Film Dune

Mike Smalling said:
As for the plot it moves along in a nice pace, and it is generally understandable what happens and why. It is apparent that it is adapted from quite a complex work, so there isn't really enough time to flesh out the motivations of all the factions. We've got the Fremen (believers and non-believers), Harkonnens, Bene Gesserit, The Emperor, and the Landsraad of noble houses. Just a lot of moving pieces, but it is generally well-handled. For an almost 3 hour movie, there was only one time where I felt it's length, and that was around the scenes on Geidi Prime.
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This impressed me most about the movie itself, a numerosity of events that aligned perfectly with the development of the story.

I do think there was some very minor minute issues overall but in hindsight looking at the pace of the film I have been totally willing to overlook the flaws.
 
Redstain said:
Experienced it with a couple beside me, heard all £9 worth of popcorn the girlfriend ate. Wonderful.
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Funny the couple next to me moved one seat away from me because I was scoffing popcorn (which was my dinner) during the trailers. I usually eat during trailers and then in the movie I’m quiet. I found it funny they moved away haha.
 
I really enjoyed it. About as much as the first one, 8/10.

As a list of gripes:
  • Not sure how I feel about the structure (long stretch of Paul+Fremen, long stretch of Harkonnens). Felt like it lacked a bit of dynamics.
  • It was missing in creativity and worldbuilding compared to the first movie. However the Giedi Prime stuff is amazing.
  • Did not love that it ends on a shameless "stick around for Dune 3" note.
Things I loved:
  • The sandworm + Giedi Prime set pieces back-to-back were incredible.
  • The assault near the end was wonderful.
  • The ominous, evil feel throughout the whole thing.
  • Alia.
  • I enjoyed that Jessica is basically Satan in this movie.
 
Mike Smalling said:
Cinema etiquette is dead. Someone sat behind me was translating all the Fremen language lines to English to her friend. Super annoying.
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Yep it’s awful.



There’s a contradiction between needing more people to go to the cinema in order to save it but also a packed out screening is a terrible experience.
 
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Rooney in Paris said:
You still have a few days so you're prepared for part 2!
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Started it Saturday night, but couldn't get into it. Only watched about 20 minutes and just wasn't in the right mood to stick with it, so turned it off.

Will try again when I'm a little more able to concentrate on it.
 
Iker Quesadillas said:
  • It was missing in creativity and worldbuilding compared to the first movie. However the Giedi Prime stuff is amazing.
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Yeah, I agree with this. The first movie had this in spades. So many wonderful and sometimes weird moments of world building, like the introduction of the Sardaukar or that creepy spider pet that the Baron had. I guess it's partly a matter of this one being a follow-up with no real new locations. In the first one we saw the concept of of the Gom Jabbar for the first time, and an ornithopter for the first time, so they are not really as memorable in this one.

If I remember it right, the first one also had more examples of striking cinematography. There are some shots that I can remember quite vividly, especially related to the Baron. This one, of course, had more set pieces that were great. They are really two quite different movies in many ways.
 
Big Andy said:
There's going to be another one? So If I watch this, eventually love it, and then love the sequel, I have to wait about 2 years for ANOTHER one?
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I don't think it's confirmed yet, but almost certainly, yes. The way Part Two ends clearly indicates a third, and Villeneuve has also said he wants to finish Paul Atreides' arc in a last movie. Unless it bombs financially, there will be a third one in 2-3 years time.
 
Mike Smalling said:
I don't think it's confirmed yet, but almost certainly, yes. The way Part Two ends clearly indicates a third, and Villeneuve has also said he wants to finish Paul Atreides' arc in a last movie. Unless it bombs financially, there will be a third one in 2-3 years time.
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Yeah Villeneuve wants to do Messiah as a part 3 and that it. Has no intent to go further into the series. But no green light yet. Which imo, is a good idea. I don't think there is a massive audience for how weird it gets. End it on a high.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-messiah-last-movie-no-dune-4-1235893013/
 
Mike Smalling said:
Yeah, I agree with this. The first movie had this in spades. So many wonderful and sometimes weird moments of world building, like the introduction of the Sardaukar or that creepy spider pet that the Baron had. I guess it's partly a matter of this one being a follow-up with no real new locations. In the first one we saw the concept of of the Gom Jabbar for the first time, and an ornithopter for the first time, so they are not really as memorable in this one.
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I think they mostly dropped the ball with the Imperial stuff. Walken looked very boring and the set was nothing special, it was all extremely understated. In the first movie this stuff looked cooler.

It also felt (though I might be wrong here) that there were less new characters.
 
Iker Quesadillas said:
I think they mostly dropped the ball with the Imperial stuff. Walken looked very boring and the set was nothing special, it was all extremely understated.
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Yeah, from what I understand the Emperor is supposed to be a figure of extreme splendor and decadence. That's not really the impression you get, except maybe towards the end when they go to Arrakis in a giant chrome ball.
 
I figured they wouldn't go for anything too decadent since the movies try to portray the entire universe as austere and restrictive to life as we understand it. I think that's a good choice.

But something about this portrayal felt like... I dunno. Like they were running out of budget and they got a good deal on shooting in someone's home garden.
 
WPMUFC said:
Yeah Villeneuve wants to do Messiah as a part 3 and that it. Has no intent to go further into the series. But no green light yet. Which imo, is a good idea. I don't think there is a massive audience for how weird it gets. End it on a high.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-messiah-last-movie-no-dune-4-1235893013/
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I'll be happy with that plan. Although, there's a place in the sci-fi film pantheon for whoever manages to make a good film of God Emperor of Dune.
 
WPMUFC said:
Yeah Villeneuve wants to do Messiah as a part 3 and that it. Has no intent to go further into the series. But no green light yet. Which imo, is a good idea. I don't think there is a massive audience for how weird it gets. End it on a high.

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/denis-villeneuve-dune-messiah-last-movie-no-dune-4-1235893013/
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I think they've smashed box office for part 2. I think Messiah will be similar. WB will want to continue the cash cow and take it to the end of the books.
 
Andy_Cole said:
I think they've smashed box office for part 2. I think Messiah will be similar. WB will want to continue the cash cow and take it to the end of the books.
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I mean they can want this but none of the other books do what the first does. It's a relatively straightforward good vs. bad story whereas Herbert went full political and/or religious zealot squabble with the rest of them. How that translates into a cinematic experience I have no idea but I'd be intrigued to see them at least try to make Dune Messiah and Children of Dune. Somebody touted the idea of a TV serial and personally I think that's a better approach.
 
Villeneuve is supposed to be doing Rendezvous with Rama at some point, which I actually think is a better match for his sensibilities, even if without Dune's mass appeal. I guess if this makes 700m+ though that'll go to the back burner.
 
I read that Villeneuve wants to get back to doing his own original films. He regretted doing BR2049.
 
FrankDrebin said:
I read that Villeneuve wants to get back to doing his own original films. He regretted doing BR2049.
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I think that was more about not doing something set in a previously-established film universe again.
 
Vidyoyo said:
Really? I know if was a box office bomb but I loved that movie and thought he did a fantastic job.
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"I don’t think I will ever approach someone else’s universe again. I still wake up sometimes at night, saying, 'Why did I do that ?'.
 
Vidyoyo said:
Really? I know if was a box office bomb but I loved that movie and thought he did a fantastic job.
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Yeah, it was great. The box office performance probably had more to do with reviving a 40 year old franchise that was kind of niche to begin with. Still a great cinematic experience.
 
FrankDrebin said:
"I don’t think I will ever approach someone else’s universe again. I still wake up sometimes at night, saying, 'Why did I do that ?'.
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Interesting. I'm assuming he meant the cinematic universe of Blade Runner given what he did with the Dune adaptations. 2049 was different tonally but I enjoyed the extension for what it offered. I hope knowing this helps him sleep easier.
 
Ubik said:
Villeneuve is supposed to be doing Rendezvous with Rama at some point, which I actually think is a better match for his sensibilities, even if without Dune's mass appeal. I guess if this makes 700m+ though that'll go to the back burner.
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Yeah, I read that too. I think it's a perfect match for him: briany and slow, just as he likes his films. He'd risk another Blade Runner situation though: a hugely expensive film that's loved by critics but too slow for the huge mainstream audiences that you need to earn back the budget. I'd think the risk is a bit similar with a Dune 3 based on Dune Messiah, but if Dune 2 does well, enough people will show up just because they're now hooked on the series.

Otherwise, I'd love if he just went back to doing French-Canadian films. Incendies is still his top for me (not having seen Dune 2 yet). I don't suppose that's likely though.
 
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On Dune part 2, I just want to add that Javier Bardem as a religious fanatic was an incredibly enjoyable performance.
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Vidyoyo said:
Interesting. I'm assuming he meant the cinematic universe of Blade Runner given what he did with the Dune adaptations. 2049 was different tonally but I enjoyed the extension for what it offered. I hope knowing this helps him sleep easier.
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He says thanks.
 
Mike Smalling said:
Yeah, it was great. The box office performance probably had more to do with reviving a 40 year old franchise that was kind of niche to begin with. Still a great cinematic experience.
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Yep the original was a complete bomb when it first came out. I watched 2049 two weeks ago at my local cinema and it was pretty packed out.

It’s definitely become more appreciated after its release.
 
Cheimoon said:
Yeah, I read that too. I think it's a perfect match for him: briany and slow, just as he likes his film. He'd risk another Blade Runner situation though: a hugely expensive film that's loved by critics but too slow for the huge mainstream audiences that you need to earn back the budget. I'd think the risk is a bit similar with a Dune 3 based on Dune Messiah, but if Dune 2 does well, enough people will show up just because they're now hooked on the series.

Otherwise, I'd love if he just went back to doing French-Canadian films. Incendies is still his top for me (not having seen Dune 2 yet). I don't suppose that's likely though.
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I get the feeling though that he's getting to that post-Dark Knight Nolan phase now, where people will turn up for his stuff regardless. We'll see though, I'm not as in love with him as most others but it's always great to have filmmakers that can take these big swings at sf and pull it off. Just not too often as trips to imax are expensive.
 
Mike Smalling said:
Yeah, from what I understand the Emperor is supposed to be a figure of extreme splendor and decadence. That's not really the impression you get, except maybe towards the end when they go to Arrakis in a giant chrome ball.
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I found Walken's emperor to be sort of a copypasta of his King of New York character. I half expected him to say: "If a bag of spice gets sold in the park I want in."
 
Will be seeing this tomorrow. I haven’t seen the first film and know nothing about Dune. If I hate it then I will be blaming the people in this thread.
 
Sweet Square said:
Will be seeing this tomorrow. I haven’t seen the first film and know nothing about Dune. If I hate it then I will be blaming the people in this thread.
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Mad lad.

Seriously, a lot of stuff won’t make sense if you are not familiar with the universe.
 
Interesting Christopher Walken trivia relating to Dune:


Basically the Fat Boy Slim song "Weapon of Choice" is about Dune, and the video for it is Walken dancing around.
"Walk without rhythm / it won't attract the worm,
Don't be shocked by the tone of my Voice,
Check out my new weapon, my weapon of choice..."
 
Mike Smalling said:
Yeah, I agree with this. The first movie had this in spades. So many wonderful and sometimes weird moments of world building, like the introduction of the Sardaukar or that creepy spider pet that the Baron had. I guess it's partly a matter of this one being a follow-up with no real new locations. In the first one we saw the concept of of the Gom Jabbar for the first time, and an ornithopter for the first time, so they are not really as memorable in this one.

If I remember it right, the first one also had more examples of striking cinematography. There are some shots that I can remember quite vividly, especially related to the Baron. This one, of course, had more set pieces that were great. They are really two quite different movies in many ways.
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That was Dr. Yueh's wife.
 
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