Thought people might like a space to discuss the film without worrying about spoilers for those who don’t know the novel.
We’ve had decades of anticipation for a decent adaptation of this and i’d certainly be keen on hearing from those who read the books when they were first published what they think. The question remains whether this film is seen by the wider public as just another bloated CG fest and it sinks into obscurity much like Avatar, i’d like to think not because i want to see part two damn it!
Things i liked:
Maybe it’s because i am familiar with the book but i felt i knew where i was in the story at every step, it was coherent in a way the convoluted Tenet was not and given a lot of space to breathe. They just had to split this thing in two i think but the plot beats were there and maybe there were things missing i can’t remember.
The design of the whole thing is sublime, from the colossal Heighliners for interstellar travel and transport ships to the beautiful “i want one” ornithopters. If there is a part two i would hope we’ll get to see the Guild Navigators. Along with the reveal of Shai-Hulud there are a lot of jaw dropping visuals at a time when i think cinema can’t wow me anymore and i’ll include the real world locations in that, Jordan looks incredible in this.
Casting felt solid to me, i really enjoyed watching Stellan Skarsgård bring a grotesquery to his Colonel Kurtz style Baron and his many oily baths, the way he floats through the scenes has a deeply unnerving quality. Never been much of a fan of Timothée Chalamet but he’s fine in this i guess? Paul is a bit of a charisma vaccum anyway so he seems suited to the role.
How much is all this down to the score? Probably a lot so i’ll chuck that in too. When you have a majestic score combined with the ornithopters taking off and Shai-Hulud is swallowing a spice harvester whole while Liet Kynes says the prayer to Shai-Hulud i think “ahhh, so this is what cinema can do”. Of course i’m all in for that.
I was concerned going in that this would be a cold and emotionless film but it’s not really, there’s humour and affection in here that i found very welcome.
Nitpicking criticisms:
Maybe the film runs out of steam a bit towards the end which might be inevitable given that we’ve just watched the Harkonnen’s sudden but inevitable betrayal in epic style.
I understand why they decided to make the film tighter by focusing more on Arrakis and the Atreides for this part but i hope it broadens out some if there is another one, particularly all the plotting and literal back stabbing that goes on in the Harkonnen ranks.
Speaking of things missing before, i did hope there’d be more of the palace intrigue amongst the Atreides before everything went to hell but it was not to be.
To my ignorant eye there is Muslim and MENA culture represented on screen but is it enough and is it done right? It has been pointed out that there is a lack of this representation behind the camera and some of the references were purposely watered down in the film which is disappointing. I want to see all that pulled apart by the author who penned the Tor article on the religion.
