I just returned from seeing Hacksaw Ridge and I am exhausted. That is not a bad thing. I am simply emotionally spent. I'm kind of a sap so I was near tears for about 120 minutes straight. Holding back tears for two hours takes quite a bit out of a person.

This film was recently re-released in many areas to help create the Oscar buzz that it deserves.

When I returned home, I immediately wanted to tell my wife about some of the highlights of the movie... but I couldn't do it without crying.

So I am writing this instead.

I apologize, but I can't pinpoint exactly why I am so emotional. Its simply that the entire story is so moving. I never cease being amazed at the courage, selflessness, and determination that human beings are capable of. Some people simply have a strength inside them that I truly cannot comprehend. When I see depictions of this greatness... it moves me.

Considering Hacksaw Ridge is based on the true story of Private Desmond Doss, hopefully I can't possibly spoil the movie for anyone (but I promise not to write too much). It is simply an amazing story. I can't believe it took 70 years for someone to put it on the big screen.

This is more than a "war movie" it is the story of a strong MAN and soldier.

Desmond Doss was a very religious man from Virginia. He was so religious in fact, that he promised God that he would never touch a gun. He loved his country, his family, his wife, and his countrymen. Not much of a story there... unless it happens to be 1944 and your country is at war.

Desmond felt such sense of duty that, even though he vowed never to break his promise to God, he chose to take part in WWII (he refused a deferment that he was entitled to due to his job working at a shipyard). I specifically used the words "take part" because he clearly was not volunteering to fight. His promise to God was the only thing more important to him than his sense of duty. After much thought and prayer, Desmond determined he could do both. He would become a medic and save lives while those around him were taking them.

"During the battle the Medic was Often the Difference between Life and Death"
(The Collegedale Veterans Memorial in Tennessee)

He chose to go into battle without a weapon.

His only goal was to save as many people as he could.

That is Courage

And save people he did. Desmond Doss earned the Medal of Honor for saving 75 men in one bloody battle... without ever firing a shot.

President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor on Oct. 12, 1945

Ok. The story is clearly amazing. Unfortunately, in Hollywood, that is not always enough. It is quite common for writers and directors to take an amazing story and tell it in a flat, emotionless or boring way. For me, that is is exactly what happened with the movie Unbroken. I wanted that film to move me. I wanted to cry. But I didn't. I felt cheated... because that story deserved my tears.

This does not happen to Desmond Doss's story in Hacksaw Ridge. The movie is written by Andrew Knight and Robert Schenkkan. It is directed my Mel Gibson. The trio manages to not overthink anything. The story is amazing! All they had to do, is tell it. The acting is also exceptional. Specifically, I thought Andrew Garfield did a great job playing a humble, yet strong, hero.

Although the movie is a bit formulaic, it was still excellent. Sometimes, formulaic is ok. As long as you have an excellent story, there is no need to over-complicate things.

This story is amazing. Now get out there and don't screw it up.

I can almost see the story board and hear the discussions between the writers and director...

"Ok. We have 120 minutes. The first 25 minutes we will show the hero's back story. We will show a life changing event from his youth. Then he'll fall in love with a girl. He will have to overcome some obstacle with his family. The audience will love him!"

Yes. This member of the audience did love him.

The conversation would continue, "For the next 25 minutes we will show him in basic training. We can make it like the first part of Full Metal Jacket... but less dark. The rest of his platoon won't like him at first. Maybe he can earn their respect. We can even have a humorous Drill Sergeant. Hmmm who can we get?"

They got Vince Vaughn to play the Drill Sergeant . He does a surprisingly good job in the role and cracks some pretty good one liners.

Perhaps one of the trio would post out that they were missing part of the incredible tale.

"But what about his court battle with the U.S. Army? We need a great courtroom scene. We can have him give and awesome speech explaining his motivation. It will be great!"

It really was.

The next part of the conversation was probably the easiest.

"For the next 45 minutes we will show incredibly graphic battle scenes. I mean really bloody and gory. Think the beginning of Saving Private Ryan, but for 45 minutes straight."

I respect the time and effort put into the battle scenes. They appear very realistic. But for me, that was the problem. They were too realistic. I was really hoping I would be able to show this movie to my students. That is impossible. This movie earned it's "R" rating with quite a bit of brutal deaths. It is a war movie after all. War is brutal.

But that still leaves 15 minutes. With those 900 seconds, the creators went for the knockout.

"Finally, we will show exactly what a hero is. We will show Doss being brave, relentless, selfless, strong and caring. He won't give up. He will keep running into danger over and over. And after he saves each person, he will appear exhausted and he will say..."

"Please Lord, help me get one more."

Heroes rush towards danger while others run from it.

"And Doss will. He will save one more. Then another. Then another. And when some amateur writer goes to blog about it, he will think of that line and he will cry."

I am.

If you are able to handle the incredibly grizzly battle scenes, Hacksaw Ridge is a must see. If you can't handle those scenes, then I recommend you watch the documentary on which this film was based.

Desmond Doss deserves to have his story known.

Have any of you seen this movie? What did you think?

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