Film Review – Hacksaw Ridge

It’s been a full decade since Mel Gibson last directed a film, with 2006’s “Apocalypto” a challenging adventure story that miraculously managed to attract an audience. It was a follow-up to 2004’s “The Passion of the Christ,” a global phenomenon that cemented Gibson’s taste in extreme violence and depictions of abyssal faith, promising a helming career filled with unusual tales of survival and heroism. But then…other stuff happened, forcing Gibson to keep away from the camera after “Apocalypto.” He returns with a vengeance with “Hacksaw Ridge,” a stunningly vivid World War II tale that merges heavenly belief with earthbound horror, exploring the resolve of one man to serve his country without picking up a weapon. It’s an exceptional picture and Gibson’s finest work to date, gracefully but forcefully sharing faith-based interests without resorting to preachiness, putting Godly trust to the test on a merciless battlefield. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com