Dune: Part Two

The second part of director Denis Villeneuve's adaptation of Frank Herbert's landmark sci-fi novel is simply awe-inspiring. It begins with Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), hiding out in the desert of Arrakis. The spice-rich planet is coveted by their vicious Harkonnen enemies and Christopher Walken's scheming galactic Emperor. The story follows Paul's odyssey from guerrilla fighter to a reluctant messiah plagued by dreams of a destiny that could ignite a holy war. Once again, Chalamet impresses. He shares affecting romantic scenes with warrior Chani (Zendaya), and convinces as a steely leader ready to wreak vengeance on Stellan Skarsgard's brutal Baron. Fresh faces in the cast include Florence Pugh and Léa Seydoux, plus Austin Butler as a formidable new adversary, who's introduced in a mesmerising monochrome sequence. As with the Oscar-winning first instalment, Villeneuve shows mastery of scale and scope, with stunning cinematography and a thumping score from Hans Zimmer - the film won Oscars for its sound design and visual effects. Among its many stirring action scenes is the awesome sight of Paul wrangling an enormous sandworm in a breathtaking rush through the dunes.