Where to watch Operation Dunkirk
1/2 Star
The title Operation Dunkirk may suggest this movie is about the Dunkirk evacuation (Operation Dynamo), but this is an Asylum production, so of course, it has nothing to do with Dunkirk. As far as I can tell the based on true events claim goes about as far as World War II was an actual event in which this movie takes place. Clearly, this wasn’t seen as an important production for Asylum and is nothing more than their usual quick and cheap output with sole purpose of capitalizing on a name that is similar to a more expensive Hollywood flick.
In Operation Dunkirk several British soldiers must make their way through Nazi-infested territory to retrieve an algorithm that may be key to winning the war. I won’t bore you with any specifics from the story, as they really have no importance aside from taking up screen time. The overall through-line of the plot is set up nicely and moves quickly enough, but the biggest issue plaguing this movie is how cheap it is. From the overall look, down to dialogue and action choreography, the film screams no budget. The Asylum have surmounted the obstacles of b film-making in the past, and when they do you’re in for a pleasant surprise. But that’s not the case here. Much of the film’s imagery is blown-out and framing slightly off giving a very undeniable video looking effect. Battlefield engagements often look like home movie footage from someone’s World War II re-enactment group. In other words, there’s nothing cinematic about this, which is not what you want to see from a war movie. I appreciate them going out and getting real tanks and trucks, but the digital effects are laughably bad (actually most of this movie is so bad you won’t even be laughing), and the practical vehicles aren’t used enough.
Scenes, in general, have little weight to them, which leaves you uncaring and disengaged. The opening Nazi torture scene should be frightening at the least, instead, I was bored from the get-go. The characters aren’t well established enough to connect with, which would be fine if the action wasn’t so drab and dull. Many of the scenes lean on a surprisingly well done musical score to add any sort of excitement or emotional content. Although a decent score can be found in most Asylum flicks due to their continued use of composer Chris Ridenhour. Other than the music this is a let down in every way possible.
If you’re a fan of action or drama based war movies don’t ruin your palette with this stinker.
Director: Nick Lyon
Stars: Ifan Meredith, Kimberley Hews, Darren Hill, Kyle Hotz
Weapons are like toys from chines shops. Resistence lady with full make up š
I couldt wached more then 16min.
Beyond bad. Historically inaccurate in most respects. No drama, no humor, no charm. The French army hardly resisted in 1940- it’s unlikely there was an actual resistance. If I was in a platoon with those English soldiers I would shoot them. If I was with the Germans I would make them stop eating Hamburgers.
The director clearly has no, life experience, directorial skill, or, any talents or gifts. Rich and stupid parents perhaps.
This is probably the most ludicrously inaccurate war film ever made. There are Sherman tanks in evidence during the retreat to Dunkirk – which happened two years before the first Sherman was built.
There’s a “colonel” wearing a Royal Marines cap-badge on a maroon airborne beret – and another chap actually wearing a Parachute Regiment cap badge, during events that happened before the regiment was even formed.
“British” troops wearing American pattern helmets are seen bouncing across coutry in Willys Jeeps – at least a year before the first Jeep entered service. They then rustle their way through a field of completely dry, ripe maize – stems over six feet high – in June.
Battle scenes are utterly confusing, since the “Germans” are wearing the same American pattern helmets and the same olive drab uniforms as their opponents and are using a bewildering variety of weapons. So are the “Brits” – among them a sten gun (1941), a Lee Enfield Number 4 Mark 1 rifle (1941), what looks like a Zulu Wars remnant, possibly a Martini Henry (pre-1918) and sundry hunting rifles.
The villainous SS officer sports a uniform bereft of epaulette badges of rank, and with the SS runes on his collar stitched on horizontally, not vertically.
This was all in the first ten minutes, at which point I’d had enough.
The accents were pure comedy. The obligatory French Resistance heroine’s hair was perfectly coiffed and she wore – in a battle zone – unsmudged eye shadow and immaculate mascara-ed eyelashes.
Possibly the worst war film ever cobbled together – displaying as much contempt for historical reality as it does for those unfortunate enough to find themselves watching it.
ššššš
Complete and utter stinker, all the uniforms, guns ( at least one is an airsoft gun ) and vehicles are wrong. The actors move like extras and not at all like soldiers. Avoid at all cost, watch Eastenders instead.
I love war films. My son gave me for Christmas this DVD. Actually I wanted de movie “Dunkirk” from Christopher Nolan, but he bought the wrong DVD. What a disappointment. I have never sean such a bad movie. Boring, unprofessional. The uniforms were wrong, the officer’s German was ridiculous. The soldiers could only say “Jawohl”. The military knowledge was completely missing. Every single scene seemed like a cheap copy of some other movie. I am surprised someone invested Money. How is this possible in the US. There are movies from Ukraine etc. in this quality, but the US?? For kindness I watched the DVD until the end. That was pretty difficult.
I wonder what the director and actors think of this movie…
disappointment
Sorry, you received this as a gift. The production had very little money and the producers were banking on people buying/watching this thinking they were going to see the Nolan film. I advise you to search out that film and stay away from B-movie imitators like this.
Worst movie ever! A cheap production, dodgy script and atrocious acting. Iām amazed Asylum were given money to make this utter piece of junk and I cannot believe I watched it!