Agree on "The Lighthorsemen". One of the greats. I don't agree with the comment that other flicks tell you how to think or feel. In "Saving Private Ryan" for instance, you get a perspective from many points of view as to the motivation for the mission. The beach landing was horrific, almost shocking in it's brutality and violence.
As for "Dunkirk", had it been advertised as an intimate look into the experiences of a few who were there, it would have been less of a disappointment. Jumping back and forth to these vignettes made it difficult to follow and seemed interminable.
As for the small boats , there were HUNDREDS of them that crossed the channel - tugs, ferries, yachts, sailing vessels, fishing boats, etc. In the movie they showed a pitiful handful of pleasure craft out for a day trip.
I'm still chuckling over the burning Spitfire with no engine and it's incredible dead stick flight during which it shot down a HE 111. The pilot deserved a DSO at least for that feat.