Image provided by Warner Bros
At long last, director Denis Villeneuve's (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) highly anticipated epic Dune adapted from the 1965 science-fiction novel arrives in theaters this weekend for audiences everywhere to finally get a chance to see if this is truly "the next Lord of The Rings." Many have reservations about the film but for good reason. For years, Dune has been the passion project of many filmmakers who have wanted to bring the popular science fiction novel to the big screen but have failed time and time again. Where many have failed, Denis Villeneuve has taken the challenge head on with a cast full of A-listers and delivered a visually stunning & immaculate science fiction adventure. The synopsis of the film is as follows:
"In the far future of humanity, Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Issac) accepts the stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, the only source of the most valuable substance in the universe, "spice", a drug that extends human life, provides superhuman levels of thought, and makes faster-than-light travel practical. Though Leto knows the opportunity is an intricate trap set by his rival the Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgard), he takes his concubine Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), young son and heir Paul (Timothee Chalamet), and most trusted advisors to Arrakis."
I have a lot to say about the film, but to begin with Dune is essentially Game of Thrones in space and I loved it. Denis Villeneuve does an incredible job at creating tension between the main house of the film "House Atreides" and their rivals the Harkonnen's. The characters in the film are so well written and the cast does a terrific job with their roles that none fall short. The highlight for me however, was Jason Momoa, who plays the skillful warrior Duncan Idaho. The action scenes are masterfully choreographed and Momoa shines in these.
On a technical aspect, Dune is one of the most visually stunning films I have ever seen. The design of each planet is incredibly well done and it's hard to believe most of it is green screen or CGI. Another positive is Hans Zimmer (The Dark Knight, Interstellar) who is the man behind the score for the film and as such, he does a stellar job at creating something new and unique that brings the movie to life.
No film is perfect, and Dune does have some glaring issues. For one, the beginning of the film lets the audience know this is "Part 1" of what I perceive to be a two part film. The movie is a slow burn and clocking in at over two & a half hours, the film can drag at moments especially when it covers only half the story. The movie also begins with a heavy exposition dump and then goes the rest of the film with little to no exposition given. Not everything needs to be explained and much is left to the audiences interpretation, but at the end of the film, a few things stood out that left me confused & frustrated.
With that said, Dune lived up to my expectation and I highly recommend seeing this visual masterpiece. A film with such a massive scope and jaw-dropping visuals deserves to be seen on the biggest screen possible.
Grade: A
Dune is in theaters everywhere October 22