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Written by: Jon Spaihts and Denis Villeneuve and Eric Roth (screenplay by), Frank Herbert (based on the novel written by)
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgård, Josh Brolin, Javier Bardem, Dave Bautista, Charlotte Rampling
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Feature adaptation of the first half of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.
Verdict
The technical aspect of this movie is great, from the acting and direction to the production and cinematography. It's a big movie that creates a vast world. My only disappointment is that this is half a story. This is the setup to Paul Atreides's story, and this movie doesn't include a payoff. It lays the groundwork for something much bigger that we are unable to see yet, maybe at all depending on how "Part One" performs financially. Villeneuve does a great job with this, and I'm excited to see part two. The second half will either help or hurt this one, though it likely will completely the story and make this one better retroactively, if it's filmed.
It depends.
Review
I'm a big fan of Villeneuve. He did a fantastic job with Blade Runner 2049, which made him a great choice for this movie. He seems to have a penchant for science fiction, also directing Arrival.
This movie reminds me a lot of Blade Runner 2049 in how they establish alien worlds with setup shots and score.
It's a great looking movie, and I want to watch it again just for the experience and visuals. Villeneuve creates such a great mood in this movie.
This movie is setup, and that just means at the end of this there is no resolution. This movie doesn't stand on its own. This sets up an epic story with voiceover in the first scenes. There is conflict on the spice planet Arrakis. The native inhabitants of the planet cannot overcome the emperor installed family tasked with mining valuable resources.
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| Timothée Chalamet plays Paul Atreides. |
This movie is a work of art. It's the type of movie you could pause at any moment and get a great image. There's a lot of setup when we know quite quickly that Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is the chosen one. That's a typical movie trope, and its this sprawling world of politics that makes this movie unique. I wish Paul was just gifted rather than the chosen one. As soon as you invoke that trope it's easy to guess the rest of the story.
I learned more about the Bene Gesserit sisterhood reading about this movie after the fact than what I got while watching. I'm not sure if that's on me being unfamiliar with this story or the movie assuming I have a foundation of understanding. The Bene Gesserit and the Fremen of Arrakis both predict of a chosen one. It's clear that's Paul and I wish this movie didn't place as much emphasis on that so early. Knowing Paul's the one, the question of where this is going lingers. This movie is act one of three. It's all setup and it's possible I may never get a conclusion. If this movie had been filmed like Lord of the Rings where all three were shot at one time and released yearly, I'd at least know I wouldn't be left hanging. It's clear there is so much more to this story, and the movie tells us, "This is only the beginning." It's concerning that may be all we get. Update (2021.10.26): The studio confirmed Dune 2, and that it will release in theaters only in October 2023.
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| The planet of Caladan. |
This is a big story to tell and its done really well. Flashbacks are well integrated and the big scenes have a lot of impact. That also leaves me hoping for more when it ends. If this doesn't get a sequel it makes this movie a bit of a bust. It will always be an unfinished story.
This creates an interesting world, but I wish it did more with the socio-economics of these planets. I want to know how it functions and the hierarchy of the planets, but those aspects are not addressed. We know the emperor of the planets is afraid of House Atreides which is the impetus for the events of the movie and the reason House Atreides is sent to Arrakis.
After watching this one, I went back to re-watch the original Dune (1984) again. I didn't remember much, but seeing the original shows how 2021 planned out plot points and creates a superior narrative. While 2021 lacks not just a sufficient conclusion, but any conclusion, in 1984 the last act happens so quickly in so few scenes that it proves it's better to omit a conclusion than to rush it. Watching the 1984 version shows how much 2021 does right. It's a vastly improved narrative that develops the characters and delivers the story more effectively.
The 2021 version leans further into the chosen messiah narrative, and that's one of the things I wish it avoided. The chosen one arc has been too many times, and revealing it so clearly so early removes suspense.
The 1984 movie looks cheesy now, but 2021 does such a great job of scale. It just feels so much bigger.
One thing that is more explicit in 1984 is that Paul is the savior of the Fremen specifically. I find it strange he's the savior of a different planet with a different set of beliefs. While the same is true in 2021, it's not as explicit. After reading about these movies, apparently his mother's sisterhood planted the idea of a chosen one on Arrakis. I did not pick that up from the movies. The Bene Gesserit sisterhood seems to be pulling the strings behind the scenes, and I want to see more of that.
It's clear Villeneuve has a knack for telling sci-fi stories. Bladerunner 2049 is fantastic and that and Dune feel very similar. The glaring difference between the two is that Dune doesn't finish the story. It's half a movie.
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