Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet's exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.
Thirty-seven years later and we have finally received a remake of David Lynch's infamous Dune, based on the novel of the same name. In this adaptation, Denis Villeneuve takes a stab at it and needless to say, it is absolutely fantastic.
Dune is an extremely intricate film that does not rely on heavy action sequences to tell the story. By surprise, it is a deep character analysis on classicism, identity, and wealth. This is the first installment in the two-part series so be prepared for a slow burn as the film takes it time introducing you to each entity involved in this world. However, not at any point does this film become dull. It is a highly tense adventure that lures you in with breathtaking visuals and impeccable performances.
For as long as I can remember, Denis Villeneuve has been one of my favorite directors. Since 2013's Prisoners, he constantly proves that world building and realism is his specialty. Despite the heavy use of CGI, this film feels incredibly real. Every single shot is masterful. This film truly has some of the most beautiful cinematography I have ever seen in my life. Science fiction can be clunky and overdone at times, but that is not the case here. Denis uses the camera to his advantage to make the audience feel claustrophobic in this sandy picture that continues to dig until all hell breaks loose. Similar to films such as Interstellar, and Blade Runner 2049, if you think you have seen anything like this before, think again.
Timothée Chalamet is riveting. He is one of the most popular actors in the world right now and each film he touches validates this point. The young man has a wide range and charm that demands attention. Coupled with Zendaya, who does not appear as much as fans anticipated, are scene stealers. Oscar Issac and Rebecca Ferguson are also stand outs here. Denis has a gift when directing talent we are familiar with. We forget their fame and are instantly immersed in their characters, which is highly refreshing.
The long awaited score by Hans Zimmer also does not disappoint. I am so glad he chose this film instead of Tenet because he knocks it out the park. The music elevates the visuals like not other and in the right theater, your seat will be buzzing throughout.
In all, Dune is an ambitious, yet strong film that sci-fi lovers and cinephiles are going to eat alive. As it releases on HBO Max, I highly suggest seeing it in IMAX. You will not regret it.
