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Suswatibasu (1703 KP) rated Hacksaw Ridge (2016) in Movies

Nov 26, 2017

Hacksaw Ridge (2016)

2016 | Drama, History, War

8.6

(74 Ratings)

Movie Rating Watch

Vivid and brutal

I usually can't stomach war movies or Mel Gibson, but the story of Desmond Doss is an incredible one to behold. Doss is the only conscientious objector during the Second World War to have received America's top military award - the Medal of Honor. His refusal to bear arms gained him notoriety during training, being bullied by his commanding sergeants and fellow soldiers. But at the brutal battle in Hacksaw Ridge against the Japanese, Doss single-handedly went back into a warzone retrieving 75 injured soldiers, at a time when all hope was thought to be lost.

The film itself is in two halves. The first part is a little saccharine, portraying Doss as an innocent doe-eyed boy trailing a beautiful nurse who ends up becoming his wife. At the same time, his father, a tortured military man, is seen as abusive after witnessing horrors in France. Director Mel Gibson tries to connect this relationship to why Doss may not be keen on weapons. Overall, the war scenes are well-shot, extremely graphic to the point it is a completely immersive experience. If Gibson made the first half a little less Hollywood, it would be a skilfully made film. The best part by far is the end where you get to meet the real hero Doss speaking about his experiences. A harrowing watch.

Kudos

Donitz, U-Boats, Convoys: The British Version of His Memoirs from the Admiralty's Secret Anti-Submarine Reports

Jak P. Mallmann Showell

(0 Ratings) Rate It

Book

The memoirs of Admiral Karl Donitz, Ten Years and Twenty Days, are a fascinating first-hand account...

Cori June (3033 KP) rated Tempests and Slaughter: the Numair Chronicles Book 1 in Books

Nov 30, 2018

Tempests and Slaughter: the Numair Chronicles Book 1

Tamora Pierce | 2018 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)

8.5

(4 Ratings)

Book Rating

Numair (0 more)

If you are a fan of the Tortall world you should live this book. Set before the Immortals Sonnet, we get to see what Numair's childhood was like as he grows up in Carthak and meets Ozorne and Valice. Unlike most of her books this is completely set in Numair' s aka Arran Draper' s p.o.v.
I would recommend to pre-teens and older however, suggest that parent's read first because male puberty is discussed. Also discussed is Bullying, slavery, death, learning mage craft, political intrigue, friendship, love, gods, war. and has a few graphic fighting and healing scenes. A fast-paced read that has world building to reacquaint people to known characters. it does have an abrupt ending but I'm also selfish in I didn't want the book to end.