Review of Dunkirk (2017) by Jonathan B — 09 Dec 2017

Yes, it was a movie about Dunkirk. But almost vaguely. Being a native of the Commonwealth from Canada, perhaps I am more critical than the vast majority of professional and amateur critics. There was little character development. Often times, I got confused -- and even disinterested -- about who was who.

I was actually looking forward to seeing this, but my disappointment is reflected in my 3-star rating.

I watched the 1958 British movie of the same name a few weeks ago, which is far and away a better film (albeit with no CGI and forever-gliding fictional Spitfire) that tells the story of "Operation Dynamo." That vehicle, starring John Mills, Richard Attenborough and Bernard Lee, is more, well, human.

But, current audiences demand action and explosions galore, and that's what the picture is mostly.

For a thinking person's movie about the sacrifice and military and political blunders that led up to this miraculous rescue, lessons learned and the human cost, this is not that. The 1958 "very British" Leslie Norman film is.