Dune Review: 7 Ups & 3 Downs

2. The Mesmerising Action Sequences

While there's certainly less action in Dune than its marketing would suggest, the set-pieces on offer do nevertheless deliver on the hype.

The most attention-grabbing sequence is without question the eye-wateringly beautiful attack on Arrakis, the screen filled with gigantic fireballs, soaring ships, and fleeing soldiers, delivering something quite unlike audiences have ever seen before.

The focal worm attack sequence is also a heart-stopping highlight, selling the abject, day-to-day danger of life on Arrakis.

Otherwise action is infrequent throughout the film: Paul's early battle training against Gurney is a lot of fun - the defensive shields certainly look much better than they did in Lynch's version - and Jason Momoa's Duncan also gets some entertainingly kick-ass moments.

Dune is a prime example of making sparingly deployed action really count. More casual-minded viewers may feel a little short-changed, but anyone familiar with Villeneuve's filmmaking style absolutely shouldn't be.