A 37-year hiatus is certainly a long wait. I’m not talking about anything other than Frank Herbert’s groundbreaking 1965 sci-fi novel “Dune,” which was adapted for the big screen in 1984. This film, directed by David Lynch, could be a cult classic. But, at the time of publication, it was a huge failure, both critically and financially. Now we move on to that and eventually we have another version of “Dune” on the big screen.
Originally released last November, however, they had to postpone it due to current concerns about the COVID19 pandemic. I even have the strong feeling that Denis Villeneuve can do the job admirably. Furthermore, his previous experiences directing thought-provoking sci-fi films in “Arrival” and (at least from a mainstream perspective) unfortunately underrated “Blade Runner 2049” represent themselves.
Before we dive into the review, here’s what you’d like to understand about the movie. In 10,191, we play that Harkonnen ruled the desert planet of Arrakis for many years, where he profited a lot from the extraction of spices. The spice, which can be a sacred hallucinogen, has the facility to prolong life and has other benefits. Led by Black Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), he and his nephew Rabban (Dave Bautista) govern the land with control and repress the natives of Arrakis, also known as the Fremen.
The times of Harkonnen’s reign in Arrakis ended when the emperor decided to show responsibility to Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) of the House of Atreides in the homeworld of Caladan. When Duke Leto happily reunites, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen refuses to surrender and looks for ways to rule Arrakis.
The film also focuses on Duke Leto’s young son, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), who is constantly plagued by long-term recurring visions, especially his mysterious relationship with the girl Fremen (Zendaya). Paul is also a trained warrior under the direction of Duke’s two military advisors, including Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa) and Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), and is similarly trained by his mother, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), to find out the art . Master. Mind control by “voice”.
Denis Villeneuve wasn’t kidding when he said in an interview at this year’s Venice Film Festival: “It was dreamed up, designed and filmed inside the mind of IMAX.” After seeing ‘Dune’ on IMAX, I even have to admit it’s an immersive experience. The film is as cinematic as possible, Art, which should be viewed on the big screen if possible, rather than broadcast on television. It helps that Villeneuve prefers tons of practical effects to CGI, where the latter only serves to enhance scenes.
Like Blade Runner 2049, its hands-on approach makes the overall experience even more tangible. This includes everything from large-format props and sets to the desert planet Arrakis, which was shot not on a green screen, but on location in Jordan and Abu Dhabi. The CGI sandworm is also physically impressive, no matter if it moves quickly under sand or is shown during a large close-up with long needle-shaped teeth.
`Dune` also gets another boost from Patrice Vermette’s spectacular production design, while Greig Fraser’s camera work can be a first-class technical marvel. Hans Zimmer’s well-known work, which evokes sinister horrors, is well used throughout the film. Although his score is very high in certain scenes, it’s hard to deny that Zimmer’s overall performance plays a huge role in gaining attention as he watches the movie. However, the action is mixed. Past moments, like Paul and Gurney’s shield-assisted sword fighting training and the daring rescue scenes, are commendable for their role-play, suspense, and general tension.
But once the plot takes place in the dark, as demonstrated by the Harkonnen army’s sudden ambush against the Atreides house, the film loses its kinetic flair. Shooting action scenes in the dark or in low light is also often a relentless creative decision. they are often difficult to decipher what is happening in the scene, making it difficult to understand or appreciate the staging of your action scene. This frustrated me again and again, because Villeneuve is certainly quite capable of improving within the action department. Or does it have to do with budget issues, even though the film claims to already have $165 million?
From a plot point of view, the film could also be peppered with screenings, but Villeneuve has the talent to tell his story hypnotically. He knows how to get noticed, which immediately sparks my memory of a Villeneuve-like strategy in Blade Runner 2049. Then there’s the all-star cast. Timothée Chalamet is the perfect boy for a decadent young man who is unsure of his own destiny. Oscar Isaac, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa and Josh Brolin offer important supporting roles in their respective roles.
Meanwhile, Stellan Skarsgård channels Apocalypse Now’s late Colonel Kurtz as Marlon Brando in his role as antagonist in Baron Vladimir Harkonnen. It’s a shame the actors don’t have enough space to shine in their performances. Including Javier Bardem, who plays the Fremen leader Stilgar, while Zendaya along with the Fremen warriors remains largely unexplored. Dave Bautista is as exhausted as the Baron’s nephew Rabban em.
All in all, Dune remains an interesting feat that David Lynch tried and failed 35 years ago due to a number of the film’s shortcomings. Whether the film presents a chance to continue the story (Villeneuve splits ‘Dune’ in two) will depend on the entire box office count. Otherwise, we have unresolved issues, as “Dune” ends in failure.
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