Academy Award winning director Sam Mendes, best known for his additions to the James Bond Franchise with "Skyfall" and "Spectre" has changed the idea of visual storytelling when it comes to his films. Both "Skyfall" and "Spectre" are not only some of the best Bond films, but also visually stunning it all landscapes of the film and tell intriguing stories about the character we love so much that puts us right on the edge of our seats while hitting every form of emotion. Ideally on paper, an original historical fiction set in World War I should feel the same way when watching the film, however throughout the film it never manages to find that note to emotionally hit us all. The story puts us in the beginning of World War I in April of 1917 with two very young British soldiers in the British trenches, called upon by their General, played by Colin Firth, to deliver a message to their Colonel, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, by crossing the No Man's Land German Trenches to reach the other line of British soldiers to call off a scheduled attack would cost the lives of thousands of soldiers and would ultimately lead to disaster. Throughout the mission, the two young soldiers played by George MacKay and Dean-Charles Chapman encounter allies, enemies, traps, and numerous surprises along the way that range from happy to upsetting for what the two never thought they would encounter in their mission. This is most of the plot I can say without spoiling the film, the two experience this life-changing adventure that changes the chorus of their lives and the chorus of the war. Two pros that come out of this film are from the acting and cinematography. Throughout all the performances from the two soldiers to Firth and Cumberbatch, even in their low amount of screen time they manage to act beautifully in the time of need as the clock ticks. Cumberbatch especially in his one scene provides us with the only moment of being on the edge of your seat when arguing about the plan the British should take to help them win the war. Next the cinematography, which shot by Mendes long time partner and one of the greatest Cinematographers of all time, Academy Award Winner Roger Deakins, who deserved every award for this film. The film is shot in order to look like one continuous take, meaning their are no cuts in the film. This is able to give the audience a more personal feel to the film as we constantly are in the footsteps of the two soldiers and feel as if we are apart of their journey to help the war. With all this being said, we come to the cons of the film which revolves around the story itself. Throughout the journey I feel as if we never truly feel the emotions of the character, yes the acting was good, but we never truly feel we apart of the journey and are never on the edge of the seat. The action does not truly pull us into the film and soon the sequences are over it feels more rushed, and found myself bored at moments. Comparing this to the latest World War II film, "Dunkirk", which provided audiences with aspects of war that are intense, 1917 drags on a journey that reaches its end goal in a blink and you will miss moment. 1917, while shot beautifully to show the true landscape, misses moments of the actions that I wish were able to see on camera to give us the push and motivation needed, not living up to the expectation.
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