I thought this was great for the most part though it does run maybe 15 minutes too long. It's impeccably directed and acted across the board though and the story is incredibly involving. Mel Gibson does a great job with the material here and this is an unabashedly mainstream and old-fashioned movie that should connect with a broad audience. There are some incredibly striking visuals and the war sequences are brutal and well-executed (and incredibly gory, the first raid sequence is one of the most graphic war scenes I've seen in a movie since probably Saving Private Ryan). Andrew Garfield is incredible as per usual and very easy to root for as the film goes on - he's the heart and soul of the movie and probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did. Also great, surprisingly, was Vince Vaughn - who I thought added a lot of humor and even some warmth to the film. Teresa Palmer, Luke Bracey, Sam Worthington, Hugo Weaving and Rachel Griffiths all also give strong supporting performances.A-

I don't think I can do this movie. It's very hard for me to enjoy religious films. I do think it will be a huge hit though.

It's not too religious. Like it's heavy handed but nothing insane.

Not every religious film is like Gods Not Dead.

Oh I know. I grew up having religion pushed on me so now I just have this total disdain for anything religious.

This review quote from RT is exactly how I imagined the movie would be:

This tale of real-life heroism seems less a celebration of humanist convictions than a glorification of religious intransigence and a declaration of the moral superiority of the faithful over the faithless.
- Jessica Kiang, The Playlist

I get that the subject of the film is religious and that's the motivation for his pacifism. But I would hope it would be more objective. Though coming from Gibson it's not a surprise that it isn't.

OK. I know what you're probably thinking...Mel Gibson.

Putting aside any personal feelings I may have about the man, Hacksaw Ridge is his best movie since Braveheart. This is a visceral, powerful and often times rather stunning film. It's occasionally a touch cliched, but it's truly a story of heroism and conviction in hellish circumstances. Other than Saving Private Ryan, I can't remember the last time scenes of war were conveyed with such devastation and horror. This is an extremely violent movie, but it avoids any whiff of exploitation. Andrew Garfield is outstanding in the lead role of Desmond Doss, the first conscientious objector to win the Medal of Honor. This was a man who had an actual brave heart, and Garfield is achingly vulnerable and believably heroic at the same time.

On the whole, it's a surprisingly strong filmmaking effort and has a power that will likely resonate with many who see it. A-

After a storied and tumultuous decade-long directorial hiatus, Mel Gibson returns behind the camera in rather grand fashion with the World War II drama Hacksaw Ridge. The film dramatizes the early life and war experience of Desmond T. Doss, a conscientious objector, Seventh-day Adventist, and Medal of Honor recipient for actions above and beyond the call of duty as a medic during the Pacific campaign. He is played by Andrew Garfield, and his sensitive lead performance is a reminder how grateful moviegoers should be this gifted performer will not be imprisoned in the Spider-Man role for 20 years. Doss' story in general falls squarely within Gibson's wheelhouse and not just because it plants its flag at the precise intersection of the divine and the insane (the paradoxical journey of a man trying to heal bodies and save lives as those around him use their country's might to tear each other apart). Excepting The Man Without a Face, every film directed by Gibson is at once fascinated and repulsed by acts of barbarism and cruelty. He stages violence in such a way as to enthrall and move the viewer without shying away from its blunt-force sting. He vividly shows what a bullet—or a lash, or a sword—does to flesh and bone without flinching. His lavish recreation here of a brief, but brutal moment in the battle for Okinawa, repeated attempts by a beleaguered U.S. Army to scale and seize the steep titular ridge, is one of the most spectacularly visceral scenes of cinematic combat in a long time, creating a simultaneous sensation of exhilaration and ghoulish nausea. The graphic nature of the violence underlines and bolsters the gravity of Doss' principled, nonviolent conception of soldiering.

A-

Oh, and Vince Vaughn plays the hard-but-not-uncaring drill-sergeant archetype superbly. Steals a lot of scenes.

This quote is bogus, in my opinion. Yes, the film is a hagiography, completely enthralled by Desmond Doss' heroism and principles. BUT there is no faith-versus-faithless contrast. The initial antagonists in his unit are concerned by his refusal to use a rifle and conform entirely to Army culture, perceiving it as a cowardice. No character is portrayed as the Mean Atheist.

The movie is "religious" in the sense it clearly illustrates the connection between the protagonist's faith and his pacifism, but Gibson, Garfield, etc. are way too intelligent and artistic for Pure Flix-level B.S. or anything even slightly resembling it.

Hacksaw Ridge was very disappointing. Even though I'm usually a fan of soapy melodrama, it just didn't seem to be the correct perspective to take on this story. I would have preferred it if Mel had stuck to the central miltary tale of a pacifist fighting the system, which is quite fascinating. But even then, the movie really ends on the one note endless scene of "just one more". It was an amazing feat, but I didn't need an hour of it. Fortunately, this is only Gibson's second directorial failure after The Passion of the Christ. *C*

Easily the best war film since Saving Private Ryan. This and Arrival made for one of the best double features ever. Mel Gibson did an incredible job with this and I hope to see more great stuff from him in the future. Andrew Garfield is fantastic here, but I believe Vince Vaughn was even more of a standout. He really got to shine in the R. Lee Ermey role they gave him, but honestly this movie utilizes most of the supporting cast perfectly especially Hugo Weaving, Sam Worthington and even surprisingly enough Luke Bracey. Never did I expect to see battle scenes as gripping and horrific as the opening sequence of SPR, but after this I'm sure even Spielberg would be impressed. This is just powerful/moving stuff.

Hacksaw Ridge

Decent, not great. In all honesty I was underwhelmed. Garfield's performance is fantastic, as was Teresa Palmer (and boy, what a lovely beauty). I was hoping for more of their story but it gets forgotten when Doss goes to Okinawa. That's totally understandable as the film is primarily about Doss saving lives, it's just unfortunate that the saving lives is the less interesting than their relationship. The war scenes are good. There is lots of gore, which is trademark Gibson, but there are few standout scenes. It is just a wash of blood and explosions. Apart from Doss's dream sequence and the film pre-Hacksaw, Gibson failed to move me, which was a shame. Once he goes to Okinawa, I cared much less. I feel too much is made of Doss's accomplishments. I didn't mind it at first, but there's only so many times I can watch one man being applauded. It is never-ending. I just couldn't shake the feeling of "It's great. Good, but so what?". Of course, it surely is great what he did, but I cannot seem to conjure up any enthusiasm to care. And I also couldn't shake the feeling that the film felt very up-in-the-clouds, in a sort of daytime-soap-opera-movie sort of way. Lots of things direct to that feeling; Hugo Weaving's performance, Vince Vaughn's presence, plot conveniences, character caricatures, the slight humour etc. The lens with which the film is made just did not seem to fit with my hopes and expectations. Even the small harakiri scene near the end, I felt was unneeded.

It must read like I hated it. Well, I didn't. I was gripped throughout, and I was invested in the story (the 139 minutes just flies by). Worthington is even good! One of the better performances out of all the non-Garfield and non-Palmer roles. But some time during the Okinawa scenes it just feels so overly gory and so overly idealistic that it comes across as less realistic. Not once did I look at what I was seeing and think "that must have been hell", despite seemingly terrible circumstances on display. Whose fault is that? I guess Gibson's. Doss will save the day. The band of brothers all do a complete 180 in less than a day and he's suddenly a god - war literally waits for him. And on day two they take the ridge. It must have been the most successful weekend in military history! Again, I don't know, it just felt off. Such a shame, too, as I have been looking forward to this film for years.

Sadly, just a B

I liked this film but also expected more from it/ Gibson. The film feels quite two-faced, the war scenes are definitely gripping and well shot, but it's the training camp scenes where Garfield can't keep up for me. Especially next to Palmer who lights up the screen, I find no chemistry. I found Vaughn miscast too, I could see him pull of serious in True Detective, but for the big screen he lacks the range. It's an incredible story really but I find a large difference in me caring for it on and off the battlefield. Off the battlefield I find the script having issues, while on the battlefield when the camera is the most important player I'm fully engaged and moved at times. Worthington gets the most out of his role though, while "Smitty" is great too. I'd respect Gibson and it's ultimately a good to very good film, but falls short of his other work for me. Even while in the same bracket, I liked him more in front of the camera (Blood Father) than behind it this year.

B+

Very much an old-fashioned movie. Thoroughbred corn-pone Americana on full display. Gender and ethnic roles fall into the what-you'd-expect category, which I suppose makes sense for the time period. It's very corny, very violent, and quite entertaining throughout, although I have to admit I'm not a war-movie person.... I wondered fifteen minutes in, why did I just pay to see this? However, when I wasn't rolling my eyes over a cliche or averting them due to some horrific, ungodly physical suffering, the film kept my attention. Its strength are the story and characters, the bulk of the weight resting on the slight but charismatic shoulders of Andrew Garfield and the courageous acts of the real Desmond Doss.

B

more like hackjob ridge amirite

** / ***** (D)

Ummmm, this was kind of shit? Outside of a few neat directorial tricks Mel pulled, the movie is a drab of (pointless) Christian propaganda.

I think the overall message is more about sticking to your beliefs than particularly Christianity.

stuffp, don't encourage the cynical bastard. I'm quoting somebody here, but it is very accurate; axiom has come to truly believe hating everything is a form of intelligence.

It could've been done much more subtle than having dude chanting God while saving others (even though it's what the real guy said he did), having them stop from getting him back to the medical center while he was bleeding out so another guy can go back into an active battlefield to retrieve a fucking Bible (which never really happened). Or the scene where his commander asks him to go with them despite being a Saturday so they wait for him to finish the prayer and then go. Nearly every second line is basically about Christianity.

If they took a more philosophical and analytical approach as religion being sort of a mental tool to overcome things (placebo effect), just like a gun is a tool of the hand and really focused on that it would be a better movie. Or at least more correct one. This way we have a faked love story (as I've read that's not how they met and they also faked the whole missing the wedding drama), forced/faked Christian elements for the sake of showing how glorious and helping Christianity/God is (which is total BS).

I generally don't like them to add these fictional dramatic events to a true story adaption, in Hacksaw nothing about that felt forced to me though. I didn't find the film particularly great, it has it's flaws, but it's reliance on the use of Christianity in the film wasn't one for me. Maybe the fact I'm somewhat a Christian myself underlies my opinion about it.

made a double post and not sure why I wasn't able to delete this one

You're a commie-buddhist now, China boy!

I know a lot of non religious people who told me how great this movie was. Eh.

I'm a non-religious, non-spiritual agnostic-verging-on-athiest, and I enjoyed Hacksaw Ridge. axiom is just being axiom. Don't feed him. It is what he wants. That is why he does so many negative reviews. He is trying to elicit this type of response.