This really didn't do anything to change the fact that I've never been a big fan of war films, but wow, was it effective in conveying how futile war is. The movie repeatedly lets us in on the hope that our protagonists are holding onto and makes us think that a happy conclusion is just around the corner, but much like war, it murders that hope (and those individuals) at every step.

In terms of production values, this movie is superb. It features some of the year's finest cinematography, editing, sound, production design, and score. The direction in this is likewise flawless, and I'm delighted it's receiving the praise it deserves.