Illogical premise and unlikable main character made this less enjoyable

Rating: 5/10 (26 May 2018)

When I think over the war films or series I have watched and enjoyed, they are usually due to one or more characters that really helped to make them enjoyable. Band of Brothers stands out as a great fact-based example. Lt. Speirs was my favorite in that one. His scene attacking the town and connecting with another company was memorable, as were his scenes where he referenced his reputation- such as offering a soldier a cigarette. War films do not always have to focus on combat. One of the best films of the 40's I've seen is The Best Years of Our Lives (1946), which deals with problems faced by returning veterans.
The illogical premise here is why anyone would volunteer (not be drafted) into the military when they held a Biblically incorrect belief about killing- based on the Bible. As a Christian, I'm familiar with what Doss read (Thou shalt not kill), but did he (and fellow 7th Day Adventists) miss all of the parts of the same Old Testament Bible where Kings went off to war- often at the behest of God? It's difficult for me to enjoy a film where there is a severely flawed premise.
Doss illustrates this lack of logic when he attacks via hand to hand combat a Japanese soldier about to kill an American soldier. The US soldier then ganks the Japanese one with a gun. What would Doss have done if he had continued to fight?
As other reviews have noted, the battle scenes are often ludicrous. Unlimited ammo- something we see in a Hawaii 5-0 gunfight or usually a low budget western (or at times even a better one like Open Range). Then there was the flamethrower that inflamed an entire underground tunnel.
Of course, Doss proved his worth and courage by saving many soldiers. The ending is touching with archival footage.