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I agree... A lot of people miss the point...
Since were talking in generational generalities, the Millennials won't appreciate the themes of the movie, but it's not a Boomers war movie either, because it doesn't have the narcissism of most of Boomer prestige and war movies... It has a clear Gen X sensibility to it, the characters are nameless, the directing approach is detached, yet the filmmaking gives us a sense of being there, of mood and atmosphere...
There is not nerdy, meta and knowingly self referencial plot twists and dialogue for millenials... Also, it doesn't have the egotistical, soldiers talking about their feelings and sharing backstories that Boomers respond to, as if the war is about themselves, rather than there being even greater stakes than the 300,000 men and boys on the beach, the unseen millions at home... And yes, the indpendence and soveriegnty of the nation..
It's amusing... I love how critics and audiences have misread or underappreciated this movie... It's like they're either too literal minded to appreciate what is in front of them cinematically, or it isn't enough about them... Cowardice, duty, heroism, expediency, comradery and individuality and the will to survive as well as to be sacrificed are explored visually and sonicly in this movie... Literal minded critics and audiences are not able to appreciate this.... Maybe it's a diet of video games, TV shows and superhero movies that clouds their ability to engagge with these real themes, handled cinematically...
A common criticism is that the movie "didn't make 'me' feel for for any of the characters"... The idea that the audience supplies their own sense of empathy to fellow human beings doesn't even occur to them...
Walking out of the theatre having seen Dunkirk, we can't help but feel in touch with that generation of men, that the almost 80 years of distence has been bridged somewhat and can't help but wonder about our own bonds with our fellow citizens today and our nations...