Limited in scope

Rating: Null/10 (2 August 2017)

A big project. It has scale and intensity.
Dunkirk is now a mythical moment in history. The film is a welcome reminder of the tragedy of WW2 as ordinary men are crushed by the weapons of modern warfare.
There is much horror. Screaming men on fire in a flaming ocean. Soldiers burrowing for cover against aerial attacks. Trapped soldiers going down with the ship.
On the other hand, there isn't much gore or body parts.
Shown from the shifting POV of infantry men, pilots and sailors. We get a view from the ground/sea, then the same scene viewed from the air.
What are the film's weak points?
It provides a narrow claustrophobic view of the beach operations. There is no appreciation of the terrible tactical decisions made by the commander of the BEF.
He made the unilateral decision to abandon the fight without proper preparations for the evacuation or rearguard protection.
There is no insight into the triumphant Germans, or the plight of the French civilians. Insufficient tribute to the terrible losses suffered by the Little Ships of the evacuation.
As the events cover less than a week, there isn't time for character development. Does not have the same impact as The Bridge over The River Kwai.
Bottom Line: Interesting but not memorable. Recommended for those who like immersion, without getting their feet wet.