Review

Epic science-fiction is back.

The movie featuring an all-star cast and directed by Denis Villeneuve is full of grandeur, with spectacular spacecrafts, wonderful world-building and luscious landscapes. This movie is definitely a big-screen experience with vast visuals and superb sound design which is loud but not obnoxious.

The young protagonist – the only heir in the bloodline – must find a way to protect himself while war rages around him and as he is thrust in to the middle of a treacherous desert he must prove himself. Although he is focus of the story, the rest of the actors are all perfectly cast and treat their characters with subtlety and strength.

There is a good mix of history and lore interspersed with intimate fights and grandiose battles. Although there is a lot to understand initially, the direction shows you what is important and re-iterates it throughout the story. You are introduced to otherworldly factions and rulers, an Emperor and a shadowy organisation manipulating the galactic order.

There is a lot of great production design. Most of the costume design can be attributed to eastern cultures which fits the desert setting. The spaceships are believable but also massive in scale and not your normal angular pieces of metal. I especially liked the dragonfly-inspired aircraft.