Image by Warner Bros via Wikimedia Commons

Written by Sylvia Treki and Zoe Ng

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune is a calculated mashup of intense CGI, all types of noise, and the complicated pretext of Frank Herbert’s novel, Dune. Packed with stunning visuals from beginning to end, and a talented cast from Timothée Chalamet playing a leading role with supporting actors Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, and Jason Momoa, there is no reason not to see Dune in theatres before time runs out.  

The movie does run long and may be confusing to the blind watcher. As a guide, think of Dune as multiple layers of political tension, religion, and ecology, with most characters acting out of self interest or in prevention of an all encompassing war. Also consider the imperial nature of Dune; not one character, or house, is entirely righteous because all are acting out of greed or self preservation in one way or another. 

For the readers of Frank Herbert’s Dune, who may be wondering how Villeneuve’s movie adaption compares to the book, you will not be disappointed. Villeneuve takes the most awe inspiring parts of Dune and turns them into reality, on a massive scale. Scenes of Arrakis, Salusa Secondus, and the violence that occurs on each planet feels like nearly unimaginable but perfect physical recreations of the events of the novel. 

For watchers of David Lynch’s 1984 Dune rendition think of Denis Villeneuve’s version as a successful redemption. The storyline and setting feel much more developed and original than its predecessor.

So if you’re still deciding whether you should watch Dune, consider this. If you’re looking for a complex, but action packed storyline and are willing to sit through two and half hours of film, this may be for you. The main catch with Dune is its length and complexity, it may, understandably, be too long and confusing for some viewers.