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Reviews have been amazing. Think I'll check this out next week.
Movie Dunkirk (New Christopher Nolan film)
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Saw it last night and wow, honestly was just stunned. If you get the chance, see it in IMAX. Breathtaking experience.
IMO will be remembered as an iconic war film without a shadow of a doubt but perhaps not for the reasons most would assume. Where films like Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge more recently had plenty of onscreen blood; there is actually very little blood and essentially no gore shown in Dunkirk. It was so well filmed that it didn't need to show the horrifying injuries and violence to have a profound impact. During bombing scenes, the bodies who didn't get up off the beach afterwards showed the grim reality of the situation. You see people drown, you see medical ships sunk, you see civilian boats torpedoed. People get left behind. Really does a fine job showing that there is no 'winners' in a war. Everybody suffers and sacrifices.
Very little dialogue is used. No fluffy uplifting speeches or wistful monologues of people dreaming of their loved ones. A lot of the 'acting' is done by the facial expressions and the situation the characters find themselves in. They did terror, claustrophobia, desperation, hope so well without it needing to ever really be said. The movie didn't glorify war either. There's almost no humour as everything is so dire and desperate. They show some simmering tensions between French and British soldiers where one is almost shot as the group become so animalistic and desperate.
You never see the faces of 'the enemy' (liked how they didn't say Nazi Germany at the start). Really adds to the general fear you feel that the allied soldiers probably felt as they were trapped. They knew the enemy was there but couldn't see them. It would have been easy to say evil things about the Nazi's to get that point across to the audience but the film didn't really touch on the politics of war. It just showed the plights of people caught up in the events and I think that made it more powerful IMO.
Plot is basically a few different arcs (focusing on the protagonists involved on the land/beach, sea and air so you get really insightful perspectives from everyone involved). Plus they are all happening at different types and eventually overlap with each other at various points in the movie (so you can see the same event from 2 different POVs). Was really well done IMO. My particular favourite scenes were the air sequences - as a bit of a military history fan, loved the dog fighting sequences - you get to feel the nausea the pilots probably felt as they are weaving, diving, dodging through the air). That isn't to say the other sequences are not amazing though. Each POV really put you in the shoes of the people involved. Was total immersion.
The music and the score were fantastic - expected nothing less of Hans Zimmer though. The movie is tense and full of suspense the whole way through. Really captures the fear and anxiety of the young soldiers, pilots and civilians caught up in the events. And the music accentuates that. It's heart pounding, visceral, adrenaline inducing. I normally finish my popcorn half way through a movie but I barely touched it last night as there was no respite. The sounds are so well done too. Every gunshot caused me and a lot of others to duck or jerk as they are basically jump scares that help build the suspense. The movie was only about an hour and a half I think but it grabs you straight from the first scene until the last.
Overall, can't recommend it high enough. If you love Nolan's work, historical films or just want to experience something that gets your emotions going at 110%, this is a definite watch.
P.S got a free shirt
Very little dialogue is used. No fluffy uplifting speeches or wistful monologues of people dreaming of their loved ones. A lot of the 'acting' is done by the facial expressions and the situation the characters find themselves in. They did terror, claustrophobia, desperation, hope so well without it needing to ever really be said. The movie didn't glorify war either. There's almost no humour as everything is so dire and desperate. They show some simmering tensions between French and British soldiers where one is almost shot as the group become so animalistic and desperate.
You never see the faces of 'the enemy' (liked how they didn't say Nazi Germany at the start). Really adds to the general fear you feel that the allied soldiers probably felt as they were trapped. They knew the enemy was there but couldn't see them. It would have been easy to say evil things about the Nazi's to get that point across to the audience but the film didn't really touch on the politics of war. It just showed the plights of people caught up in the events and I think that made it more powerful IMO.
Plot is basically a few different arcs (focusing on the protagonists involved on the land/beach, sea and air so you get really insightful perspectives from everyone involved). Plus they are all happening at different types and eventually overlap with each other at various points in the movie (so you can see the same event from 2 different POVs). Was really well done IMO. My particular favourite scenes were the air sequences - as a bit of a military history fan, loved the dog fighting sequences - you get to feel the nausea the pilots probably felt as they are weaving, diving, dodging through the air). That isn't to say the other sequences are not amazing though. Each POV really put you in the shoes of the people involved. Was total immersion.
The music and the score were fantastic - expected nothing less of Hans Zimmer though. The movie is tense and full of suspense the whole way through. Really captures the fear and anxiety of the young soldiers, pilots and civilians caught up in the events. And the music accentuates that. It's heart pounding, visceral, adrenaline inducing. I normally finish my popcorn half way through a movie but I barely touched it last night as there was no respite. The sounds are so well done too. Every gunshot caused me and a lot of others to duck or jerk as they are basically jump scares that help build the suspense. The movie was only about an hour and a half I think but it grabs you straight from the first scene until the last.
Overall, can't recommend it high enough. If you love Nolan's work, historical films or just want to experience something that gets your emotions going at 110%, this is a definite watch.
P.S got a free shirt
Nolan has quite the filmography. Went back to Highpoint Imax today. Haven't been there since Interstellar which was an incredible cinema experience. So once again went to what I know and the venue delivered with everything good again 
This was compelling from start to finish.
On the acting front you can't go wrong having a few of the best British actors of this generation. Rylance, Brannagh and Hardy are great. Then you have a host of interesting roles and performances. The cinematography and look of the film is ridiculously good. From the onset with the weaving in and out of coastal French towns to the vast landscapes depicted it is brilliant.
The most impressive aspect of the story is some of the dogfights and aerial shots of the planes. Tom Hardy just keeps winning with the roles he's in. He is perfect for this and his scenes carry such a presence without him saying much. I wish they'd remake Battle of Britain with him in it now!
My only fault with the film is that in certain instances I felt that there was too much switching from one storyline to the next without maximising certain sequences.
Overall a must to see at the cinema. High marks.
On the acting front you can't go wrong having a few of the best British actors of this generation. Rylance, Brannagh and Hardy are great. Then you have a host of interesting roles and performances. The cinematography and look of the film is ridiculously good. From the onset with the weaving in and out of coastal French towns to the vast landscapes depicted it is brilliant.
The most impressive aspect of the story is some of the dogfights and aerial shots of the planes. Tom Hardy just keeps winning with the roles he's in. He is perfect for this and his scenes carry such a presence without him saying much. I wish they'd remake Battle of Britain with him in it now!
My only fault with the film is that in certain instances I felt that there was too much switching from one storyline to the next without maximising certain sequences.
Overall a must to see at the cinema. High marks.
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It feels like Christopher Nolan right now is Arnold Schwarzenegger in his prime. An absolute ripped physique with flowing symmetry and 20+ inch guns.
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Nolan hasn't made a bad film, the trailer looked amazing and the reviews are great. Will see.
Pleasantly surprised at the running time. Current trend seems to be longer must be better, which is not the case.
Pleasantly surprised at the running time. Current trend seems to be longer must be better, which is not the case.
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Saw it today in IMAX, which was simply magnificent.
Glorious film. Nolan is a genius, and has proven it again. Paired with Zimmer, he's almost unstoppable.
This was something else. A sight to behold from the opening scene to the end.
The sight of a torpedo slicing through the dark water, in the black of night, was truly frightening. Just one example of countless moments that made me think "holy shit".
The visuals are glorious, acting first class, and the score is as epic as you'd expect from Zimmer.
5/5. One of the greatest movies I've seen.
It's an event really. Not a film. An event.
Glorious film. Nolan is a genius, and has proven it again. Paired with Zimmer, he's almost unstoppable.
This was something else. A sight to behold from the opening scene to the end.
The sight of a torpedo slicing through the dark water, in the black of night, was truly frightening. Just one example of countless moments that made me think "holy shit".
The visuals are glorious, acting first class, and the score is as epic as you'd expect from Zimmer.
5/5. One of the greatest movies I've seen.
It's an event really. Not a film. An event.
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Nolan finally made a masterpiece. He's shown glimpses but he's stripped himself enough bare enough to actually make the full distance for once. It's an exhilarating and impressive piece of filmmaking. Watching this was like watching There Will Be Blood for the first and seeing how far PTA had come and how much he'd grown in confidence.
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Loved Interstellar but the third act stopped it from being greatness. Nice to read positive comments.
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You mean English
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Memento is a masterpiece. A couple of others run close.
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Was awesome
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My only criticism with the film is that Tom Hardy's character didn't sound like Bane through the mask.
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There were scenes in this film that made me feel really tense.
Movie of the year so far.
Movie of the year so far.
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Just watched it - driving home I kept feeling like I was in the cockpit of a Spitfire.
Absolutely amazing film.
Absolutely amazing film.
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Pffft, got nothing ok Gallipoli.
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Memento and The Prestige were high school faves of mine. Haven't been blown away since, drifted away from him from The Dark Knight on, but (with the exception of Interstellar) his big budget spectacles have generally been well worth price of admission.
I might try and save Dunkirk for a war double bill with War of the Planet of the Apes the following week.
I might try and save Dunkirk for a war double bill with War of the Planet of the Apes the following week.
The Dark Knight is still the best movie I've ever seen.
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Very good , only signifiigant quibble would be Fionn Whitehead..
Oh yeah also the people sitting next to me who thought it would be good idea to bring 8-9 year old kid..
Oh yeah also the people sitting next to me who thought it would be good idea to bring 8-9 year old kid..
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Unreal. Just unreal.
It's the first historical film where I've felt I didn't know what was going to happen despite knowing what was going to happen. The final link point, where Hardy is running out of fuel attacking the bomber, Styles and Whitehead are in the water and Rylance and his son are grabbing the survivors is pure cinematic genius. You know survivors are going to get back. You know that Dunkirk was an astonishing success in the face of disaster. But there, in that moment, you don't know what's going to happen. Will the oil slick get the pleasure cruiser? Will Whitehead come up for air in time? Will Hardy get back to England on his near-empty tanks or land in France and get on a boat himself?
Not to mention how you feel. When you're on the pier, looking up, seeing the Stukas...you feel that terror. You see the looks on the faces of the men and you feel that same look, hearing that roar. The first attack on the Mole I felt, but that's also because I knew what was coming - when you watch footage like this:
and then compare it to Dunkirk and sitting under them you understand why that sense of terror existed.
An absolute cinematographic and storytelling masterpiece, and top three overall. The best movie I've seen in a cinema as well.
If it doesn't win Best Picture/Best Director/Best Cinematography there's something wrong with the Academy.
Not to mention how you feel. When you're on the pier, looking up, seeing the Stukas...you feel that terror. You see the looks on the faces of the men and you feel that same look, hearing that roar. The first attack on the Mole I felt, but that's also because I knew what was coming - when you watch footage like this:
and then compare it to Dunkirk and sitting under them you understand why that sense of terror existed.
An absolute cinematographic and storytelling masterpiece, and top three overall. The best movie I've seen in a cinema as well.
If it doesn't win Best Picture/Best Director/Best Cinematography there's something wrong with the Academy.
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Third act makes this.
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Loved this movie, the intense sound track just built and built the suspense...was funny to look around the cinema
at all the people with hands to their faces with the look of concern.
For me The Channel was the star, the way Nolan portrayed the space between the 2 continents and the longing to get there was brilliant...
The Flight scenes and the spacial atmospheric dog fighting whilst in the cockpit of that Spitfire, the silence when needed during reflective times...just WOW!!!
5/5 Its a must see for Nolan fans...masterpiece
at all the people with hands to their faces with the look of concern.
For me The Channel was the star, the way Nolan portrayed the space between the 2 continents and the longing to get there was brilliant...
The Flight scenes and the spacial atmospheric dog fighting whilst in the cockpit of that Spitfire, the silence when needed during reflective times...just WOW!!!
5/5 Its a must see for Nolan fans...masterpiece
