“A beginning is a very delicate time. Know then that it is the year 10,191. The Known Universe is ruled by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, my father. … That is, travel to any part of universe without moving.”

It has been some weeks now that I have been wondering: where did all the epic movies go? Star Wars, Gladiator, Braveheart, Ben-hur. It’s been a while since we saw a movie that truly humbles the audience and creates a sense of scale beyond what we consider real. Up to the point that Dune started, I was still thinking that. No longer.  #no-spoilers-review

Two hours and thirty five minutes of unstoppable awe, wonder and fascination: Dune was more than I could ever hope for.

The Beginning of an Epic Storyline

I’m sure it will not surprise you to know that the 6 books of father, Frank Herbert and partly the other 11 written from Brian the Son, cannot fit in a single movie. Dune is the first part of an epic story which I expect it will take at least 3 – maybe even 4 – movies to complete. The movie starts the story by giving some really good worldbuilding and character baseline, from just before the storyline of the original Dune (1965) begins.

The story told is slightly different from the books, but stays true to the original line. And it certainly elevates the setting a whole new level!

“He who controls the spice, controls the universe”

There is nothing small about Dune 2021

The worms, the characters, the buildings, and the spaceships are absolutely effing massive. Titans colliding, massive armies clashing. The cinematography of Greig Fraser, the directing of Denis Villeneuve and of course the MIND BLOWING music of Hans Zimmer, makes you dive deep into the bright, dark, massive, explosive, dynamic world and get lost in it.

My suggestion is, stay as far back from the screen as possible to take it all in. And watch the movie on a cinema with DOLBY ATMOS (or something similar) if you can, or you will be missing out on possibly on the second most important element of this movie, its grandiose environmental immersion.

Exceptional worldbuilding delivered excellently

The world of Dune has been worked again and again for over 60 years now. But it’s one thing to write about it, and another to bring it to the silver screen.

Now, before you ATTACK, David Lynch’s original cinematic adaptation of Dune (1984) is also an amazing experience, but as with all things Lynch, the focus is on the characters and a wee-bit of the psychedelia of the times.

Having said that, I am sure that if Frank Herbert had seen this new version, he’d have cried tears of joy. Modern cinematic effects have given the power to Villeneuve and his crew to create something truly wondrous.

House Atreides Ornithopter – The most agile flying in the universe, displaying their AIR POWER

Dune 2021 is attention to detail made art

Every single building, item, piece clothing, weapon and technology showed has a story to tell. This is what truly great worldbuilding is about, telling a story one step at time by exposing the word the reader or our players are exploring by showing not telling.

Dune Release date

Dune releases in the US on the 22nd of October and in the UK on the 21st.

I know it that HBO MAX subscribers can see on the comfort of their couch, but honestly, unless you have a TRULY kickass TV and Audio set, go to the cinema. This is one of those movies created to be seen large and loud!

Score

World Anvil 9/10 Anvils

IMDB 8.4

Rotten Tomatoes 89%

Meta Critic 75


I really hope I gave you an idea of what you should expect from Dune and that you have enjoyed this review.

Please let me know in the comments below. Would you like to see more movies series review from me?