From a troubled film to a forgotten miniseries, Frank Herbert’s “Dune” has grown infamously complicated to translate from page to screen. With a deep lore and expansive sci-fi world to depict, it once seemed impossible to adapt the novel without sacrificing its engaging qualities or important details. 

Helmed by visionary director Denis Villeneuve (“Blade Runner 2049”), the most recent “Dune” adaptation ignores the reputation established by its predecessors, making for a bold, epic cinematic experience which does its source material proper justice. Despite slight narrative hiccups, the film’s engrossing visuals, impressive performances and immersive sound design command viewers’ attention throughout its entirety.

Given the novel’s density and abundance of detail, the film makes an educated decision by opting to only cover half of the story. This way, it has more time to hone in on finer details, rather than sacrificing important context. However, the book lacks any good cut off points. Thus, the film ends at a point which, though ultimately satisfactory, may bother viewers because of its abrupt execution.

Despite taking some creative liberties, “Dune” remains mostly faithful to the novel. Though small omissions are made from the plot, most do not have a major impact on its progression or dramatic elements. However, those who have read the book may notice the character Thufir Hawat (Stephen McKinley Henderson, “Lady Bird”) is reduced to a much smaller role in the film. 

The film boasts a perfect cast. Featuring big names such as Timothée Chalamet (“Little Women”) as protagonist Paul Atreides, Oscar Isaac (“The Addams Family 2”) as Duke Leto Atreides and Josh Brolin (“Avengers: Endgame”) as weapons master Gurney Halleck, each actor perfectly embodies their character’s personality and physical appearance. Despite there being bigger roles in the film, Jason Momoa (“Sweet Girl”) makes the best out of his limited screen time as swordmaster Duncan Idaho, delivering a charming, heartfelt performance which stands as the film’s best.

Tasked with bringing the world of “Dune” to life, Villeneuve succeeds in fully immersing viewers into the places and environments depicted. Through the use of distinct color palettes, crisp sound design and a complex score sampling from different music styles and cultures, the film presents distinct planets and landscapes which draw viewers in with their detail. This especially applies to scenes featuring the desert planet Arrakis. With a fire-like orange tint falling over each shot, the scorching, brutal nature of the planet is perfectly conveyed.

Another high point of the film is its score. Arranged by Hans Zimmer (“No Time to Die”), the music makes great use out of the composer’s style, mixing traditional and electronic music to generate a futuristic atmosphere. Embracing the fictional cultures and environments which the film depicts, parts of the score find Zimmer fusing different international music styles in order to create new sounds one could associate with otherworldly groups.

With hopes for a sequel to pick up where the film left off, “Dune” makes for a breathtaking, attention-grabbing viewing experience which pleads to be viewed in a movie theater. Assembling a fantastic cast, stellar visuals and captivating sound, everything about the film feels as though it lept straight from the novel’s pages.

Image from Warner Bros. Pictures  via YouTube