Their finest hour again.

Rating: 4/10 (26 December 2017)

I cannot extol this version of what indeed has been viewed historically as the Miracle of Dunkirk. Considering the actual events of war as it spread through Belgium and the machine waging it this evacuation was indeed something special.
What unfolded here was the pathetic self preservation shown by the 'INDOMITABLE' spirited Tommie. I saw no examples of senior NCO's or Officer class organizing squads of those TRAINED riflemen shooting en mass at approaching Stukas. Had these men not heroically made their way from the battle areas where they gallantly held back the German advance. Or were they indeed just cowardly self preserving individuals? No. At the same time as we watch these zombie likes a few miles back up the tracks.
A few miles back the French and many British units were SACRIFICING THEMSELVES to defend this evacuation. The small number of British did such a stalwart job Germans EXECUTED WITH NO MERCY many surrendering troops. This did not go unnoted for the future. 'They WILL REAP THE WHIRLWIND'. And they did through Bomber Harris.
No Nolan showed a bowed and abject army which as did those at Singapore accept the order for every man for himself. Now the advancing German was perhaps a greater fear than the advancing Japanese later but both created forgotten surrendered armies. I suppose those who did manage to survive surrender at Dunkirk were despised opposed to our Nolan view of the celebration of self preserving cowards?.
Yes the non linear story was confusing to a degree. The vignettes a little hard to follow and the authenticity when noticed confusing. No serviceman from the end of the war will surly heap praise on this storytelling. Twenty or so heroes hiding in small boat under fire. No retaliation by them.
Of some note was a certain Sir Kenneth ' More' Brannagh. More was harbor master in the longest day movie.
The beach at Dunkirk should have had MORE bodies represented than the landings shown by Spielberg In Saving Private Ryan. Yet no attempt to show the scale. Remember the scales when the cameras panned the allied lines in movie WATERLOO.
Music upsetting at times. The RAF were given pride of place and I did not mind that representation. I did enjoy the suggestion that the final plane and pilot continued as a guard over the beach almost miraculously GLIDING under the expertise of brave pilot until it could remain in the air no longer. Gave some satisfaction that they would be counted in the days to come. This was my only appreciative moment of the overall story. I am ex army but see all services as complimentary. AND yes the small boats are deserving of serious recognition. SO here is another campaign to start for someone. I am glad I did not dash to a cinema but watched a friends DVD.