Best Selling RPGs - Available Now @ DriveThruRPG.com
Caught Dune tonight.

I liked it quite a bit.

It borrows heavily from Lynch's film in terms of the costume and set-design, which is a good thing I think as the look is the best thing in Lynch's film. This film is shot dark, maybe too dark at times but generally avoids being too drab and grey, with some very striking sequences of the spaceships in particular.

I love the look of the Space Navigators (very much Space Popes) although we don't get any fishcreatures yet (fingers crossed!).

A surprising amount is left unexplained here for those not familiar with the world from the book and Lynch's film (mentats for instance are here but never explained) but I like that personally.

This film drops the infodumps and overdubbed character-thoughts that I think were studio-enforced in Lynch's film anyway.

Here the actors are trusted to communicate more wordlessly. Chalamet is effective as a young Paul and Ferguson brings impressive charisma and gravitas as Jessica.

Isaac is good in his few scenes with Paul in particular back on Caladan. Oh and Caladan itself is beautiful, some really lovely sequences there.

But as I suspected no one is going to top Ken McMillan as Baron Harkonen or Dourif as De Vries. The Harkonens are a bit sketchy here in general, you don't even see The Emperor but I would expect that to be filled out in the next film.

Duncan Idaho, an underwhelming character who dies quickly for no apparent reason in the original film, is more heroic and engaging here. The Sardaukar are also much more frightening and intimidating.



Not surprisingly, Villeneuve is also a better director of action scenes although he doesn't drag them out either. I thought the betrayal and defeat of the Atreidies was well done although Dr. Yueh doesn't manage the pathos of Dean Stockwell's melodramatic performance.

The battle scenes are more faithful to the book I think and more dynamic and exciting than Lynch, but I always thought that was clearly the part of the film that least interested Lynch whereas Villenneuve proved his action chops with Sicario.

Another thing I think this version does better than the 'original' film is communicate the importance of the visions of Paul, their relationship to the spice and his terror at the coming jihad.

The Hans Zimmer score works well, it is prominent but integrated into the films look and feel, similar to Blade Runner 2049 and Sicario in that regard.

Here's a good short featurette on the score.



It all very much ends on a character beat and near media res, which is pretty gutsy for an expensive blockbuster style film. Part two seems likely to happen as the film seems to have been a big hit.

Came here to make a post of my own but I agree with just about 95% percent of what you said, and learned a few things to boot.

I agree that the movie is too damn dark; to the point of detracting from my enjoyment in at least one scene (Paul and Jessica’s sandworm encounter).

I’ll disagree on the Harkonnens. I find Skarsgard’s more contained performance so much more credibly threatening than MacMillan’s theatrics. And Dourif is amazing but Dastmalchian is no slouch either, and if anything, criminally underused. (Seconding the hope for more Mentat in part 2 and yeah, where is Paul’s Mentat training?).

Agreed on Idaho. Jason Momoa is a seriously charismatic SOB.

Loved the visual shout-outs to Lynch, and the less obvious ones to Jodorowsky. (Such as the Giedi Prime outside take.)

Loved Paul’s visions, especially the ones that don’t come true. Prescience can be a finicky bitch.

Loved the casting and acting as a whole. If anything I want more of everyone. Hoping they film the later books so I can see Momoa returning as the Duncan gholas and Isaac as Bashar Miles Teg.

I LOVED the Salusa Secundus scene. Sardaukar are pretty much an Astartes chapter, I want to see Villeneuve direct a 40K movie. And it helped drive home just how big religion and ritual and ceremony are in the Dune universe.

I’ll disagree with the score. It’s a fine score but overused. Very loud and intrusive at times. You get a contemplative scene and/or an impactful quote and suddenly the vocals come at you with the subtlety of a jackhammer.

Really looking forward to part two and also confused as to why they wouldn’t shoot this, and Messiah, and maybe Children all back to back. But overall I’m just so, so happy to see the a BIG epic movie in a BIG movie theater screen again.
 
I haven't read the books nor ever seen a prior piece of media covering DUNE, but I thoroughly enjoyed this and I am actually looking forward to watching it again (with subtitles) to see if I missed anything.

It was a visual treat, albeit a slog of exposition/world building.
 
I think it was an error not to just film the movies back to back like Peter Jackson did with the Lord of the Rings movies. It would have been cheaper for the studio to just continue the shoot in the long run I think.

My wife and I enjoyed the movie overall though I tend to have concerns since they're just going to do this in two movies. The first book is thick enough with information, depth and varied things going on that I tend to think that it would have been better to do the book as a trilogy.
I can see why not to do it that way though. It means that the director isn't focused on a different movie being filmed while the first one is in editing, and it really forces the director to make sure that the film works as a work in itself. Too many times with films that were supposed to be "franchise starters", the focus seems to have been on introducing the franchise, building things up for later or the like, rather than making sure you got to to that later point by actually making the film a good film and enjoyable experience in itself.
 
One of the problems of Lynch's Dune (and there were many) was the complete miscasting of Kyle McLachlan as Paul Atreides. Even though he was the same age (25) when Lynch's Dune was made as Timothée Chalamet was when the new Dune was made, Chalamet looks like a teenager, while McLachlan really did not in any way, shape or form. It really drives home the "Paul is really just a teenager who has to come to terms with all of this and t become an adult way too soon" thing in Villeneuve's film.
 
One of the problems of Lynch's Dune (and there were many) was the complete miscasting of Kyle McLachlan as Paul Atreides. Even though he was the same age (25) when Lynch's Dune was made as Timothée Chalamet was when the new Dune was made, Chalamet looks like a teenager, while McLachlan really did not in any way, shape or form. It really drives home the "Paul is really just a teenager who has to come to terms with all of this and t become an adult way too soon" thing in Villeneuve's film.
I haven't read the book but in years past out of curiousity I'd done some research on the novels and isn't a huge part of the ending that to some degree Paul regrets the jihad/chaos he unleashes and determines that he doesn't have the moral capacity to rule as emperor due to the aspects around his heritage, his upbringing, and the manipulation sowed by the Bene Gesserit? I feel like this should really tie back to his youth so we as an audience can relate to this loss of innocence.
 
I haven't read the book but in years past out of curiousity I'd done some research on the novels and isn't a huge part of the ending that to some degree Paul regrets the jihad/chaos he unleashes and determines that he doesn't have the moral capacity to rule as emperor due to the aspects around his heritage, his upbringing, and the manipulation sowed by the Bene Gesserit? I feel like this should really tie back to his youth so we as an audience can relate to this loss of innocence.

Yes but that is really only hinted at in the first book, the oncoming jihad is clear but not the full implications for Paul.

That realization is more part of Dune Messiah, which Villeneuve has said he would like to make if he gets the chance.

I do agree with raniE raniE about Chamalet being a better fit for young Paul.

One amusing scene in Lynch's Dune is when the Jessica and the Mother Superior are standing over his bed talking about him until they realize he is alive, in the book as he is just a young teen it makes more sense but in the film it is just odd.
 
From the article:

When interviewed by Variety at the Toronto Film Festival, Villeneuve said, “I wanted at the beginning to do the two parts simultaneously. For several reasons, it didn’t happen, and I agreed to the challenge of making part one and then wait to see if the movie rings enough enthusiasm… As I was doing the first part, I really put all my passion into it, in case it would be the only one. But I’m optimistic.”
So it seems that both sides of that debate here were right. Villeneuve wanted to do both parts at the same time, but then put everything he had into making part one great.
 
The only thing I have issue with is Legendary Pictures demand that pictures release in the theatre only. They and others of that mindset can fuck off in my and my wife's opinion. We're done with theatres, we were done before the pandemic struck but occasionally still went to the theatre.

Our issue is that the theatres tended to have folks repeatedly being rude, loud and not willing to keep their fucking phones off. Theatre personal won't enforce policies and if you ask them to they're likely to ask you to leave instead. So due to that, the price of the food (which over all is crap) and how home theatres are so much nicer we just don't care to go.

At home I'm more comfortable, I can cook up or eat whatever treats that I want do, the seating is better, the drinks are better and the company is better. Plus we can pause to use the restroom or re-wind and discuss something we saw/missed etc. So Legendary raising a stink can as I said fuck off about theatre only specially since the damn pandemic isn't over.
 
Took some time off this Friday to snag a ticket for the first showing that day on the biggest (non-IMAX unfortunately) screen in town. I might be the only goof in the theater at that time and looking forward to it.
 
Our issue is that the theatres tended to have folks repeatedly being rude, loud and not willing to keep their fucking phones off. Theatre personal won't enforce policies and if you ask them to they're likely to ask you to leave instead. So due to that, the price of the food (which over all is crap) and how home theatres are so much nicer we just don't care to go.
I saw it in a cinema and a gaggle of teens were incredibly annoying, and had to be shushed a few times. I can definitely sympathise with this mindset.

I have HBO max and still chose to see it in cinema - better to leave it up to people's preference.
 
I still like the theater experience quite a bit as long as it's the right theater. I'm going to an Alamo Drafthouse for the first time to see Dune, but the usual theater I go to, a CMX, is pretty good too. The auditoriums have tiered seating where you actually can't see anyone sitting ahead of you, and you're generally only aware of the people sitting to either side. As for concessions, I usually only get a soda anyway.

As much as I would love a good home theater setup, it's not practical for my apartment. Plus there can be just as much annoying noise to deal with, unless I watch the smaller TV in my bedroom. I also don't want to have to subscribe to a streaming service every time I want to watch a new movie, since that cost adds up too.
 
At home I'm more comfortable, I can cook up or eat whatever treats that I want do, the seating is better, the drinks are better and the company is better. Plus we can pause to use the restroom or re-wind and discuss something we saw/missed etc.
Hmm, I don't know. There are advantages compared to the theatre I suppose, but I find watching movies at your place pretty difficult. I have to hide outside, you and your wife are always getting in the way etc.
 
Last edited:
It's on at the local Odeon, so I may go and watch it some time in the next week or two. My home theatre consists of a £200 smart TV and a HDMI cable that lets me plug it into a computer to play DVDs and youtube. It has apps for a few services like Netflix installed as well and it fits nicely into a bookshelf. The screen on my computer is larger.
 
Lots of chatter going on in this thread, which is good to see.

I'm the OP, but I'm intentionally avoiding this thread for a few weeks until I see DUNE, I think it will be released here at the cinemas in early November

Just sayin' :thumbsup:
 
Last edited:
I understand every point made against theaters. I share a lot of the same complaints. I hate watching films where teenagers are running in and out and throwing popcorn and whatnot. I like being able to pause a film to go to the bathroom, and to get my own snacks. But. Dune was made to be seen on as big a screen as possible with a movie theater sound system. The theater experience was utterly epic.
 
Got to watch this yesterday. I generally have such low expectations of adaptations that I hate it when an adaptation of anything I enjoy is announced because I know it'll be hot garbage, but this was pretty good. Some minor complaints here and there, and one casting choice that I knew would be obnoxious and failed to surprise me, but overall it's a beautiful movie that doesn't dumb down the material and I'll be happy to watch the next one.
Watched this one at home though and I'll wait for the at home experience for the second one, cause to hell with other people bothering me while I watch movies.
 
From the article:


So it seems that both sides of that debate here were right. Villeneuve wanted to do both parts at the same time, but then put everything he had into making part one great.

A lot of people keep forgetting that filming all LoTR movies was huge YOLO move by the studio, that happened to pay off. Then a bunch of studios thought that filming a trilogy in one go was a license for success. There's a reason you don't see it as much. Villeneuve has already had one niche sci-fi property and it didn't have the best return on investment, but was critically praised. The Dune IP is also niche. It's adaptations are a box office flop (but cult classic), and some mini series on the Sci Fi Channel. LoTR is one of the most famous works of fiction in the english language. Add to this the popular opinion that Dune could not be adapted, and you have industry veterans saying this in a documentary.

I wish they had YOLO'ed on Dune so we could get part 2 quicker, but I can understand why the risk wasn't taken.
 
Paul needs to be a few years older for the next one anyhow.
That kids gonna be like my first 40 years where no one thought I was the age I was and I was still getting carded into my late 30s regularly. I even had one case where the person didn't believe my drivers license, military ID and then even stared hard at my passport which I happened to have on me because I was on vacation and between military change of stations. lol

Edit: What I'm saying is he's gonna look young for a long time I'm betting.
 
Do fans consider this the epic that they’ve been waiting for?
 
Do fans consider this the epic that they’ve been waiting for?

Word of mouth from film fans online seems pretty positive, including those familiar with the book and Lynch's film.
 
Word of mouth from film fans online seems pretty positive, including those familiar with the book and Lynch's film.
All the hardcore Dunedains I know liked the movie a lot. I thought what was there was good, but it really does feel like half a movie. I'm going to need more before I really love it.
 
If you want to see grousing and complaining about Dune there's always the thread on The Miniatures Page.
 
Three hours after watching the movie and stuffing my face with some great local Chinese food.

I'm not much of a super fan for anything, but Dune is one of my favorite books, and I think the movie was great.

It looked wonderful and most of the inevitable changes and adaptations didn't bug me. Zimmer's score was awesome, and I think I'm going listen to it again on Spotify later.

Downsides? Yueh was kind of a nonentity, which is a bad idea considering his role in events. I also agree they chose a weird beat for the ending, making me wonder if a sequel was mostly figured into the plan.
 
For once I'd like to see these cut scenes, whereas I could not give a fuck about anything they cut from LotR.



If you mean from the Lynch Dune, I think they might be in the Michael Warren version. The baliset is definitely there.

Although, from the context of the Twitter convo it's referring to the Villeneuve version.
 
If you mean from the Lynch Dune, I think they might be in the Michael Warren version. The baliset is definitely there.

Although, from the context of the Twitter convo it's referring to the Villeneuve version.

Yes it is referring to the new version. I've seen the cut and extended scenes from the Lynch version. Never watched the entire TV mini-series version.
 
Saw it in the cinema last night. Loved it. My wife, who generally hates the scifi bit of scifi films, enjoyed it too.

A lot of "show" rather than "tell". The voice. Paul starting to grow and piece things together himself, and his slow awakening after he was exposed to the spice. The visions showing different possible outcomes, some holding truth albeit in a more metaphorical sense.

Design, music, casting and cinematography were all really good, although I sometimes felt the element of heat were missing. Piter and the Baron were perfect - we needed more of them! The Sardaukar were terrifying.

Still a huge fan of the Lynch extended version, but in a different way
 
Saw Dune tonight. Solid 8.5, maybe 9/10.

The analogue instruments on the ornithopters and the mechanical compass were a nice touch w.r.t. the Butlerian Jihad. I won't post spoilers but it's definitely worth seeing.
 
Last edited:
So I finally gave up waiting for the wife and watched it. It was good!

I particularly liked that they used the station for Duncan's death and gave him a fitting send off, unlike Lynch. I mean, the man is a Swordmaster of Ginaz, and they had him die with no fanfare. In this one, he took down Sardukar like no one's business, which considering how they showed them in battle with the Atreides earlier and these crack troops being taken out really told how much above everyone Duncan was. I also really liked Chalamet's portrayal- though the script teetered on the edge of whininess at times, his acting reeled it back in.

I'm really not sure what to make of Liet-Kynes' gender swap. I don't mind it as a matter of course, it's just what it means, and the difference in timeline for her to bear Chani, as opposed to having a Fremen bear her. It's really strange that I didn't get the 'beast' from Bautista's portrayal. Also, there was something off about Ferguson's portrayal- I didn't really get Jessica's strength and love for her Duke that led her to bear Paul instead of a daughter.

After following some greats in the roles, Thufir and Yueh came off flat. Shadout Mapes was more of a throwaway as well. The baron killing Yueh was less manipulative than having DeVries do it- and on that point, he was also a lesser component, which is strange, because I really like the actor and he's done quirky before a lot better.

They were also a lot less circumspect in telling Paul about the Kwizatch Haderach and the alternates than I remember- having them say certain phrases aloud rather than the inner voice in Lynch's was weird, but I did like how they showed rather than telling in a lot of cases - the Gom Jabbar in particular was quite powerful without the imagery.

The ending was definitely later than I thought it would be- it seemed like it just came out of nowhere. But I'm glad it wasn't a manufactured cliffhanger considering the age of the IP.

All in all, I liked it as a movie better than Lynch's, though some points were deducted by some strange oddities.
 
Last edited:
The only thing I have issue with is Legendary Pictures demand that pictures release in the theatre only. They and others of that mindset can fuck off in my and my wife's opinion. We're done with theatres, we were done before the pandemic struck but occasionally still went to the theatre.

Our issue is that the theatres tended to have folks repeatedly being rude, loud and not willing to keep their fucking phones off. Theatre personal won't enforce policies and if you ask them to they're likely to ask you to leave instead. So due to that, the price of the food (which over all is crap) and how home theatres are so much nicer we just don't care to go.

At home I'm more comfortable, I can cook up or eat whatever treats that I want do, the seating is better, the drinks are better and the company is better. Plus we can pause to use the restroom or re-wind and discuss something we saw/missed etc. So Legendary raising a stink can as I said fuck off about theatre only specially since the damn pandemic isn't over.
Yeah, I'd rather pick and choose what I want to see based on my opinions rather than have someone say you have to wait an interminably long time to see something because that's the way it always has been. I love going to Alamo, though it's less of a draw now as we're eating smaller portions and eating healthier. But even that's a toss up right now because they've removed their spacing requirement.
 
Banner: The best cosmic horror & Cthulhu Mythos @ DriveThruRPG.com
Back
Top