“Hacksaw Ridge” is a wonderfully engaging war film with some powerful religious messages. It stars Andrew Garfield (“Silence”, “The Social Network”) with Mel Gibson (“The Passion of the Christ”) in the director’s chair. Gibson has arguably matched the violence of “The Passion of the Christ” here but this time he seems to be able to successfully convey the great joy of faith.

“Hacksaw Ridge” tells the incredible true story of Desmond Doss (Garfield), who was a medic during WWII. Doss is a Seventh-Day Adventist and a pacifist but he wants to help his country during its hour of need. He first must win over the hearts and minds of his fellow soldiers before he goes on to save 75 of them from certain death during the fight against the Japanese.

Andrew Garfield absolutely amazed me with his performance as a priest persecuted by the Japanese in “Silence”. Although I think his performance in “Silence” was better (and I think the overall film was superior), his work in “Hacksaw Ridge” is great. This is clearly a devout man that wants to do good without compromising his soul. Hugo Weaving (“The Matrix”) is terrific as Desmond’s father. Vince Vaughn (“Wedding Crashers”) and Sam Worthington (“Avatar”) are among the cast and they give surprisingly good performances.

“Hacksaw Ridge” is a brutally violent war picture but it is also a very uplifting experience. The film will no doubt be compared to “Saving Private Ryan” and “Flags Of Our Fathers” but its deeply embedded religious themes do help to separate it from the crowd. The final act of the movie is so intense, so unforgiving and so miraculous that you really do feel stunned by this film. “Hacksaw Ridge” hopefully marks a new chapter for Mel Gibson, a return to a time when his films are of more interest than his personal life.