these conditions? The story draws you in and leaves you amazed at this person's courage.
Except for the confusing beginning, Gibson does a fine job getting good acting from all characters. At film's end, I felt somewhat drained from all the violence and horror of war, which I guess means that the film worked. Look for a fine performance by Hugo Weaving from Captain America and I think the Matrix series Mr smith. Weaving is outstanding as Doss's father who fought in WW1 and knows well what his son going off to war means.
Fine film. Unbelievable story. Worth your time. Enjoy.