It has been some weeks now that I have been wondering: where did all the epic movies go? Star Wars, Gladiator, Braveheart, Ben-hur. It’s been a while since we saw a movie that truly humbles the audience and creates a sense of scale beyond what we consider real. Up to the point that Dune started, I was still thinking that. No longer. #no-spoilers-review
Two hours and thirty five minutes of unstoppable awe, wonder and fascination: Dune was more than I could ever hope for.
The Beginning of an Epic Storyline
I’m sure it will not surprise you to know that the 6 books of father, Frank Herbert and partly the other 11 written from Brian the Son, cannot fit in a single movie. Dune is the first part of an epic story which I expect it will take at least 3 – maybe even 4 – movies to complete. The movie starts the story by giving some really good worldbuilding and character baseline, from just before the storyline of the original Dune (1965) begins.
The story told is slightly different from the books, but stays true to the original line. And it certainly elevates the setting a whole new level!
“He who controls the spice, controls the universe”
There is nothing small about Dune 2021
The worms, the characters, the buildings, and the spaceships are absolutely effing massive. Titans colliding, massive armies clashing. The cinematography of Greig Fraser, the directing of Denis Villeneuve and of course the MIND BLOWING music of Hans Zimmer, makes you dive deep into the bright, dark, massive, explosive, dynamic world and get lost in it.
My suggestion is, stay as far back from the screen as possible to take it all in. And watch the movie on a cinema with DOLBY ATMOS (or something similar) if you can, or you will be missing out on possibly on the second most important element of this movie, its grandiose environmental immersion.
Exceptional worldbuilding delivered excellently
The world of Dune has been worked again and again for over 60 years now. But it’s one thing to write about it, and another to bring it to the silver screen.
Now, before you ATTACK, David Lynch’s original cinematic adaptation of Dune (1984) is also an amazing experience, but as with all things Lynch, the focus is on the characters and a wee-bit of the psychedelia of the times.
Having said that, I am sure that if Frank Herbert had seen this new version, he’d have cried tears of joy. Modern cinematic effects have given the power to Villeneuve and his crew to create something truly wondrous.
House Atreides Ornithopter – The most agile flying in the universe, displaying their AIR POWER
Dune 2021 is attention to detail made art
Every single building, item, piece clothing, weapon and technology showed has a story to tell. This is what truly great worldbuilding is about, telling a story one step at time by exposing the word the reader or our players are exploring by showing not telling.
Dune Release date
Dune releases in the US on the 22nd of October and in the UK on the 21st.
I know it that HBO MAX subscribers can see on the comfort of their couch, but honestly, unless you have a TRULY kickass TV and Audio set, go to the cinema. This is one of those movies created to be seen large and loud!
Score
World Anvil 9/10 Anvils
IMDB 8.4
Rotten Tomatoes 89%
Meta Critic 75
I really hope I gave you an idea of what you should expect from Dune and that you have enjoyed this review.
Please let me know in the comments below. Would you like to see more movies series review from me?
Such a great adaptation it was. The music Hans Zimmer made for it also really made it hit all the more harder!
I am a dedicated Dune fan and once I begin speaking about Dune, it is hard to stop. I have read and listened each of the novels across the entire series including the short stories many times. I have been waiting for this movie a long time, in fact I needed it long before it was realized. I am so very excited to go see it in a week. Your review continues to pronounce that we finally have a worthy adaptation of Franks Herbert’s masterpiece.
I first read Dune and the first two Frank Herbert sequels some while before the David Lynch film and have always thought of them as amazing creations of the imagination. Whilst the David Lynch film was interesting and worth watching, somehow it didn’t quite capture what I loved about the books. Really hoping this one is going to do better and from what I’m hearing there are reasons to be optimistic. Can’t wait to see it!
Well we are in the fifth week in Germany (don’t ask, why. Don’t understand it myself). We were in it yesterday and yes, I think, you will have some fun ^^.
I started reading “Dune” during my first tour in Vietnam and didn’t finish until after my second tour. It was the first book with literary depth I’d ever read, and for that reason it was difficult for me, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
What a shame that the movie is negatively impacting the price (rocketing upwards) of the books that most buyers won’t bother reading.😢
Thank you, Dimtris, for the review. As I’ve read all the books and love the Lynch interpretation (rather than just make a film version) and having seen the strange 2000 mini series, I was amazed by Villeneuves sets and natural exposure; the characters look a bit silent, humble in the gigantic buildings and space ships. I agree your appreciation of the worldbuilding aspect, though I missed some deeper explanation of Bene Gesserit, Navigators Guild and the deeper motives of the Harkonnen. But therefore I’m more excited what comes after this monumental prologue. For me, Dune is a never ending inspiration for my own worldbuilding.