“Hacksaw Ridge” Movie Review

It really is quite sad that Mel Gibson has directed only five movies. His filmography, while short, is really impressive. Hacksaw Ridge, his newest film, is a brutal, beautiful, and up-lifting war story, and easily one of the best movies of the year.

            The film is a biographical portrait of combat medic Desmond Doss, a Seventh-day Adventist who refused to carry a weapon during war due to his religious and moral beliefs. Now granted, it may concern some non-religious spectators, since they might not be able to relate with the motivation of our main character. However, I think it’s pretty safe to bet that that won’t be an issue. Even if you’re not a religious person, you can still find something to admire from the main character. His courage in the face of danger for the sole reason of saving another person’s life is something that is bound to move even the most skeptical of viewers.

            Hacksaw Ridge feels like an old-school war film and a more modern war film at the same time. For instance, the first half of the film resembles any classic Hollywood film from the Golden Era. The way our main character falls in love and marries is very reminiscent from an older film. They way in that they interact is so playful, so childish, and so pure; the romance in this film really seems like something straight from a fairy tale. Audiences may find the romance in the film quite cheesy. They might expect something a lot more realistic, or sexual. But that’s the beauty within the film; it manages to combine all these different aspects incredibly well.

            And on the other side, the aspect where Hacksaw Ridge feels more modern is in the war scenes. The battle scenes that come in the second half of the film are very bloody, realistic, and brutal. They really do resemble some of the scenes from Saving Private Ryan. The second half of the film is a stark contrast from the first half. But hey, it’s Mel Gibson.

            Overall, Hacksaw Ridge is an excellent film and one of the best movies of 2016. It’s great to see Mel Gibson back in the director’s chair after a ten-year long break. I think everybody will find something to enjoy. It’s one of those rare war films that manage to please everybody.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars