Was trying to aviod till I read the book, but a books a book a films a film apples and oranges and all that. Was expecting to be more irritated because of the presence of Keira Knightley, who's strange mouth teethy thing always distracts me in her movies. James McAvoy who's been anointed the chosen British actor of the period (expect a slew of McAvoy movies ala Colin Farrell and Jude Law a couple of years ago until everyone gets sick of his face. He is a better actor then those two so will be a shame when he's not flavour of the month anymore. The film was enjoyable without being spectacular, you would have to be a piss poor film maker to make a mess of Ian McEwan's celebrated novel. All the incredients are there for a top "British oscar contender". Posh people in Country estates, class struggle, and ofcourse the WAR! It seemed a film that should have been intimate and "small" trying to be an epic oscar contender. This was most obvious in the dunkirk scene which seemed cliched and bloated rather then epic. At it's heart it explores the very intertresting subject of perceptions, mistakes, Penance and ofcourse atonment, more of this and less oscar baiting would have made this a better film.