This film has been rightly lauded from one side of the world to the other. The cinematography is outstanding, the films matter is delicately and respectfully handled, the lesser known actors are shining lights among the much bigger stars who pop up occasionally.

This is a story of two soldiers trying to reach the front lines during World War I in an attempt to stop a doomed advance into enemy fire and save as many men as they can.

It has all the horror and shocks you'd expect if you knew but a small amount about trench warfare, it is visually stunning and the story is gripping as well as occasionally being soul-destroying.

I personally felt the film was probably about 20 minutes too long, one of many sequences could've been sacrificed and the film wouldn't have lost anything but would've gained a bit of pace.

Dean Charlies-Chapman and especially George MacKay are superb and it would be a travesty of their careers didn't flourish because of this. Colin Firth, Benedict Cumberbatch and Mark Strong to name a few powerhouses pop up for just enough time to move the story along and not take away from what is happening.

A 1917/20 from me, I feel disrespectful giving it a grade due to its subject matter. It is a fascinating film, superbly made but like any film it has its flaws. But you'd be missing out on a cinematic experience not to see it. Well done Mr Mendes!