I was expected way more out of the performances and plot of Dunkirk; instead of a conventional story with character development and a problem to solve,the movie plunges us onto Dunkirk amidst the carnage. This isn't inherently a bad thing as the horrors and tragedy surrounding the event are presented accurately and respectfully- we the viewer,fully understand the struggle faced by British, Belgian and French soldiers during and leading up to the crisis caused by the Nazi invasion of France.

There is no connection with any of the various characters throughout the movie, so the element of suspense ceases to exist. This is probably the most heavily criticized factor of Dunkirk and whether it can be excused or not is down to the viewers preference. Personally, I love more story driven filmic experiences with well animated characters; as Dunkirk lacks this, something that I believe to be intentional, I cannot help but feel a little disappointed.

Despite this, I still enjoyed the movie, watching it for my birthday at the cinema with friends. The visuals and cinematography are impeccable which is to be expected from Nolan and his team. I also have a great interest in the World Wars and all the costumes and vehicles seemed highly accurate.

In conclusion, Dunkirk portrays to a masterful level, the terror that marked end of the Phoney War and plunged Europe as well as the rest of the world into another conflict ending millions of lives world wide. Being in the center of this chaos, there is no time to fully understand what others are thinking, what kind of people they are, who they may leave behind. We can only watch and hope for their safety.