This year, critically acclaimed director Denis Villeneuve did what he does best: taking on an ambitious project with an already-existing franchise. At the risk of making legions of fans angry if done wrong, he delivered a unique and modern classic.

Villenueve’s

Dune

is a visually stunning two-and-a-half-hour science fiction epic that attempts to adapt Frank Herbert’s novel of the same name, with a talented ensemble cast that consists of Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Javier Bardem and Jason Momoa — all of whom successfully bring their characters to life through their strong acting performances.

Villeneuve does a great job at simultaneously making the film accessible to viewers unfamiliar with the original novel while keeping it faithful to the source material’s plot, which is no easy task. Though the movie seems to be more preoccupied with laying the groundwork for a future sequel than advancing the plot at times, it is an extremely enjoyable stand-alone viewing in its own right. It will get you invested in a new universe that you will not mind returning to.

The movie is set thousands of years in the future within a feudalistic universe where various noble families exist under an emperor and divide control of different planets amongst themselves. Timothée Chalamet plays Paul Atreides, the son and heir to Duke Leto from House Atreides, who is played by Oscar Isaac.

The noble family is tasked with taking charge of Arrakis, a planet filled with deserts, giant worms, valuable spices and the mysterious Fremen people. Arrakis was previously under the control of the brutal House Harkonnen, a major rival of House Atreides and a crucial antagonist in the film. However, the film reveals that these dynamics are not as simple as they appear, and throws many challenges at the Atreides family throughout the story. Guiding young Paul are his father’s trusted advisers Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) and Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), as well as his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), who are all willing to help Paul explore his special abilities and reach his full potential as the future ruler.

The narrative is mostly told through the perspective of Paul as he encounters a host of characters in his journey across Arrakis, including Chani (Zendaya) and Stilgar (Javier Bardem), and slowly uncovers new truths about this strange world.

Of course, like any film, there are some cinematic choices that might be contested amongst audience members. The film’s pace can get a bit slow at times, and on occasion, there are sudden bursts of intense action that propel the plot forward without warning.

The film also relies heavily on exposition in an attempt to make the denser aspects of

Dune

easier to understand. However, while the pacing of the film might not be for everyone,

Dune

still provides an extremely admirable attempt to keep its audience engaged with its complex narrative.

Villeneuve achieves this engagement by providing plenty of moments of introspective dialogue that instills atmospheres of wonder and mystery, along with many exciting and visually stunning action scenes. The film has the best of both worlds without sacrificing one for the other.

Yet

Dune’s

greatest strength does not necessarily lie in its story or characters, but rather its gorgeous cinematography and accompanying score, the latter composed by the great Hans Zimmer. Both grandly construct the world of

Dune

through various combinations of visuals and sounds that advance the story and captivate audiences. Zimmer’s score is both hypnotizing and overwhelming, conveying to audiences that they should feel awestruck and intimidated by what Arrakis holds in store for them.

As for cinematography, much like what he did with his previous films

Blade Runner 2049

and

Arrival

, Villeneuve perfectly captures the film’s moods by shooting the strange environments surrounding his characters.

Shots of the vast Arrakis deserts and its various inhabitants inspire senses of wonder, yet simultaneously create an increasingly ominous atmosphere throughout the movie, indicating that in these vast landscapes, danger lies everywhere for the characters. The cinematography thus gives the audience the sheer grandeur of both

Dune’s

plot and universe, while remaining focused on Paul’s journey and how he sees the world around him.

Overall,

Dune

is an ambitious and incredible epic that is both appealing to fans of the novel and newcomers to the franchise. It is a must-watch movie that will certainly leave you craving for more sci-fi adventures.

Dune is currently in theatres everywhere.