Posted on 11/14/2016 4:52:35 AM PST by Brad from Tennessee
Like the voters who plan to stay home on Election Day because they don’t like the candidates, potential filmgoers who avoid Hacksaw Ridge because they object to Mel Gibson will be the losers. Hacksaw Ridge, the true story of a conscientious objector who played a big role in winning World War II by enduring relentless punishment on and off the battlefield, saved countless lives on the front lines in the bloody Battle of Okinawa without ever carrying an assault weapon and became one of the most decorated heroes in military history without firing a single shot, is the best war film since Saving Private Ryan. It is violent, harrowing, heartbreaking and unforgettable. And yes, it was directed by Mel Gibson. He deserves a medal, too.
Shot entirely in Australia, though set in Virginia and Japan, this is the passionate, heartfelt saga of Desmond Doss, a naive, uneducated and unsophisticated hick from the Blue Ridge Mountains who turned pacifist after a near-tragic childhood accident incurred in a childhood scuffle with his older brother. So convinced that taking another man’s life was the most egregious sin in the Ten Commandments, Doss hated aggression so much that when he went to the movies on a date he could hardly sit through newsreels.
This was doubly hard to reconcile with incidents in early sections of the film showing Desmond’s challenging family life with a loving, overly religious mother who was often savagely beaten by his drunken, abusive father (Rachel Griffiths and Hugo Weaving, two of Australia’s best actors, playing with perfect backwoods American accents); his strong faith in the church of Seventh Day Adventists that guided his way and lit his path to manhood and beyond; his head-over-heels love for a pretty nurse (Teresa Palmer) who became his wife and partner forever. . .
(Excerpt) Read more at observer.com ...
Hi Jimmy!
I think better then saving private Ryan. I loved the movie and wasn’t bored a moment.
Are you being serious?
I never saw Saving Private Ryan, but I never heard someone say it was bad.
Husband and I haven’t been to a movie in several years, but we want to see this one.
I agree with you. But it was a terrible movie, to me, mostly because of the ending.
“Was I a good man?”
I mean, really? I wanted to gag. Completely ruined the movie, IMO.
What the hell would Rex Reed know about what a “good” war film was like? As far as I am aware Rex Reed never served a day in the military in his life.
I don’t think I have seen a better movie.
This one will keep your attention and you will lose focus a few times as the screen seems to get blurry.
This is better than “Saving Private Ryan”. This story understates the truth of what really happened. It shows the protagonist going straight to Okinawa but in reality he did similar life saving work in two other battles before then.
There is a statement at the courts marshal that sums up the heroism of the era.
This is a movie that should be mandatory for every graduating high school senior to see before graduating. War is Hell. War is death and destruction, it should not happen without much contemplation about the death our soldiers will be sent to.
Yes I’m serious. I heard lots of great things about it. Its always referenced by people, so I finally watched it and it was horrible. For a good war movie watch Band of Brothers
basically it was a pointless mission. It only appeals to those who think all war is pointless so every mission is pointless
Before any flames, I say this as the son of a man who landed on Utah Beach. He passed on long before Saving Private Ryan came out, but I once saw him crying his eyeballs out while watching The Longest Day.
I generally avoid watching movies with either Matt Damon and Tom Hanks (especially more recent ones). Matt Damon sets off my Gaydar. I saw some of it, maybe 20 minutes worth, I found it boring.
I always liked Mel Gibson movies, so I am sure I will enjoy this one.
The beach landing scenes were awesome though.
Honestly, brave guy, yeah. But that war wasn’t won by guys who wouldn’t touch a gun. It was won by the ones that would. Thats who I’ll save my movie dollar for.
Saw the trailer, don’t expect a old style WW2 film, this is more on the line of Saving Private Ryan, which was one of the most realistic films that there is on war.
Expect the quality of The Passion of the Christ. Because that is how real it gets.
Gibson pulls no punches on the reality and horrors of war. Not a film for sissies. Might be hard on those to watch with War PSTD.
Two things: I’m glad to hear this because Rex Reed’s voice does carry a bit of weight.
Second, I wasn’t really aware that Rex Reed was still around.
Yeah, Private Ryan sucked. Spielberg claimed he most identified with the coward in the movie, which explains a lot. The opening battle scenes were amazing, graphically showing how insanely brave those men storming the beach were. Best to turn the movie off after that. a life with less damon is a better life.
Or one a: Thar she blows!
Truly an inspirational movie, for a graphic war film. Well done, Mr. Gibson. Well done.
But there are two “e”s in “there’s”
heh heh heh...
I never saw Saving Private Ryan, but I never heard someone say it was bad.
it was searing in the beginning, but tailed off dramaticallly later...
the assault sequences were disturbing to watch...
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