Denis Villeneuve directs Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya and Javier Bardem in this epic sci-fi sequel where Paul Atreides unites with Chani and the Fremen while seeking revenge against the conspirators who destroyed his family.

More of the same. No complaints. The action is a little more robust and paced. Like Spielberg’s War Of The Worlds there’s a certain perversion in seeing a whitebred Poster Boy be turned into a dispossessed Jihadi freedom fighter. Yet whether he’s a messiah or a very naughty boy you can’t trust the aristocracy with power. I think this will be unpacked in many a dissertation since the parallels between the destruction of the Fremen and current global events are blatant. Fantastic cast but such small portions. Only Bardem and Austin Butler feel like they jump the rails. Tame the machine with bigger performances than demanded. The visit to the Harkonnen’s monochrome world is going to be hard to beat this year for massive screen awesomeness. The third act does drag. Also I’ll never believe Dave Bautista being terrified and running away from Chalamet. Yet these are quibbles. Roll on Children Of Dune!

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Perfect Double Bill: Dune: Part One (2021)

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