It tells the inspiring story of Desmond Doss, a Christian non-violent American war hero who never fired a weapon

By Dan Wooding, Founder of ASSIST News Service (Movie Review)

HOLLYWOOD, CA (ANS – October 22, 2016) – It has been a long and painful wait for Mel Gibson to make another hit movie, but now he looks like he has a winner on his hand.

Called Hacksaw Ridge and directed by Gibson, it tells the extraordinary true story of WWII Christian medic, Desmond Doss, played by Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spiderman), who, in Okinawa during the bloodiest battle of WWII, miraculously saved 75 men in a matter of hours without firing or carrying a gun.

He was the only American soldier in WWII to fight on the front lines without a weapon, except the simple prayer he uttered before he single-handedly evacuated the wounded from behind enemy lines, under constant enemy gunfire and artillery bombardment. Doss’ courage and faith won the admiration of his commanders and fellow soldiers, as he saved the lives of the very men who had persecuted him for refusing to carry a gun. He believed the war was just, but to kill under any circumstance was wrong.

Doss was labeled the first conscientious objector (he called himself a “conscientious cooperator” as he volunteered) to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. It was presented to him by the then president, Harry Truman.

Gibson has returned to directing after a ten-year-long absence and weathering a long and painful season of negative tabloid headlines, and Hacksaw Ridge follows on from his previous blockbusters like Braveheart and The Passion of the Christ.

Besides Garfield in the lead role, it also features Sam Worthington, Luke Bracey, Teresa Palmer, Hugo Weaving, Rachel Griffiths and Vince Vaughn.

Gibson must have been delighted when Greg Laurie, Senior Pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, head of Harvest Crusades and Harvest Ministries, stepped up to support the film after screening the film.

He said, “This is the most positive portrayal of a Christian in a mainstream film that I have seen since Chariots of Fire. This film is about Medal of Honor winner Desmond Doss, a committed believer in Jesus Christ who is credited with saving 75 lives in a matter of hours during the WWII battle at Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa. Hacksaw Ridge is a war movie, and is graphic and realistic.

“However, the big story of this film is about a man who stood by his convictions as a follower of Jesus Christ and showed incredible courage at the risk of his own life. I can’t wait to see it in the theater!”

Laurie also invited Mel Gibson to join him for an on-stage interview on Sunday, September 25th, during the final night of the recent 27th Annual SoCal Harvest Crusade at Angel Stadium, Anaheim, California. It was to discuss the role that faith has played in Gibson’s many films, including Hacksaw Ridge, and much to the enjoyment of the large audience, they also briefly arm wrestled, but neither actually won.

With that out of the way, Gibson then talked about his plans for a new film based on the resurrection of Christ, and said, “I made the ultimate super hero film in The Passion of the Christ. Real super heroes don’t wear spandex or have special 3-D effects, they do something super human.”

And, of course, that is what Desmond Doss did during the Second World War.

I believe that Mel Gibson has made a hit movie that is a powerful tribute to this pacifist war hero, and at the end of the film, he features touching footage of the real Doss.

The question that some are asking is if Hacksaw Ridge will bring Gibson back into the main strream of movie-making?

Owen Gleiberman, writing in Variety, said it could well do so, saying, “Mel Gibson has made a movie about a pacifist who served nobly during WWII. It’s a testament to his filmmaking chops, and also an act of atonement that may succeed in bringing Gibson back.”

Hacksaw Ridge lasts for some 131 minutes, was written by Robert Schenkkan and Andrew Knight, and is due for theatrical release on Thursday, November 3rd.

To find out more, please go to: www.hacksawridge.movie, and to see the trailer, please click on: http://www.hacksawridge.movie/#/videos/trailer/.

Photo captions: 1) Andrew Garfield as Desmond Doss. 2) After WWII, Harry Truman stated he was “very very” honored to be able to make Desmond the first Conscientious Objector to receive the Medal of Honor. 3) Greg Laurie arm wrestles Mel Gibson. 4) Doss (Andrew Garfield) utters a simple prayer during the movie). 5) Norma and Dan Wooding in Hollywood during a reporting assignment for ANS.

About the writer: Dan Wooding, 75, is an award-winning winning author, broadcaster and journalist who was born in Nigeria of British missionary parents, and is now living in Southern California with his wife Norma, to whom he has been married for more than 53 years. They have two sons, Andrew and Peter, and six grandchildren, who all live in the UK. Dan is the founder and international director of the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He is the author of some 45 books, and has been a full-time journalist since 1968. While still based in London, Dan Wooding was a senior reporter for two of Great Britain’s largest-circulation newspapers, and was an interviewer for BBC Radio One and also for LBC, the capital city’s main commercial talk station. Dan now has a weekly radio show and two TV shows all based in Southern California. He has reported from Hollywood for more than 30 years.

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