Review of Hacksaw Ridge (2016) by Zack E — 25 Feb 2017

Hacksaw Ridge is like two different movies. There's the story of Private Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield, enlisting in the army as a combat medic and contentious objector, fighting for his right to serve without having to touch a weapon. That part of the story works. Garfield is effective in the role and builds sympathy for this character who only wants to serve his country and God at the same time.

However, the second half of the film is a different thing entirely as the violence of war takes center stage. For me it was too much, and it didn't work. Saving Private Ryan is a World War 2 movie with terrific violence, but Steven Spielberg knows just how long to push it before giving the audience a breath. Hacksaw Ridge, directed by Mel Gibson - a man who loves his violent imagery in film, doesn't know when to let up.

The first half of the film is good enough to make this film worth a watch, but be warned the second half is not for the faint of heart.