Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 movie that features a heartwarming, yet very important storyline! A hero is a hero, and we see this very idea in a compelling new way with Desmond Doss, a combat medic that is a pacifist, an individual who is known as the first conscientious objector that received a Medal of Honor. All of this is from his incredible bravery as he was stationed on the front lines!
An Historical Overview of Hacksaw Ridge:
The story is about how this soldier helped to save 75 men at the battle of Okinawa during World War II, and did so without ever having to shoot!
We see some amazing actors who really come together for the big screen debut!
- Andrew Garfield
- Sam Worthington
- Luke Bracey
- Teresa Palmer
- Hugo Weaving
- Rachel Griffiths
- Vince Vaughn
- Richard Pyros.
The director for this film is no stranger to the big screen. Mel Gibson (who has appeared in films like "Braveheart" and "Lethal Weapon") was really committed to making the most memorable movie that has already gotten lots of Oscar Nominations! For this, the film had the most impressive moments as Andrew Garfield even was nominated for an Oscar for "Best Actor!
Review Of a Real Historian
Many are captivated by stories from World War II and all the epic moments that took place on the battlefields.
But with all that action it was important to make sure they got things right! Insider had an interview with John McManus a great historian, who weighed in on the accuracy. He provided a special perspective on how well the battles were recreated.
While the scenes, and the intense action really gave audiences some wild moments, what stood out the most is that some elements from "Hacksaw Ridge" were a bit too embellished, like the height of the Hacksaw Ridge. While a great moment for those in front of the screen.
Hacksaw Ridge is made even better by the realism, too. We also get some really amazing points where the action had those "real moments". That involved details about how the rope ladders and weapons were used during World War II. But some elements really need to be thought about and explored.
Hacksaw Ridge got some criticism because there are other details in the story, the backstory of the main character was also tweaked as well. It had these key elements:
- An altered story about Desmond Doss' dad, making it out that he was a World War I veteran! Doss' dad, was struggling with alcoholism and a bit of drama with Desmond.
- "Doss," in a prior battle took a gun away from his "Dad".
Accuracy Matters In Movies:
When creating historical dramas, sometimes these stories aren't exactly as perfect as audiences think! We get these dramatic recreations that give a feel to an era but we shouldn't lose sight of some of those alterations. There was one point that McManus went over about "Hacksaw Ridge." In the real world, this battle was about how many military forces made a large number of attacks and Hacksaw Ridge was the middle of that area, and it seemed that every time soldiers came there it would feel impossible to avoid. The big problem for Hacksaw Ridge, this idea of realism was almost unavoidable.
While you might not realize how it happens, Movies like these don't shy away from making big-budget battles! So with these intense battles they always have an ability to draw people in!
You can't dismiss McManus points as the realism really shines. The scene when those soldiers were going up and down these ladders, they really did their research! It looked amazing to audiences! In the film, the machine gunners even followed the strategy that was popular in World War II to make things incredibly real!
A Powerful Ending
As McManus made clear that while a bit altered Hacksaw Ridge has some of the best elements. It certainly helps create a feeling of realism. These dramatic battles bring out just what this historical event was really about! It was not an ordinary event. What was truly remarkable about Doss is that he had this heroic moment and went on to save many people. The big fight to get this Medal of Honor for the courageous actions that were not only noble but saved a whole lot of lives!
For those of you who enjoy history, it was super nice to see it on the big screen. Even if not entirely accurate, "Hacksaw Ridge" had great production, brought about some of the best scenes, and told an inspirational story to get audiences thinking. While the Okinawa battle was a defining moment for those in World War II, there's still so much more out there about it that might give a new perspective as to how that historic battle unfolded and "Hacksaw Ridge " gave us a small glimpse.
A historical epic. You see how it can draw viewers in. "Hacksaw Ridge" is a great movie to see as well!
