Hacksaw Ridge - Movie Review

[This review is brought to you by Konigstiger666 of the NicDroid Community! facebook.com/groups/NicDroidCommunity]

Hacksaw Ridge is a War Drama film about the true story of one Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to be awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor in the Pacific Theater of World War 2. Conscientious Objector means that he has invoke his right not to serve in the military because of one’s own freedom of thought, conscience, and/or of religion. For Desmond Doss, even though he has invoked his conscientious objection rights he would still volunteer himself to serve in the Marines to fight for his country as a Medic in the battlefield. Desmond Doss is played by Andrew Garfield who gives a magnificent performance as we go through Doss’ hardships and experiences in life and in war time. He is currently nominated for an academy awards for Best Actor as of writing this review. Along with him is Hugo Weaving who plays Desmond’s father who also gives an ok performance and a believable American accent. Teresa Palmer as Desmond’s wife who has good chemistry with Garfield...

Another notable actor in the movie is Vince Vaughn, who plays Sergeant Howell, Desmond’s drill Sergeant who first thought of Desmond as a coward but gradually sees him as a man of courage and principle. The film itself is very witty in it dialogues as it not only gives us serious moments with its action and drama but also a few laughs and giggles for Desmond’s relationship with his wife and his platoon. This film is directed by Mel Gibson who not only gave his actors a means to shine but also the battle scenes that shows its brutality and chaos. There is no glory in Mel Gibson’s depiction of war as it should be. Both side can be seen winning and losing but both are showing a lot of suffering. He gives both side of the war equal footing in terms of depiction and that both really want to kill the other side no matter what.

Though, not everything is perfect in this film. I would say the editing is quite all over the place as times scenes would just suddenly transition to another with subtlety. There are some scenes in the film that have continuity issues when comes to cutting between a conversation of two characters. I don’t really think it would bother anyone else but I do some video editing myself and it’s an eye soar when I see it. Though, the battle scenes are quite well done with no problems to editing and shot composition. You see everything and nothing is to confusing. There are scenes also that have green screen backdrops and the compositing of it is quite noticeable and it just take you aback when you suddenly looking on the screen of backdrop that feels off and noticeable that is has been added during post. Still it does not detract from the overall output of film.

In the end, this film has been done with care and knowledge of its true history but still giving slightly its own flavor for us to enjoy. It is an endearing film that shows the great tribulations of Desmond Doss had to go through, not only with his family, the Marines, but also an enemy from the other side of the world. Although the film has religious connotations, it is not an overbearing subject matter. In a way, the film is written to have sensibilities for any or no belief at all. It is a story of pushing on and sticking to your own convictions and living life by principle. And that is subject matter that we can all get behind with no matter what your perspective maybe.

SPOILER TALK: (You have been warned)

The true story of Desmond Thomas Doss is one the most extraordinary things you would read in some WW2 history books. Refusing to bare a single firearm to war and to have been able to save the lives of 75 wounded soldiers in single night in a middle of silent battlefield patrolled by Japanese soldiers. Doss had seen combat in both Guam and Leyte where he was already awarded a Bronze Star and finally Okinawa where we get to see in movie. In the film, we only get to see him in action in Okinawa 1945. By the time the US invaded the first rightful territory of the Empire of Japan that is Okinawa, Germany had already surrendered but it was still bloody war to the end in Asian side. Okinawa was sacred ground for Japan and would see one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific theater due to a more fervent defense by Japanese forces. It was either victory or death. They hid in their caves waiting for the Americans to bypass them and ambush them from behind and on the front. Some surrendering Japanese troops also would hide grenades under their garments waiting for an opportunity to take other Americans with them. Not only were the Americans fighting soldiers but also some civilians who chose to fight. Okinawa would also see the biggest use of flamethrowers as it was easier way to burn out the Japanese from their caves. Note that some of the civilians that joined to hide with the Japanese Forces were also inside those caves. It has always been cited the bloody war in Okinawa was the one that pushed the US Government to use the Atom bomb in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It was also in Okinawa were we saw the desperation of the Japanese Navy to send out their biggest ship, the Yamato in Operation Ten-go on a kamikaze run towards the American Carrier fleet but failed. All these happened in Okinawa, including Desmond Doss’ daring rescue of 75 wounded soldier in one night atop a plateau called the Maeda Escarpment.

Desmond Doss was injured in Okinawa 4 times before he was finally evacuated on the USS Mercy. After what he been through it wasn’t enough. After the war he contracted Tuberculosis of which he got during his time in the Philippines. As treatment he had to lose a lung and 5 rib bones. He overdoes on antibiotics and lose his hearing for a time but regained it again. He lost his first wife in car accident in 1991 but remarried in 1993. On March 23, 2006, Desmond Doss passed away and was given military honors.

As a last note on the film and advice, in one scene of the film, a Japanese soldier is frantically firing a Type-92 Heavy Machine gun inside a bunker. This soldier in particular is shouting “BAKERO!!!” continuously. As a WW2 reenactor myself that is just starting and other experts on the matter, I have been informed that word “Bakero” (idiot in Japanese) is a modern term not used in the Japanese vocabulary during WW2. So this is currently a Historical Inaccuracy done by the film

[Nico's note: If you like more of his reviews, make sure to Share and follow him on Twitter - @konigstiger666 and at Facebook.]