Hacksaw Ridge: Review

This is a NON-Spoiler review for Hacksaw Ridge.

Plot Summary: "The true story of Pfc. Desmond T. Doss (Andrew Garfield), who won the Congressional Medal of Honor despite refusing to bear arms during WWII on religious grounds. Doss was drafted and ostracized by fellow soldiers for his pacifist stance but went on to earn respect and adoration for his bravery, selflessness and compassion after he risked his life -- without firing a shot -- to save 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa."

I found it funny that I went to see this on election day. I wish Andrew Garfield's character could be president.

Oh.....My.........Goodness.........Go see this movie. I AM BEGGING YOU! This is a beautiful story. This is a dang good story. Hacksaw Ridge absolutely blew me away. I will tell you that this isn't your average war movie. If you're going in expecting Saving Private Ryan then you will probably think it's pretty good. This is not bad as an action war movie. It's just as violent as Saving Private Ryan but not nearly as constantly violent. Andrew Garfield's character is a saint. Andrew Garfield gave an amazing performance. He did what Matthew McConaughey does so well which is making southern cool. I'm really glad to see him go here after Spider-Man. I didn't even feel like I was watching Andrew Garfield which is a huge compliment. The performances were all great. Andrew Garfield, Hugo Weaving, Teresa Palmer, Sam Worthington, even Vince Vaughn. They all felt like real people.

The cinematography was really great as well. I loved the colors of this movie. Mel Gibson did a really great job with this movie. I loved the score as well. I've actually one seen two movies he's been involved with at all which was the original Mad Max and Pocahontas. I don't like either of those movies. But this movie really makes me like him as a director. I thought he told this beautiful story very very well. He made the scenes on the battlefield very tense. The war action all takes place in one battle. So I loved how Mel Gibson handled only having one battle to work with. He spent half the movie letting us get to know and love the characters and building the relationships and getting you emotionally invested. Most filmmakers would have just stretched the one battle out too much. So the fact that we've spent half the movie in a peaceful mode, when the action comes the violence is so jarring. The first scene in the battlefield shocked me.

So as I said this is a beautiful story. I'm dying to see Hacksaw Ridge again and to learn about the real story. This is a very moving story. You all should go see this movie. I'm gonna start doing grades on my reviews now and as for this movie - If a movie is this well made and I enjoyed it this much I'm gonna give it an A+. The story is very much about how the question - Is killing in times of war an okay thing?. This character doesn't believe so. I respect the crap out of those who were brave enough to defend our country but I don't know the answer to that question to be honest. In the words of the lead singer of my favorite band Colony House “Big questions start swirling around in my head every time there is a new headline that draws a line in the sand. A line that says, 'Get on this side or this side, because there is no space in the middle.' I don’t always know what to say or what to do. I’m not always sure exactly what I believe. I think that not having the words is sometimes the best answer. Listening is a powerful tool that is sadly underused.” - Caleb Chapman (Lead singer for Colony House)