Genre Research: Hacksaw Ridge

 Genre Research: Hacksaw Ridge

Common CAMS

• Close ups were often used in this film to potray the characters feelings to the audience and enhance their desperation or love they were showing.

• Establishing shots were used a few times in this movie to show the grand scope of the location. For example the shot of the climbing rope on the cliffside that looks humongus to them.

• Two shots were seen all throughout this film and were used to build bonds and relationships with each characters they showed.

Common CLAMPS

• Costumes Were used perfectly in this movie by not using anything flashy and sticking to the era the story takes place in. For example the soldiers outfits in the movie greatly resemble the ones used during the ware itself and the clothing worn by the actors match the time this event took place.

• Lighting was used in this movie to show the deathly fear the soldiers had of the night with no lights which would have revealed their position.

• Props were very realistic if not real and brought the movie alive by showing realism.

• Setting was perfectly executed by the director and made the audience feel like the movie was actually filmed where The Hacksaw Ridge battle happened.

Common Sound

• Diagetic sounds used in this movie were breathtaking to say the least. From loud explosions which numbed the soilders ears to the clacking of the soldiers gear jumping up and down as they run.

• Sound bridges were often used in this movie to connect the cross cutting by making the sound of the explosion transfer over to the next scene. Which portrayed to the audience the bombs were heard by all the soilders.

• Ambient sounds were also used in this movie and in a disturbing way that showed the fear of the soldiers and what they were truly up against. For example as the soldiers went to lay down for the night, gunshots and bombs going off were heard in the background to show the everlasting fighting going on.

Common Editing in the movie 

• Cross cutting is used very well in this movie and very often. For example the bombs exploding as the audience go between shots of different soldiers to show the bombs are exploding all over the battlefield.

• Fade-ins are seen frequently during the war scenes of this movie. For example the bombs create a large dust cloud which then slowly clears up as we lead into the shot. Which I found to be one of the most clever uses of fade-ins I have ever seen.

• Fade outs are used in this movie a few times to transition to the next scene and skip a period of time. For example the shot begins fading out as Dawson (The main character) closes his eyes until it is completely dark.

Elements of Genre in the movie

The elements of genre in this movie are normally seen in other movies but they enhance them and use them to a better degree compared to other movies in my opinion. The usual explosions, gunshots, and fight scenes are of course seen all throughout this movie. However each holds significant emotional value as the battle happened according to real events. The sudden start of a full-scale war towards the middle of the movie was really amazing.

What elements of the genre did the movie have that you liked?

The movie had many elements I liked. One of them was the build of emotional attachment to each soilder before any kind of battle happened. As well as the lighthearted pace the movie went at as if it was not an action movie until half way in.

What elements of the genre did the movie have that do not appeal to you? 

One element that did not appeal to me from this movie was the realistic gore seen as the soldiers die. The ripping off of limbs as bombs explode could make some people throw up if not warned before hand.