Dunkirk Blu-ray Review

By: Lynn Barker

At Dunkirk, France during World War II, allied forces were trapped on the beach being bombed by air and on land and sea. Their only chance at escape were some very brave British civilians who took everything that could float and came to rescue them. Young soldier Alex (popular music artist Harry Styles) and his new best buds have to fight to survive against horrible odds.

Alex (Harry Styles) and friends wait for rescueCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Trapped

Early in World War II, young Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) is in Dunkirk being shot at by German troops. He escapes to the beach only to find thousands of trapped soldiers waiting for sea rescue. The Germans are bombing them and the ships trying to rescue them. Where is the Air Force? Meanwhile naval Commander Bolton (Kenneth Branagh) is told that the French can barely hold the Germans back.

Tommy (Fionn Whitehead) runs from the German troopsCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

A hospital ship is sunk. Tommy and friend pretend to have been on it and they are rescued along with another soldier Alex (Harry Styles) but the rescue ship is hit by a torpedo and they are sunk too! They have to tread water covered with oil. Tiny rescue rowboats can’t let anyone else on. They are full. The guys are finally picked up and taken back to the beach…where they started!

The young soldiers approach the beached boatCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Alex and group ends up hiding inside a small, beached fishing boat hoping the tide will come in and float it but somebody starts using the boat for target practice, shooting holes that won’t let it stay afloat with so many people onboard. Water starts coming in. The guys are trapped below and start to argue. Alex thinks one of them might be a German spy and wants to throw him out. The tide comes in and the boat is pulled to sea but is sinking. Who lives? Who dies?

Soldiers desperate for rescueCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Air Force

Collins (Jack Lowdon) and Farrier (Tom Hardy of Mad Max: Fury Road and The Dark Knight Rises) are brave Spitfire pilots firing at German planes that are bombing rescue ships and soldiers on the beach. Farrier’s gas tank gage is shot out so he’s flying without knowing how long he can stay in the air. Collins is shot down but his plane floats….for now. Farrier continues to down German bombers and fighter planes while he runs out of fuel. Can he glide to safety? Will he survive?

Tom Hardy as pilot FarrierCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Little Ships to the Rescue

When the military, whose many ships are tied up protecting Britain, requests civilian ships to rescue over 400,000 stranded soldiers, Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance) and son Peter (Tom Glynn-Carney) volunteer their small yacht. Along on the mission is 17-year-old schoolboy friend George (Barry Keoghan). On the way to Dunkirk, they rescue a lone, freaked out sailor (Cillian Murphy) from a fast-sinking ship who doesn’t want to go back to Dunkirk. He fights to turn the boat around and accidentally knocks George down. He hits his head badly. Will he live? Peter is able to rescue downed pilot Collins and a whole flotilla of civilian yachts, fishing boats and anything that floats arrives to join the rescue. Will these civilian rescuers make it back home?

Allied planes escort Dawson's rescue yachtCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Special Extra Features

This film was shot with special large-format camera equipment and with unique methods devised and executed by director Christopher Noland. The extras mostly tell us how this was done making for a great, “How’d they do that” collection. The actual events on which the film is based with support of modern-day Dunkirk residents are explored as well.

• Creation: Revisiting the Miracle, Dunkerque, Expanding the Frame, The In-Camera Approach.
• Land: Rebuilding the Mole, The Army On the Beach, Uniform Approach.
• Air: Taking to the Air, Inside the Cockpit
• Sea: Assembling the Naval Fleet, Launching the Moonstone, Taking to the Sea, Sinking the Ships, The Little Ships
• Conclusion: Turning up the Tension, The Dunkirk Spirit 

Helpless Naval Commander (Kenneth Branagh)Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Wrapping Up

Dunkirk presents great storytelling based on unbelievably real events. The movie is beautifully “you are there” shot and hauntingly-acted. This includes heartthrob singer Harry Styles who does a great job.

On a small rescue boatCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Dunkirk renews your faith in your fellow man and that’s good for the holiday season. It’s the most personal, edge-of-your-seat war film ever or certainly since Private Ryan. Talented Director/Writer Christopher Nolan (The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception etc.) does it again.

Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance)Courtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Extras mostly concentrate on the amazing technical making of the film. We could have used some extensive actor interviews and a little lightening up with a few outtakes and goofs but what you get is very interesting especially to young people who want to grow up to be filmmakers. Overall we go four stars on this home entertainment package. 

Dunkirk Blu-ray Rating:

Dunkirk Blu-rayCourtesy of Warner Bros. Entertainment

Dunkirk is out to buy December 19^th!

Have Your Say

Are you into inspiring, epic films? Do you one day want to be a filmmaker? Were you aware of the story of Dunkirk? Comment below.