Review: No objections here, 'Hacksaw Ridge' delivers on 4K UHD

Posted Tuesday, February 21, 2017 at 4:39 PM Central

by John Couture

I'm going to be honest with you. When I sat down to watch Hacksaw Ridge this past weekend, I had pretty low expectations. Sure, the film was widely well-reviewed and is up for six Academy Awards this weekend, but I have been rather skeptical of anything from Mel Gibson since Apocalypto.

The last decade hasn't been a kind one for the once universally beloved Gibson, and I wasn't really sure if the film truly lived up to high expectations or if it was simply elevated by association with Gibson's troubled past.

I can honestly say that this film is indeed worthy of all the praise that it is receiving and it is so good that it might actually bring respectability back to Mel Gibson - something that truly might be more miraculous than anything covered in the film. For those that don't know, Hacksaw Ridge is the true story of Desmond Doss, an army medic in World War II, who also happened to be a conscientious objector, although he hated that term.

As coined in the film, Doss considered himself a conscientious cooperator and was intent on serving his country during World War II, but as a reflection of his strong Seventh-day Adventist beliefs, he did not condone killing and refused to carry a weapon. Despite all of that, he was awarded the Medal of Honor (the first conscientious objector to be awarded one) for his bravery during the battle of Okinawa.

While some may read that and immediately think of Unbroken from a few years ago, Desmond's story is unique and quite timely given the current political landscape of our country. Sometimes we tend to take our freedom and democracy for granted and we need to be reminded of real heroism and Desmond Doss is a real hero.

Not only is the story compelling, but if you're a fan of war films in general, then Hacksaw Ridge has a little bit of everything for you. Whether it's the court martial scene that will remind you of A Few Good Men, or Vince Vaughn channeling his best R. Lee Ermey from Full Metal Jacket to some of the best war action scenes this side of Saving Private Ryan, Hacksaw Ridge really does draw upon some of the best moments of previous war films to fashion this compelling story.

Given that I knew nothing about Desmond Doss' story before I watched the film, I did some research after I watched it and it turns out that the film was quite faithful to his acts of heroism. Sure, like any film, they augmented certain aspects, like how he met his future wife Dorothy, but the main tenets and his bravery that resulted in him saving 75 soldiers was absolutely true.

In fact, there was one real aspect of his story that Mel Gibson omitted from the film because he felt that it was too far-fetched to be believed by audiences. I don't want to give it away, but the omitted part had to do with Doss being shot by a sniper after giving up his stretcher for a fellow injured soldier.

That's the sort of bravery and fortitude that the world needs more of in these times. For that reason alone, it's worth it to give Hacksaw Ridge a watch, and when you do, I can't recommend the 4K UHD version highly enough.

While the newer format shines during all parts of the film, it is really on display during the battle sequences on Okinawa. I purposely went back and watched these sequences on the included Blu-ray for comparison and the results were pretty telling. At one point, a soldier remarks that it's too dark and smoky to see them (and vice versa, the Japanese to see them). On the 4K UHD, the HDR is such that you believe his statement because you feel like you are actually there. On the Blu-ray, the color spectrum is a bit brighter during these sequences and you lose this element of realism.

While both the Blu-ray and 4K UHD have the same Dolby Atmos audio track, there's just something about listening to it combined with the higher definition picture that makes it seem more real. All in all, you will not be disappointed in this film on 4K UHD.

While actor Andrew Garfield remains a long shot to win the Best Actor Oscar this weekend, his recognition in the nomination is well justified. I'll be honest, I wasn't that impressed with his work as Spider-Man, but he redeems himself here. Another actor who should enjoy a nice little renaissance from his work in this film is the aforementioned Vince Vaughn. I couldn't tell you the last time I had even seen him in a film, let alone in a performance that I enjoyed.

But he seems at home here as the requisite hard-driving drill sergeant. It's also nice to see him play a character with little to no comic relief. I think at times he has used the comedy as a crutch, but his performance here proves that he can do so much more.

Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the amazing work turned in by Teresa Palmer as Dorothy Doss. She's an actress that I feel has been in a lot, but when I check her resumé, I'm always surprised by how thin it really is. Her work here is proof that she can be a leading lady and hopefully she wins meatier roles from here on out.

Hacksaw Ridge is a film that delivers on so many levels and gives you an optimistic outlook on humanity. When we look around today, it is sometimes hard to keep that in perspective, but there will always be true heroes like Desmond Doss willing to literally take a bullet for our freedom. This film is a worthy testament to a true American hero and sheds light into our past as we look for the glimmer of hope in the future.