Dune: Part One (2021)

My Review

“Dune” is the latest version of the 1965 science fiction novel by Frank Herbert about interplanetary family rivalries. Director Denis Villeneuve (“Sicario” 2015) takes on the first half of the Herbert novel where the Emperor replaces the Harkonnen family control of the planet Arrakis with the Atreides family. Due to the valuable “spice” harvested there, the Harkonnens have set many booby trapes on Arrakis (or Dune). The heavy drama proceeds from there, well handled by Villeneuve, who co-wrote the screenplay with Jon Spailhis and Eric Roth.

Newcomer Timothee Chalamet delivers an effective low-key performance as Paul Atreides. Co-stars include Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Dave Bautista, Zendaya, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Stephen McNally Henderson, Chan Chen, and Marianne Faithful in her final film role. Hans Zimmer composed the impressive musical score. The very watchable “Dune: Part 1” was the tenth highest grossing film of 2021 for Legendary Pictures and Warner Bros. Pictures.

It was filmed in the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Norway, and Hungary. “Dune: Part Two” was released in 2024.