My awestruck eyes, ringing ears

Rating: 9/10 (28 July 2017)

This Nolan Brilliance, from the beginning:
Imagine running for your life, to escape your enemy in a World War. In this case, the German Luftwaffe suddenly releases propaganda leaflets (urging your surrender) on your mates and you. Not dropping your weapons immediately, a sudden burst of bullets downs your unit members, as you frantically flee to stay alive.
Thus is the opening of 'Dunkirk'. It sets the remaining roller coaster ride of death versus survival, often with mere seconds determining the fates of many. Wounded warriors on a ship with LARGE red crosses on its side are also fair game: the ship explodes and floods because not enough Royal Air Force Spitfire fighters are available to defend it.
The direction and cinematography are wonderful. Numerous subplots are so closely interspersed that transitions between them may sometimes startle you. But there is no denying that this is a massively, memorable, cinematic classic. Kudos to all involved with its making.
Was the editing fun? As stated during the end titles, this movie was shot and edited using (70mm!) film. It's playing in at least 35 mm, 70mm, digital, and IMAX formats. Standard cuts so smooth they're not noticed, cross cuts, and sometimes the fading in and out of madness and/or darkness, are intense. The 'B-rolls' created with additional cameras are astounding.
The courageous civilians in private boats – seemingly without (except for skirmishes with the German military), serious injury to but one only – is alone amazing. Correct that: a shell-shocked crew member of a sunken English warship causes the demise of a selfless, courageous young man. The private vessel is the 'Moonstone'. The scenes leading to this heartache caused my greatest pause: if one is bleeding badly from the back of their head (and clearly growing weaker), wouldn't it make sense to role him over, to a face-down position? At least then, might the hemorrhage form a life-saving clot?
The history of the Dunkirk rescues raises more questions. Are nurses and doctors not civilians? Are hospital ships, even when saving soldiers, not off-limits to torpedoes? They weren't, just as rescue boats of private civilians were not exempt from attack.
Kenneth Branagh's 'Commander Bolton' delivers easily-noticed exposition. He quickly states he's not leaving Dunkirk, for there's so many more souls to be saved by the miraculous, civilian flotilla bound from England. Even more rescue vessels arrive, chiming in. Shortly after the film was released, Branagh appeared on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', and mentioned the "Dunkirk Spirit", which members of his generation grew up with. He also mentioned that some Dunkirk veterans – now in their mid 90's – attended the UK Premier of the movie. Quoting Kenneth: "I said, What did you think of the film? They said, 'The film was louder than the battle.' " Colbert's audience laughed loudly.
About 90% of the way into the movie, I had to move close to the rear of the theater. My ears could no longer deal with the volume level of being about a dozen rows back from the screen. You'll feel low- frequency sound effects within your body without damage; your ears may need plugs to fully avoid hearing damage.