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Hacksaw Ridge 4K Steelbook Review

Andrew Garfield shines in “Hacksaw Ridge.”

2016’s “Hacksaw Ridge” is a WWII movie based on the life of war hero Desmond Doss. Doss (who earned the Medal of Honor) was a conscientious objector and Seventh-day Adventist Christian who was a medic that refused to carry or fire a weapon in battle. The film chronicles his life from his childhood, his adulthood where he falls for nurse (Dorothy), to his enlistment in the Army as a combat medic. After a rigorous experience in basic training, he is assigned to the 77th Infantry Division who are deployed during the Battle of Okinawa to secure Hacksaw Ridge where he heroically saves 75 men.

After a 10 year break in directing, Mel Gibson made his “comeback” with “Hacksaw Ridge” (which garnered 6 Academy Award nominations). While it’s certainly an impactful movie that pays tribute to the brave heroism of Desmond Doss, I think the incredible story deserved a better movie. There’s nothing remotely subtle about Gibson’s direction as the movie tends to come off as heavy handed. Perhaps the most puzzling element here is that this movie is about a religious pacifist and yet Gibson revels in depicting truly brutal violence in battle sequences. That seems to go against the entire concept of the story, but it’s not unexpected given that Gibson has a history of directing violent films like “Braveheart” and “The Passion of The Christ.”

Thankfully, the cast lifts up the movie. Andrew Garfield really carries the whole film as Desmond Doss. As we know now, the mutli-talented actor shows such range here. It’s hard to believe this is the same actor who was Spider-Man. The biggest surprise though comes from Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell. He may be best known for comedic roles in “Swingers” and “Old School,” but his dramatic role is really underappreciated in movies like “Brawl In Cell Block 99,” “Fighting With My Family” and “Hacksaw Ridge.” 

Note: This 4K steelbook is a Best Buy exclusive. It is now available to purchase.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.40:1 2160p. How does it look? A perfect 4K disc picture quality wise.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? Every bullet fire and explosion has an impact. This could easily be a demo disc for speakers.

Extras:
* Blu-ray copy
* Digital Copy
* “Veterans Day Greetings With Mel Gibson”
* “Hacksaw Ridge” theatrical trailer
* 4 ½ minutes of deleted scenes
* “The Soul Of War: Making Hacksaw Ridge” contains interviews, film clips, discussions about the real life Desmond Doss, behind-the-scenes stories and more. This is a substantial and involving 69 minute making of.

November 11, 2021 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Andrew Garfield, Best Buy, Hacksaw Ridge 4K Steelbook Review, Mel Gibson, War Movie, WWII