In some significant ways, this excellent true story of Desmond Doss was toned down to make it more believable. However, there are some things that were changed that you might want to know about. Doss and his unit had actually taken part in two previous Pacific island invasions before they got to Okinawa, and Doss had actually been decorated with the Bronze Star for Valor twice in the second battle, so Desmond was already a well respected member of the unit before Hacksaw Ridge. You can understand why they decided to compress the story entirely to the Okinawa campaign to keep the story easier to understand. Some of the other changes they made are also understandable, such as they amped up the drama of the trial a lot, and the situation where he leaves his wife at the altar while he sits in a cell is not quite the way that happened. The website History vs Hollywood article on this movie is pretty good, and covers most the of the stuff that they changed or were mistaken about. I strongly recommend checking out History vs Hollywood for after you watch movies based on real history. They are usually the best place to get solid information about historical inaccuracies in a very easy to understand format, when they have an article posted about the film in question.

I really enjoyed you catching yourself say "on the back of what WE did yesterday" 😅 it goes to show how good of a job they did in endearing the soldiers to the audience as well as the spectacular job they did in immersing the audience into the battle sequence. 👏👏👏

Wow, one of the best reactions I've ever seen.

If you look at a situation map of Okinawa in 1945 you will see that Doss was very close to where Sledgehammer and Snafu were. Okinawa was horrible.

It might interest you to know that Desmond Doss had tuberculosis at the time of hacksaw ridge so he had to stiffle his coughing as so not to give away his location while finding injured soldiers, he was diagnosed while in tge army hospital and he lost a lung to it. It took nearly 9hours to find his bible and his brothers in arms would not rest till they found it other battalions joined in the search because of what he did for them all. He also served in the Pacific so he was already a seasoned soldier by the time of hacksaw ridge and recieved the bronze star for lives he saved in those previous battles. His father was awarded the bronze star lives he saved too in WW1. There is so much more to his story i highly recommend Desmond Doss autobiography as its truly amazing. Mel Gibson left a lot of what happened up on the ridge out as he said even tho he is a religious man himself its truly unbelievable and that if he had put it all in nobody would believe a word of any of what happened with regards to what Desmond Doss and what he did. Truly an amazing man.

Can you imagine the wave of fatigue that washed over him when he finally got back among friendly lines? He had been running on nothing but adrenaline for more than 12 hours

The search Desmond's Bible actually took 3 days. His fellow soldiers had to go up on the ridge to get any remaining Japanese. As they did that, often taking fire, they always kept searching for the Bible. Once they found it, they had to mail it to Doss since he'd been removed to a hospital far from any war zone. It got to him, and Desmond sent a letter back to thank them.

The double bowline that Doss ties was actually a knot which he learned to tie and use on the farm at home. He was able to lower two men at a time from the ridge.

As brudnick39 noted, the movie more or less toned down some of Doss's actions as so as to keep the movie "believable". One of the facts that just seems outlandish is that the commander who wrote of the citation for Doss's actions at Okinawa concluded he saved 100 men, not 75. Doss said he thought it was about 50. The final count of 75 was a compromise.

The part when they go up to hacksaw ridge for the first time is some of the best building of suspense and terror I've ever seen in a film, really makes you feel the fear they feeling.

As someone who has had to do dead weight dummy training for the fire dept. I can say this.. carrying/dragging 1 - 175lb dummy over and under obstacles, down and up stairs.. It is absolutely physically draining. It blows my mind that this man who sarg said to " keep away from strong winds " was physically able to carry/drag and lower with a rope 75 wounded men all day/night without physically breaking down is a miracle in it's self. The amount of sheer determination to not let his buddies die bleeding out up there must have pushed him to next level strength.

To understand Desmond Doss's father. He was a survivor of the Battle of Belleau Wood. A 26 day long battle that was often hand to hand fighting. The British and French had retreated. While the US Marines held their ground. In this battle the Greman officers were asked by their superiors why the Germans had not taken the ground the Marines held. The Gremans replied to their command. They are like fighting Devil Dogs. They are ferocious and refuse to give up ground. By the end of the battle over 9000 US soldiers were killed.

Usually I just watch your Expanse videos, but this is such a great movie that kinda came and went that no one really talks about despite how great it is.

Every bit the equal of "Saving Private Ryan."

What a fantastic film on the actions of a truly heroic man. To me it’s less about WWII than character & faith. I only wish more movies could be made on those men of the Greatest Generation in the same caliber as this. (For an equally amazing film I have to suggest “Unbroken “, the true story of Louie Zamporini, also in the Pacific Theater. Oh, & “We Were Soldiers” if you guys haven’t seen it yet) Really enjoy your commentary & respect you have for these men. I very much appreciate that.

Thanks for the great reaction! Another movie that you guys need to react to is Schindler’s List, a classic made by Spielberg. While it is a long movie, it’s message and implications in today’s world makes it relevant. Everyone needs to watch it at least once! Stay safe, stay sane,stay strong Ukraine 🇺🇦

oh and also Doss did all this while injured, weak from TB, and malnourished because the army did not have protein options other than meat.

My oldest son was on the submarine that fired the first missiles into Iraq in the first Iraq war. My foster son was a sniper in the army during same war. It was the most horrifying time of my life, as a mother. No control. No say in outcomes. No supervision. It was terrible. They both made it home and both were changed men. I’m proud of both of them. They are, however, changed forever. War is obsolete. We know better now. Let’s do what’s right.

You guys are picking REALLY good movies to watch.

I’ve watched dozens of reactions to this movie and never noticed anyone commenting on the connection where civilian Doss pulls the young lad from under the car using the tarp. Then private Doss does the same thing to sarge on the battlefield.

The majority of Conscientious Objectors were from established religious groups which practiced non-violence. Notably The Society of Friends (aka "Quakers") but there were others out of personal conviction who espoused non-violence. That dedication to non-violence did in no way limit their ability to do humane and brave service. (The British Friends actually allied with the German Friends before the two countries were at war and created a rail line to get Jewish children out of Czechoslovakia. The German Friends were later thrown into concentration camps and, like many German priests and ministers, branded "enemies of the state") Many Red Cross members and volunteers worked throughout the War providing a lifeline to POWs and making sure they got packages and letters from home, as well as serving in hospitals and refugee camps. The Japanese did not sign the Geneva accords and not only had no comparable organization as The International Red Cross, but refused to allow any inspection of their POW camps and confiscated most of the Red Cross aid sent.

Every time I watch this it gets me very emotional. When Doss jumps with the dead Smitty.... Then the Lt, who was beyond a scumbag to Doss, but when he finally comes down the looks he was getting from the men was like he was a miracle worker, then the Lt lovingly and gently put his hand on Dosses face asking if he was wounded, then he said lets get this soldier to a hospital tent. The fact is Doss actually saved over 100 lives and had his heroics watered down for this movie because they thought nobody would believe what he did. Mel Gibsons decision to REDUCE what Desmond Doss did, knowing this made it even more emotional the 2nd time seeing this and every time after that. The fact that there's no hollywood BS here, everything actually happened, he was an angel of God in the hellhole of war. A great man and a true hero in EVERY sense of the words, "great" and "hero" are overused words in todays insane society, but Desmond Doss was both and then some, he's a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient, that says it all... RIP Desmond.

He was a strict vegetarian and couldn't eat most of the rations provided, so he was malnourished throughout and was supplementing with coconut water which caused diarrhea and dehydration. He saved something like 150, wanted it lowered and they settled on 75 as an official number.

The fathers face when he sees his oldest son in that uniform. Is there better acting than that? It ripped my heart out. Thanks again, gentlemen. I had a good time. Humans CAN be amazing, generous and brave beings. They can also be panicky dangerous animals. I prefer the latter.

Another important note is that Desmond was a vegetarian. He didn't really have enough to eat while in the Pacific, because he wouldn't eat most of the rations that were supplied to the Army. He was basically malnourished the whole time. I couldn't imagine doing this much physical exertion even with enough food and water in my system.

Desmond Doss had a hard time throughout his life finding wheelbarrows strong enough to carry his gigantic pair of balls.

Medics are prevented from carrying/using arms. In theory, neither are they supposed to be shot at.

Smitty would have been proud.

This was so well done ❤ What an Amazing man

haha the Brigadier General got your balls!

Your hearts shine through. 💙

Someone else mentioned it in the comments section elsewhere, Desmond actually saved closer to 150, but the Army's official number was lower to 75.

It's like Desmond's brother sayed at the end about his Conviction to his faith, that is an extremely powerful emotion of man and nothing to be taken lightly or trifled with. Mel Gibson has made some fantastic movies Passion of Christ, We Were Soldiers, The Patriot, Apocalypto and this one he and Clint Eastwood are by far the 2 best Actor/Director's of our time in my opinion.✌👍🔥

Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it.

It's interesting that one of the fake-surrendering Japanese has an American bandage on his shoulder. Not sure if that's supposed to be the guy Doss helped, some random soldier who had scrounged an American bandage, or just the prop department using one in place of what would almost certainly have been an improvised bandage for the Japanese at that point in the campaign.

The U.S. and Germany signed the Geneva Convention and in Europe the medics wore Red Crosses and did NOT carry weapons, and as a rule, were not targeted, but in the Pacific the Japanese did NOT sign the Geneva Convention and the medics DID carry weapons and participated in fighting.

Awesome reaction guys ❤

You guys are going in on the pacific theater haha. This is a great movie/story. Thanks for not cutting your reactions. So many I've seen that blur this movie all to hell, can't even tell whats going on half the time. Another good Mel Gibson war movie is "We Were Soldiers." He didn't direct it, but he starred in it. It covers the first major battle between the Americans and the Vietnamese in the Vietnam war. It was a battle where our troops only lifeline was the choppers that flew them into the mountains, the only resupply/evac/reinforcements came from that. It was a terrible battle. It not only covers the valiance of the troops on the battlefield, but the effect that it had on their wives and family back home.

His grand children had never been told about him until the movie.

Thanks Gents. Appreciate your work.

Enjoyed watching the reaction guys.

When Desmond got to Heavan, God said "ok, you are in charge of all the guardian angels, now."

4 F is often mentioned, but there is a great list of exemptions and disqualifiers for service, or at least pushing a man further down the draft list. Funny thing is that quite a few of the 4F types could have served at a desk or other well in the rear postings. I used to live near part of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is a beautiful place. However, there were areas were people were building houses up on the slopes and ridges and not even trying to make them blend in.

People forget how much conformity plays a part in group survival. As different as I am, I can still recognize the strain that uncomfortable diversity puts on a group under survival pressures. The way the US trained company cohesion under the draft was to train everyone together, similar to homeroom philosophy in educational theory. Differences cause hiccups under uniform conformity standards, which are necessary for function under fire, in that paradigm. You needed to be broken to the cause and dedicated to common purpose. I would never qualify for the military, even under those circumstances. I'm far too independent minded and creative thinking, even without my ego in the mix -- crazy by military standards, a guaranteed loose cannon. I blame it on good genes and a strong personal ethic, mixed with a really rough upbringing by too many terrible people. Lots of conformity pressures left from the Depression and the Middle American dream of a nuclear family isolated me for decades. I love that this movie highlights the absolute badassery of a knowing, true believer. People don't remember the power of honest, soul-searchingly deep faith, because it's a rare thing that isn't easily popularized without crushing it or becoming cult-like. Sometimes faith makes the biggest difference in the dark places of the world and the mind. In my experience.

Terrific reaction, guys, to another nightmarish Okinawa setting. I think Mel Gibson is a good director, but he does tend to amp up the gore and violence almost to the point that I can barely stand it. I think his best film is Apocalypto, which takes place in Central America, focusing on a tribe in the jungle. Great action with a fascinating story line. Congrats on the 2k subscribers! You deserve many more!

The adrenaline can push you till that's all that's pumping

and few there be that find it...

I know the rope trek ~down~ for the wounded men had to be it's own extra little touch of hell, but, honestly? In the long term, if my options are bleeding out/being killed by the enemy/other even nastier deaths OR do I want to get yeeted off a cliff with at least a ~chance~ I'm gonna be breathing the next day, I think most folks are gonna happily take the cliff face. Even if it killed a few, it's better than up at the top. Near the end, you started to touch on something, but it's worth being even clearer - the food issue? His diet, well, no veggie ration packs, I read one article that talked about he was running, almost at all times, on ~half~ the calories of the other men, he was able to trade some, swapping his meat for something else, was able to find some, but there would never have been a point where he wasn't hungry. A stick of a man, already under high physical stress, with no sleep managed this. His injuries at the end were worse than they portray here, as well. Lost a good chunk of his hearing, and before he was out of the hospital, developed tuberculosis and had to have a lung removed. He gave a lot for his heroics.

He was under a conviction to God.

Military chaplains (such as my Dad before he retired) also don't carry weapons. Also, I seriously doubt that his pack would have held enough morphine and bandages for all the people he helped... it seems to me that God helped out there also.

All of human history is full of these types of stories & accounts.I believe God picks & chooses his warriors to do his will even the most unlikely even the "cowardly". Doss was no coward,just did his thing a little different;)

I like this movie, however, you should be aware that they used a great deal of artistic license in this. Some that cause a negative portrayal of people, which I don't appreciate. Still, Desmond was a true hero, and saved a lot of lives.

Here I go again: Desmond Doss actually sat opposed to the production of this movie prior to his death because he didn't think his story was worthy of such promotion. he never saw himself as a hero and thus didn't think his story was worth the attention. It was only after the man died that permission was given to turn his story into a movie. This is why it took a grand total of 18 years to finish the film from first proposal to release. His son, Desmond Junior, attended the premiere of the movie and was driven to tears by Andrew Garfield's performance as his father. With the exceptions of Vince Vaughn as Sergeant Howell, and Firass Dirani as "Hollywood" every speaking part in this film is played by an actor who was either from England, Japan or Australia. Vaughn is, of course, an American. while Dirani is from Lebanon. After the battle, when he was being debriefed, Doss said that he believed he saved 50 men, while Captain Glover's estimate was 100 men. When awarding Doss the medal of honor, the army split the difference and called it 75 lives saved. According to several eyewitnesses, the true number of men rescued was likely nearer to 150. The total number of men saved by Desmond Doss throughout his entire time in the Army (which included two other major battles and several smaller skirmishes) was over 300. At the Venice Film Festival this film received a standing ovation that lasted 9 minutes and 23 seconds (it was timed by director Mel Gibson) When Dorothy gives Desmond the Bible before leaving for basic training it is bookmarked At 1 Samuel 17. This is the Old Testament account of David and Goliath. Many parallels can be found in these two stories. Mel Gibson said he wanted to make this movie in order to "tell the story of a real life superhero." This was during the height of the Marvel craze. In truth, Desmond Doss was not the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor. That would be World War I hero Sergeant Alvin C. York, who was also a conscientious objector. York was portrayed by Gary Cooper portrayed him in the film "Sergeant York" released in 1941. The important difference being that York did carry a weapon but Doss did not. Mel Gibson's father, Hutton Gibson, actually participated in the Battle of Okinawa, and fought along-side the 77th Infantry, the division of which Desmond Doss was a part. The total amount of men killed during this battle were between 600 and 800 Americans and Australians, and between 2600 and 3000 Japanese. The Desmond T. Doss Combat Medic Memorial - which includes a transcript of his Medal of Honor citation and a statue of the man himself, can be found in the Virginia State War Memorial, which celebrates each of the 51 native Virginians who have been awarded the Medal of Honor since its creation as the highest award for valor in 1864. An identical monument to Doss can be found atop Hacksaw Ridge in Okinawa. The Desmond T. Doss Health Clinic at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, is a military hospital named after Doss.

So glad Mel Gibson did this before Desmond died

I know this is a serious movie, but I'm going to joke about it anyway. Cpt. GLOVER: And what are you going to do if you're attacked? Hit 'em with your bible? DOSS: *bitchslaps grenade * JAPANESE GUY #1: Hey, I can hear those idiots climbing up the net! JAPANESE GUY #2: They ALWAYS do it right after they stop blasting us. JAPANESE GUY #1: I'm gonna go cut it down again. Then they won't be able to do it anymore. JAPANESE GUY #2: What a stupid idea. JAPANESE GUY #1: ............ JAPANESE GUY #2:.....................wait til they're almost at the top.

The most violent most religious war movie. Watch Gary Cooper as Sgt York for a similar dilemma.