American Thinker: Hacksaw Ridge and the Deplorable Desmond Doss

American Thinker ^ | 12/07/2016 | Jon Brown

[jbles]

This month, Mel Gibson nabbed a nomination for best director from the Broadcast Film Critics Association. The last we saw Gibson directing, a Mayan priest was tossing heads down the pyramid steps in Apocalypto. In the decade since, he has lost his own head a few times, suffering tequila-induced tirades and effectively achieving for himself excommunication from the Church of Hollywood. Such is perhaps for the best, as it provides for him the freedom to make films that rise above the swirling box office toilet bowl of superhero spandex, toy trolls, and incomprehensible Harry Potter spin-offs.

Gibson's latest, Hacksaw Ridge, garnered a mere $14 million in its opening weekend, despite being what Rex Reed has called "the best war film since Saving Private Ryan." Spielberg's 1998 epic was infamous for triggering shell shock among veteran viewers with its brutal depiction of the Normandy invasion. It was undoubtedly a powerful re-enactment, though by the time Matt Damon withered into the old man whose purpose was to provide the moral lesson at the end, the message likewise fizzled into something vague. The clarity of Hacksaw's message sets it apart as a classic of the genre and renews its subject's place as a hero in the annals of American warfare.

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[Gay State Conservative]

I haven't been in a movie theater in more than 10 years and I cannot see myself ever again going to one.However,unlike 99.99% of films released over the last 40 years,this one sounds good and I will buy it on bluray when it comes out.

[rlmorel]

When I was younger (back in the Eighties and Nineties) I went to the movies a lot.

Not anymore. They are noisy, people talk, have their cellphones on.

It is stupid. At 12 bucks a ticket, even more so.

Now, I will go to an occasional movie in my town, they have a small, non-chain theater, the prices for tickets and food is reasonable. The theater opened in 1948, and it has been refurbished. I will go there, actually, just saw "White Christmas" on the big screen last weekend for free! (They showed it in conjunction with the town's Christmas Parade...:)

It's a pretty cool little theater. But I won't go to a Lowes unless a bunch of people drag me there!

[Gay State Conservative]

My opinion is based on two separate things 1) as I said,very,very,*very* few films released are worth seeing *anywhere* and 2) theaters,except for ones like the one you mentioned,are dirty and overpriced.The few worthwhile films released over the years are in my collection...either DVD or bluray.That way I can watch them whenever I want,pause them for a BR break or a fridge raid,rewind when I wish and use subtitles if I wish.

Of course not everyone agrees with me.

[rlmorel]

It’s all true. There aren’t a lot of compelling movies out there. I rent them online through Netflix or Apple TV, or get them from the library. I buy an occasional movie, and have a nice personal collection, movies like “The Best Years of Our Lives”, “30 Seconds Over Tokyo”, “Blade Runner”, “Das Boot”, etc.

I still love to watch movies, just not many of the new ones.

By the way, in your travels, have you ever seen that theater in my last post?

[Gay State Conservative]

I still love to watch movies, just not many of the new ones.

I hear ya! I have a pretty big collection of discs,most of them being TV shows (Britcoms,British dramas and stuff like Hogan's Heroes) and science/nature documentaries (National Geographic,etc).In fact it was National Geographic stuff that first motivated me to go HD and buy a bluray player (can't get enough lion and rhino videos).

And Das Boot is a true classic!

[Diplomat]

Maumee?

[LadyDoc]

A very good movie.

but like most of Gibson's films, very violent. Truthfully violent of course.

leave it to Mel to make a violent R rated Christian film.

however, given daily headlines about gruesome martyrdom of Christians, it is a much needed lesson that following Jesus is not all sweetness and light.

[BwanaNdege]

This Jarhead and his SeaBee buddy caught the Tuesday $5.50 special yesterday. Both of us are Vietnam veterans and managed to get through the movie without getting shell-shocked... barely, at times.

Awesome movie!

Wonderful movie!

Desmond Doss was a hero before his unit shipped to the Pacific.

I just wish Mrs. BN could handle war flicks. She did watch Grand Torino and liked it, though. Some day, I’d like to show her “We Were Soldiers” and “Gods & Generals” ... I’d just have to tell her when to close her eyes.

[BwanaNdege]

however, given daily headlines about gruesome martyrdom of Christians, it is a much needed lesson that following Jesus is not all sweetness and light.

Hebrews 11:33-38

...who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

[Boomer]

Really well done movie with a lot of action and some gore. I’ve seen more watching The Walking Dead.

Definitely a must-see movie even if you wait till it comes out on DVD or Netflix or whatever.

If you have a computer you can watch it using Kodi. It’s even better if you have your computer hooked up to your big flat screen.

[Mollypitcher1]

Great movie! Enjoyed it thoroughly.

[rlmorel]

Fine Arts Theater in Maynard...they did a nice job renovating it, but the men’s room looks like it was designed by Salvador Dali. Very odd angles, etc. But unlike the old bathroom, which had cracked urinals with sealant holding them together, these are clean, though odd-shaped and dizzying.

[rlmorel]

Thanks for your service, BwanaNdege!

Grand Torino-one of my favorite movies...:)

On your recommendation, I will see the movie.