I never read the novel and don’t remember much about the 1984 movie, so this was a stand-alone experience. Fortunately, Timothée Chalamet possesses the power to create compelling characters. Otherwise, this might have been more of a slog. It takes place 8,000 years into the future, when planets and rulers are the stuff of grand sci-fi legend. In this case, the young man and his family travel to a desert planet, where inhospitable events and creatures await. Director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) has once again created worlds with grand settings and impressive visuals. (I saw this on the big screen, which is how a spectacle like this deserves to be seen.) This isn’t a typical sci-fi outing: There’s very little real action, but plenty of dialogue, which, even though it’s serious, manages to maintain interest. Even so, it’s stately visuals and intense situations keep it involving.
NOTE: As you can tell from the title, the film ends before the second part of the story unfolds. Due to the success of this one, it’s been slated for production. 
(3.5 / 5)
