Relentless and visually stunning but over-stages star names

Rating: 9/10 (12 January 2020)

This was a great movie which lived up to the hype... mainly based upon the single continuous shot technique which puts you right there with the action. The staging and journey of the film makes it gripping, engaging and almost relentless. Sam Mendes deserves the praise for this unique directorial approach.
The only criticism is the rather lame way that each of its top billed cast are introduced to the audience in identical fashion.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Daniel Mays, Mark Strong and Colin Firth all have bit parts but appear from the back or slightly out of shot until you get the reveal ... it makes you want to wait for a someone to grab an arm from a trench and on the end of it is.... wait for it... drum roll... that bloke off of The Greatest Showman (he isn't in it by the way).
Otherwise great casting and cinematography and a really good cast of extras. Certainly a must watch movie. Probably more of a 12A than a 15 but there is a bit of gore. My 13 year old daughter liked it and learned something about the pathos of WW1