SPOILERS DOWN THE PATH; THE DISCUSSION BELOW WILL NOT BE COMPREHENSIVE WITHOUT IT.
TREAD CAREFULLY. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
THIS MOTION PICTURE IS OFFICIALLY AN AFFILIATE OF THE FILMMAKING PARAGONS.
Post the mega magnum opus Blade Runner 2049, modern maestro Denis Villeneuve is back for his next big-budget adaptation of what was deemed as extremely difficult to portray on silver screens - Frank Herbert's Dune! These two visual masterpieces are testaments to the heights cinema can achieve! In this epic science fiction action drama, we follow Paul (Timothée Chalamet), the heir of House of Atreides; the House that's been assigned by the Emperor to replace the Harkonnens to rule planet Arrakis. It's a large isolated planet known for its desert, and its spices. But little does the rulers of Atreides know, they've been sent there to die by the Emperor, with a plan to annihilate all of them using the House of Harkonnen themselves.
Dune, as aforementioned is rich of lore and worldbuilding. But under the hands of an expert like Villeneuve, expositions flow smoothly and visually. Harvester excavating attempt before sandworm’s eventual engulfing of said machine, pain box validation, The Voice training, Dr. Yueh's (Chang Chen) betrayal which leads to a heart-stopping assault and murder involving Baron (Stellan Skarsgård) and Duke (Oscar Isaac), Paul and Lady Jessica's (Rebecca Ferguson) trafficking, Harkonnen's night ambush, worm territory treading, Hunter-Seeker drone trespass, Ornithopter's sandstorm escapade, mother-son sandworm chase and Duncan (Jason Momoa) against an army of Sardaukar and the finale champion fight will leave you hanging on the edge of your seats! Special mention to Stellan Skarsgård's Baron, who freezes your spine anytime he appears onscreen!
After Christopher Nolan, the only other filmmaker who’s able to marry CGI, digital photography and practical effects has to be Denis Villeneuve. If you've seen Blade Runner 2049, you know exactly what to expect! Although it had an additional visual advantage owing to legendary cinematographer Roger Deakins, Dune is no way a slouch in comparison! Be it the fly-shaped Ornithopter, heavy machinery on hot balloon transport, armours, Fremen suit, sandworm, spaceships, sword training with artificially-activated shield, costumes or every little set piece, the production design here matched with Greig Fraser's immaculate cinematography, Hans Zimmer electrifying score and the extremely sharp sound design makes Dune a once-in-a-lifetime human experience!