Yeah, this is an amazing movie and yeah, this movie is meant to be seen on the big screen. I already saw it twice at the cinema and it was glorious to behold. Every frame of this movie is a beautiful work of art. Denis Villeneuve really out did himself with this movie. The best way to summarize this movie is that it is Game of Thrones in space. Only since it based on a book by Frank Herbert which came out in 1965 it was first to Game of Thrones.
Dune takes place in the future when Earth is long gone and humanity is dependent on the spice for its current way of life. Spice can only be found on the planet Arrakis, also known as Dune. The world of humans is ruled by an emperor and the great houses. Our story follows House Atreides which is set to take control of Arrakis. Control given to them by the emperor and taken away from their enemy house, House Harkonnens. House Harkonnens is not pleased by this exchange of power as control of Dune will give House Atreides both more power and money. However, Bene Gesserit may have also have other plans for House Atreides as the Bene Gesserit have on their own. Everyone has a secret motive in this movie.
House Atreides is focused on three main characters: Duke Leto Atreides played by Oscar Isaac, Lady Jessica played by Rebecca Ferguson and their son and heir Paul Atreides play by Timothée Chalamet. Lady Jessica is also a Bene Gesserit, a secret organization composed only of women who have unique subtle abilities, have power throughout the galaxy and their own agenda. House Atreides also has prominent members of their loyal household such as Gurney Halleck played by Josh Brolin who is a weapons master and trains the Atreides army. Thufir Hawat who is played by Stephen McKinley Henderson and is the Mentat of their house, which is to say that he is responsible for defenses in a logical computer like way. Duncan Idaho played by Jason Momoa is one of Paul's mentors and also is responsible for training the Atreides army.
Baron Vladimir Harkonnen is the head of House Harkonnen and is played by Stellan Skarsgård. Glossu Rabban is played by Dave Bautista and he is the Baron's heir as he has no children of his own. As you can see from these details and so many characters it is not just feudal system, it is has the same manipulative backstabbing qualities like Game of Thrones. Other members of House Harkonnen don't get enough screen time for us to care about them. Too bad, their Mentat in the book is very witty and sarcastic.
Then there are the Fremen. They are the local and original population of Arrakis. They have managed to survive on the planet despite the desolate heat and the lack of water. It is clear that they are based, very loosely of course, on Arab and Bedouin culture, but yet this movie doesn't have a single actor of Middle-East decedent so it sort of bothered me. But since there is so little of the Fremen in this movie they can still correct it. Maybe they should bring in Riz Ahmed (Venom) or Mena Massoud (Aladdin) for the sequel. Stilgar (Javier Bardem) has the role of being the Fremen ambassador to the Atreides. Yes, Chani who is played by Zendaya is barely in this movie, but that is only because of where the movie ends. Clearly she will have a much bigger role in the sequel.
This movie will have a sequel and it must have one. When the movie starts it says Dune: Part 1 and it is just part 1. I mean this movie encompasses about half or less of the "Dune" book. It doesn't end with a cliffhanger per say, but I understand why everyone who hasn't read the book, leaves the movie and goes to buy the book. That is because you have to know what happens next. It is just that good and that interesting and it really suck you into this world.
But you might want to bring earmuffs with you because Hans Zimmer score might hurt your ears. I am not saying that it is bad, just really loud and at some points too loud. And maybe loud at points where it shouldn't be. But it is definitely interesting and contributes a lot to the movie. Although it is Zimmer's boom signature style.
This is not a big action movie. Most of the movie is in the nuances and the characters and the backstabbing. There is some action in the movie, but don't expect Avengers: Endgame Lord of the Rings sort of big battles. This is not that kind of movie. More like lightly speared towards the end of the movie, but enough sprinkled around to keep your interest.
Obviously the acting in this movie is superb. Just like it is obvious that Timothée Chalamet basically carries the movie on his shoulders. He looks majestic, charismatic and yet venerable and clueless. He acts the person who suddenly realizes that a great burden has been placed on his shoulders to perfection. You can read his emotions as they run across his face. He seems to have more depth in the movie then he does in the book. Everyone else does a great job as well, but they compare to him. And poor Oscar Isaac will be remembered for only one scene, and you will know it when you see it. Rebecca Ferguson have her most impressive role to date and she does the most with it. She looks so sure and elegant and yet you can also see the deep fear in her as well. Sometime it is very outwardly expressed and yet she is never falls for the trap of over-the-top acting. Stellan Skarsgård is impressive and disgusting just as he should be and barley recognizable. Everyone does an amazing job in the movie.
It is an amazing movie. You should see it on the biggest screen possible. It is a cinematic experience that you shouldn't miss. Even if you can see it at home, you should first experience the movie as it was meant to be experienced on the big screen.
Please follow me and upvote my posts to help yourself stay up to date with everything that is nerdy and awesome.
Sharing will also be most appreciated.
See you in my next post.