It's not an action war movie, it's a drama/suspense war movie.

Visually stunning; the cinematography is on another level. The choice to hide cuts to make it look like one long, almost unending take is brilliant. The camera is constantly on the protagonists, giving a sense of poignancy to their journey. I honestly don't know how much of it was visual effect, but the scenarios were very well designed. That trek in no man's land might be one of my favorite sequences ever. So tense, so gruesome, so real. And that scene at night in the abandoned town: that alone justifies the Best Cinematography award "1917" won. Just brilliant.

The soundtrack was great: never over imposing, but present with subtle notes to increase the immersion. Also great sound design, from the squelching of the boots in the mud to the sound of the rifles. I wish I had seen the film in a nice movie theater instead of home.

The story could be a hit or miss. I can see how somebody could find "dull" for a lack of a better word, but to me it felt just right. Only two small things I didn't like. First, the completely lack of aim of the german soldiers (come on, talk about plot armour). Second, the theme of backstabbers germans: it didn't feel right to me, especially the pilot.

I liked the overarching theme of the movie: futility. [spoiler]The colonel receives the message and he stops the attack, but he knows nothing really has changed. The protagonist ends the story in the same way he started: against a tree.[/spoiler]

Definitely a must watch, even if just for the visual aspect of it. 8.5/10