Hacksaw Ridge [DVD] [2016]

We see lots of movies with great daring do but rarely do we see a movie the actually depicts the true life heroism of an actual American Hero. Desmond T. Doss, a Seventh Day Adventist who could not in good conscience pick up a rifle found another way to serve his country and his fellows. He became a combat medic. From his actual citation for the award of the Congressional Medal of Honor......." As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar and machine gun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying all 75 casualties one-by-one to the edge of the escarpment...." Imagine that, carrying 75 men to safety, one at a time, through a storm of shot and shell so fierce that the other soldiers were driven from the field. Double Oscar winner Mel Gibson directs as he has directed other amazing films like The Passion of the Christ, Braveheart and Apocalypto. Writers Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan are best known for their many scripts for TV. The writers tall task is to write the dialog and the story that shows Doss for what he is, a man of faith from a rural area but without mocking him or making him seem mawkish. These two TV guys manage to do it. They also take the time in their script to develop the life history of Doss. When he shows his amazing heroism we have a sense of the man so his acts do not seem disconnected from the person. Andrew Garfield (Amazing Spider-man) plays the leading role. His Doss is humble, strong in his beliefs and when the need arose, for a period of a few days in his life, called upon his God for strength to save the lives of others and was answered. His fellow soldiers called his success a miracle. He is backed up by Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) as his girl, a very different Vince Vaughn as the company sergeant and Sam Worthington. Hacksaw Ridge runs for a good long two hours and 11 minutes. It carries an R rating for realistic violence. Gibson is known as a director for holding nothing back in terms of realistic carnage and he holds nothing back here. The movie gets the R for violence-be warned. The producers made the film with a smallish for Hollywood $40 million. Desmond T. Doss also received the Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster and the Purple Heart with two oak leaf clusters (the clusters signify multiple awards). His citation singled him out for "outstanding gallantry far above and beyond the call of duty." Truly he represents the best of the 'Greatest Generation'. On a side note for movie buffs, the period equipment and weaponry is spot on. Gibson had excellent advisers and scroungers on his team. The American arms are all in period as they should be and even the Japanese weapons are authentic to the period.

Hacksaw Ridge marks director Mel Gibson's triumphant directorial return to the big screen in moving fashion. Following the real-life army medic Desmond Doss, Hacksaw Ridge tells the story of one of the greatest heroes to ever live. As a young boy, Desmond is surrounded by a turbulent childhood wrought by his abusive father (a WWI vet who is tragically broken by loss, alcoholism and P.T.S.D.). But through his faith in God and the strong guiding force of his mother, Desmond learns the sanctity of life and begins his journey towards his heroic destiny. After his brother Hal enlists, Desmond is moved to join as a medic but also as a conscientious objector, a move which complicates his enrollment in the army. After much tribulation, (and Desmond finds himself allowed to serve without having to complete his rifle training), he dives headfirst into the fiery battle of Okinawa. With the bloodiest theater in the Pacific during WWII as a backdrop, Desmond's tale of pacifism and brotherly love comes to life as he does what no other has been able to do through his conviction and faith to serve his country and his God. Andrew Garfield and Teresa Palmer are well cast and supporting players like Vince Vaughn, Sam Worthington, and Hugo weaving all bring this story to vibrant life. Perhaps one of the best "war" movies ever made, Gibson does not shy away from the stark reality of war and the brutal life and death struggle has not felt so visceral since Saving Private Ryan. Although not everyone may be able to stomach all of the harsh parts, Hacksaw Ridge is a story that is worth telling and is one everyone should know. The UHD 4K bundle is a great deal and allows for a long term upgrade, even including the standard Blu-ray and UV copies fpr easy access. The deep and vibrant colors and the superb score and sound design all are at their best quality and make the home viewing experience all the more enjoyable. A wonderful story told in the most real way. Highly recommended.

"Hacksaw Ridge" gets my highest recommendation for the way this unique WWII story of an often unsung hero was presented, as well as its high-grade, reference Blu-ray experience. Bringing the tale of Desmond Doss, the true-life, mislabeled conscientious objector (he didn't refuse military service, rather, he refused to carry a weapon WHILE serving in the military) could have been thought to be a droll tale by the standards of most current film fans, but this story is everything but droll. This film's importance is something I can never overstate, so suffice it for me to say that you really SHOULD see it, if you're a fan of drama and history. The film is one of the most moving experiences I have ever had the treat of having. To the disc, this is Blu-ray reference material all the way and you'll never regret showing this one off on your HDTV or in your home theater. The video is flawless, the audio is a reference-grade Dolby Atmos track (for those of you without an Atmos-capable receiver, the disc has a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 core) and the extras are engaging and well worth your time. WARNING: The war violence IS extensive, as it details one of the most devastating and bloody battles of the WWII Pacific campaign. Exercising care in who you watch this with is recommended. Overall, the experience and the disc come HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

There are a lot of really good movies, and then there are REALLY GREAT MOVIES. This movie DEFINITELY falls under the latter description and category. Set in Okinawa during World War II, U.S. troops assigned to the Pacific Theater are engaged in intense conflict against the Imperial Army of Japan in the Battle of Hacksaw Ridge. This movie draws you in as a feeling of empathy builds for Army Combat Medic, Desmond T. Doss in a way that words fail to describe. This medic was placed in harm's way despite the fact that he was a "Conscientious Objector, but not for the war itself, but for the willful taking of another human life alone. This movie allows you feel the pressures and anguishes of war, self preservation and unyielding bravery shown by the sacrifices that many brave soldiers face on a battlefield and who freely and willingly give their all, if called to do so. These noble actions are displayed throughout the film as it depicts the selfless and altruistic acts of bravery that this combat medic performed under the duress of battle, all the while, WITHOUT A WEAPON!..This gives reason to reflect on how one's honor, devotion, camaraderie and steadfastness to one's faith can help claim victory when faced with insurmountable odds. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS MOVIE.

The Blu-ray provided an excellent picture and sound. The movie is based on the true story of a World War II American Hero who won the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Okinawa. What really is different is the hero was a conscientious objector who would not kill and would not carry a weapon. He was a medic who risked his life numerous times and saved many American lives during the battle. I am glad this movie was made because I served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and witnessed Navy Corpsmen risk their lives to save Marines. They were very brave men and I felt they never truly got credit for their actions. Back to the movie, my wife and I watched it together and we both enjoyed the movie. My wife is a registered nurse and she is used to seeing blood, but if you cannot stand bloody battle scenes then this movie is not for you. The acting in this movie was outstanding and you become emotionally involved with several characters. A great movie by Mel Gibson. Watch it!

This is a great WWII movie, but it is gruesome and gory, so it is not recommended for younger viewers or people who do not like gruesome and/or gory images. This movie is set in World War II in the Pacific and follows the story of a younger man who wants to join the military and help the Allies win the war, but he is also a "conscientious objector" which means he does not believe in killing and refuses to even touch a gun. The first part of the movie shows him in basic training and the harassment he endures from leadership and other soldiers (because they think he is too afraid to go into battle). The second part of the movie shows his unit actually being deployed on an island in the Pacific where they enter into a very gruesome and gory battle. The man ends up showing and demonstrating his bravery and earning the respect of the others who had been harnessing him, while still keeping his beliefs and not touching or using a gun. This movie was great and was directed by Mel Gibson (who also directed Braveheart). Again, this movie is definitely NOT for younger viewers.

Ok when I watch films I do so on a 180" movie theater screen with full 7.1 surround sound and the Buttkicker transducer system. This is not to Bragg but to give an idea of the clarity that I rate both 4k and 1080p films. 1st off regardless if you are huge into 4k or still collect Blu-ray; I will add that with today's (Oppo) upscaling technology along with upscaling technology on theater projectors that the difference between Blu-ray & 4k is minimal. I will say that going over 180" that you will likely see a difference and recommend 4k for 150"+ screens. I found the film to be Spot on and totally relevant for our time. When a film sparks anger in my Son about a conciensous objector earning the Medal of Honor Having served myself with awards for Valor, I found this film to bring up important points of human values. The film was amazing. Seeing small yet crucial elements added to the film like the BB-63 (Battleship Missouri) supporting the battle... WOW! Its a new generation of Saving Private Ryan but with a 100% true story and with almost no Hollywood "liberties" taken for splash! Good stories don't need to be faked! This was visually amazing and I highly recommend this to anyone!

Welcome back Mel Gibson. Hacksaw Ridge is amazing. The movie flows amazing, never a dull moment. The acting is perfect, great performances all around thanks to the outstanding lead Andrea Garfield packing so much emotion into a complicated character. The direction is incredible as well, I've never seen any battle scene with so much realism since Saving Privats Ryan. It's hard to believe the film had only a quarter of the budget because it looks incredible. I never really focus on this aspect of a film, but the movie sounds great too. The sound feels so real, as if I'm actually on the ridge walking through the bloodshed. The film is edited amazing too, each frame has a purpose and never feels out of place. Great movie production and a good story as well. The only problem I have is that I feel the last ten minutes were kinda rushed, but really that's just a nitpick and did not ruin the movie for me at all. I loved it and will be sure to watch it again.