Dunkirk was exactly what I had anticipated it to be, and then some

Rating: 10/10 (21 July 2017)

To put it into simple terms, Dunkirk is the best cinematic experience I've had in years.
Once the credits started rolling, I was lost for words. So strong had the impact of this film been upon me. I was clearly not the only one, as the whole theater was silent. It was as if we were all soldiers returning home from an hour and three quarters of war experience.
From the moment when the first bullet is fired, we're are completely submerged into the narrative. The story focuses on three narratives in three different settings, that all tie together in the events at Dunkirk 76 years ago. The inter-cutting between these different narratives is brilliantly done, where all the stories serve as a companion to one another, despite being fundamentally different. Alhtough a story structure like this is not common in cinema, I believe it works perfectly for the atmosphere Nolan wanted to create.
The craftsmanship in this film is absolutely stunning. Every aspect of this film is masterfully crafted, and flows with each other to create the perfect harmony. That's because the film isn't trying to show off how great certain aspects are. It's all about creating the experience of watching it. That is also the reason why the narrative isn't in a traditional war epic format. That's because this film doesn't take you on a journey so to speak, as it provides you with the experience of war. It is a very tense experience that leaves you with no real breaks to settle down. That's because you constantly feel like you are one of the soldiers depicted on screen. I feel inclined to add that this film may not be a good experience for people who have experienced combat, or have been severely affected by it. This is also not a film you should see if you have a history with drowning. Luckily I've not been affected by either, but I can still imagine how it must have felt like. That's how real the experience of watching this film really is.
I would strongly recommend seeing this film in theaters. That is mostly because of how amazing the sound design is. As I said before, no single aspect takes over another, but the sound design is undeniably a crucial part of creating the atmosphere. The experience is therefore best if watched with good surround sound being blasted all around you, while your eyes are stuck to the big screen.
One of the best things about this story is that it doesn't really pick a side. The film only shows you one side, but moral questions regarding the men you are fighting are left out. The film also doesn't talk about the horrors of war. It simply shows you what it was like. This ties into the fact that this story isn't a journey. It is an intense experience.
The atmosphere this film offers is so intense that you can feel the salty breeze from the sea, mixed in with the horrible smell of dead corpses. Throughout the entire film, you feel like you are there with the soldiers. We care for them, we fear for them, and we emphasize for them. That's simply because we are one of them. Or at least that's what it feels like.
In the end we are all like the silent spitfire gliding through the air, as we admire the bravery of the people depicted on screen. So strong is the will to help those in need, that men and women alike risked their lives to save the soldiers trapped at Dunkirk. It is about the power of people to sacrifice in order to save, even when faced with a great adversary. This message, combined with the extraordinary experience, is what makes Dunkirk a true masterpiece.