To the Dune and Back: A review of Dune, Denis Villeneuve’s film based off of Frank Herbert’s 1965 science fiction novel

Between the hours of never-ending math homework and tennis practice, spending three hours at a movie theater is rarely at the top of my to-do list. But after being bombarded with Instagram ads of Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya wandering sand dunes, I had to make room in my schedule to see the new sci-fi movie “Dune.”

Set in a futuristic world of rival houses fighting for control of a desert planet, filmmaker Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel features powerful cinematography of sandy dunes, impressive fortresses and worn cities. The movie follows a young heir, Paul Atreides, to the planet “Dune” after the emperor transferred control of the precious “spice” — a rare, multi-use drug — from the barbaric Harkonnens to the Atreides family. With control over the universe’s most lucrative product, the family is faced with danger from all sides — including the planet’s own fierce native inhabitants, the Fremen.

Atreides — played by the internet’s crush Timothée Chalamet — navigates politics and prophecies while also learning to survive in the harsh, new conditions.

Anyone who has read Herbert’s novel knows Villeneuve had a lot of information to convey in two and a half hours. From politics to religion to culture to space travel, Herbert spelled out Atreides’ world in minute detail. Since the movie features a new universe, there’s a lot of information for viewers unfamiliar with the original story to take in. However, the movie didn’t feel rushed. It helps that the movie only covers roughly 500 of the 800 pages of the novel, so Villeneuve was able to stay mostly true to the book.

The first 30 minutes of the movie focuses on introducing the characters of each house and the tricky political situation the House of Atreides is in. However, the pace picks up once the Atreides move to their new planet. By the end, I was left intrigued and ready to watch the rest of the story unfold in the sequel — which the filmmakers have already promised to the audience. Based on the recent increase in sales of the original novel, people are already flocking to see what happens next.

If you’ve read the book, you have a significant advantage — there’s lots of foreign information to process. Although I read the book a few years ago, I watched the movie with two friends who haven’t read the book. Both were thoroughly confused about some aspects of the plot, like why there was conflict between houses, what the Emperor was all about and who the Bene Gesserit were. While the mystery keeps you wondering “what’s next,” it’s also frustrating to have unanswered questions, and it didn’t help that the blaring soundtrack overpowered the characters’ mumbling at times, making some words impossible to hear.

To avoid confusion and have a better grasp on the storyline, I’d highly recommend reading the book before watching the movie. The background knowledge I had allowed me to enjoy the cinematography and storytelling of the movie instead of desperately trying to keep track of who’s who.

One disappointing part of the movie is the overwhelming number of cheesy moments of Chalamet staring off into the distance. Although an important aspect of the plot is Paul’s personal growth from an uncertain boy into a wise leader, the soul-searching idea is overplayed and repetitive. Even though Chalamet’s diehard fans probably appreciate the sappy scenes, the movie could’ve been more condensed and less like a perfume commercial.

And if your number one reason to watch was to see Zendaya, you’ll be disappointed. Despite her seemingly big appearance in the trailer, she’s only on screen for roughly seven minutes — most of which are silent appearances in Paul’s dream sequences.

I was worried that the movie would be over-the-top with unrealistic CGI and corny special effects, but was pleasantly surprised. The casting and costumes were spot on to what I imagined from the book. The weathered-but-futuristic look of the planets reminded me of the “used” feel of planets in Star Wars. The setting and CGI impressed me and didn’t come off as tacky.

Although hard to follow at times, “Dune” is an immersive cinematic experience that successfully transports you to a different world. The plot is arguably an analogy for current events in the Middle East — with a fictional spice instead of oil — which makes the movie even more captivating. If you’re into sci-fi and find yourself a free Saturday afternoon, I’d recommend watching this movie. I’ll definitely be back for Part II in 2023.