An unforgettable theatrical experience.  I was in awe the entire time.  Villeneuve maintains remarkable control over composition, tone, and most importantly, pacing, in this larger-than-life yet immersive sci-fi extravaganza.  It’s a visual feast, and that of course comes as no surprise given Villeneuve’s established pedigree for bringing jaw-dropping, magnificently framed shots to the screen — in this, however, he’s able to tether that aesthetic brilliance to the structure of a narrative that never takes its hooks out of you.  It’s truly breathtaking to behold.  The sheer scope of the endeavor is ultra impressive.  What this type of articulated vision also does is to elevate the committed performances of the actors to its artistic heights.  The Shakespearean drama of the storytelling is fully appreciated in this, and it was beyond thrilling to watch it all unfold.  The remoteness which made some of his previous efforts feel clinical and unapproachable is completely absent here, replaced by an all-encoming immediacy which brings the story to life in a way that wows the senses and also keeps you needing to see what happens next.  It’s a monumental contribution to cinematic history, and it’s encouraging to see that Villeneuve has made some sort of seismic shift in his directing instincts, finally figuring out how to keep his storytelling on the same level as his eye for immaculate imagery.