Dunkirk Review: 8 Ups & 2 Downs

1. The PG-13 Rating Isn't An Issue

If there's any director who could swing an R-rated, $150 million war movie, it's surely Christopher Nolan, but he surprisingly decided to shoot for a PG-13 instead, and while this was met with a lot of pre-release skepticism, it actually works pretty well for the most part.

Yes, the absence of blood is peculiar when you think about it in retrospect, but honestly, the in-the-moment action is so gripping that you'll probably not even think about it.

Nolan doesn't let up on the grimness all the same, cleverly using suspense and implication to paint an utterly horrifying depiction of war that likely won't escape your mind anytime soon.

Sure, it's not Saving Private Ryan, but trying to out-Spielberg Spielberg in that regard is a fool's errand, and Nolan was clearly more interested in making a suspense piece rather than an ultra-realistic gorefest. The movie doesn't miss blood for the most part, and that's a major testament to Nolan's directorial skill.

Now watch our video review...

What did you think of Dunkirk? Is it Christopher Nolan's true masterpiece or not? Shout it out in the comments!