A movie review from our very own Stew!!
I want to discuss a movie I saw last week called Hacksaw Ridge. It was directed by Mel Gibson. It tells the true story of Desmond Doss. He was a Seventh Day Adventist and a pacifist. He still wanted to serve in the military though by becoming a combat medic. He also was promised that he wouldn’t have to carry a gun as condition of enlisting. The film details the treatment by his unit and the Army. It also covers many of his exploits in the Battle of Okinawa in World War II. After the units first attempt at taking Hacksaw Ridge, the rest of the unit began to respect Doss.
It is an impressive and a graphic film. It does not sugarcoat the horrors of war, and that only makes the accomplishments of Doss even more remarkable. While he also fought on islands of Guam and Leyte, the film only covers the events on Okinawa so there are some incredible feats not covered in the film.
I have had people ask me if the movie is anti-gun and it isn’t. I suppose someone could view it that way with all of the violence but other than Doss not wanting to carry a gun, nothing else is made of it. I’d say that it is a conservative movie because it is about a man that held to his faith and convictions and still had a significant impact during the war. Such an impact that he saved 75 men. I highly recommend this film to everyone.
After the film are some clips from the documentary one of the producers made about Doss which led to this film being made.The film was also nominated for Best Picture but didn’t win.
And now for something off topic: Happy birthday Eric.
