This is the first time I try to publicly present a well-thought critique on a movie. So, please bear with me.
I usually write fast, and without any edits. And this is no exception.
I first read Dune about 20 years ago. Since then, I read it again one or twice. Last time was about 9 years ago.
I decided to not re-read it, prior to the movie. To get a bit of both worlds. The newcomer, and the knowing fan.
My memory is pretty good, but I've forgotten some of the details over the years.
I've always been a cinephile of sorts. And I'm pretty demanding.
I've worked on myself over the years, to keep my own expectations (and those of the general public) from affecting my perception of a movie too much.
And I think I'm good at it. I try to keep my demands as objective as possible, while remembering I'm there to enjoy art in all of its subjective glory/awfulness.
And I also believe, this was THE biggest debt the "sci-fi adaptation" genre had with us. Dune is sci-fi's biggest best-seller and a masterpiece, after all..
It's a great adaptation. An excellent experience for both fans and newcomers, I believe. Well-balanced, for the most part.
It sticks pretty closely to the source material, but without being a carbon copy.
Doing everything "by the book" when it comes to adapted material, defeats the whole purpose. What's the point of just repeating, after all?
Also, it's bound to fail. Some stuff, you just cannot adapt as is.
So, where the movie adapts, it does so out of necessity.
To avoid forcing it, to speed up the pace 'cos it's a movie, and to simplify for newcomers.
In short, whatever sacrifices in accuracy and detail are there... Make sense, almost all of the time. It's done with respect, and quality.
You get the necessary explaining and clues. Mainly through the actors' fine work, I'd say.
The acting brings us in emotionally. It makes both newcomers and fans care.
For a fan, some of the clues may seem too small. Glossed over, even. But subtlety and brevity are positive here, far more often than not.
It's rather slow-paced, for a 2021 movie that's meant to be epic and include some action. But that's a GOOD sign.
I saw it as a healthy middle-ground. It's not as slow and intellectual as the book (that'd be a snore-fest, in cinema). And it's not as fast as your average big-budget big-FX flick. So, it has a balance between complexity/detail and intensity.
Considering the sheer pressure to oversimplify and make everything as action-packed as possible... Dune's pace being that slow, is bold AND respectful. A show that Villeneuve prioritises art over business.
I'm more for plot and characters, than an FX and aesthetics. On the latter, the movie works pretty well too. We're finally at a time where technology is worthy of bringing such an epic story to life, and it shows.
I just cannot quite put my finger on the small sensation, that some parts of the aesthetics fell maybe a bit short of "flawless." That they didn't contribute as much as they could, to the atmosphere. But I'm sure it'll be fully captivating for most, still.
NOW, FOR THE SPOILERS
Upon watching the film, I realised that what I remember the least about the book is the exact order in which things happen. So, maybe that's the reason Yueh's betrayal caught me unprepared.
Or maybe the movie is just THAT good.
I think Jessica's portrayal was more successful in this movie, than in the book.
There. I said it.
Her position is makes her the most troubled character. Because she cares deeply for many others. And is also far more aware of the dangers awaiting them, than the rest. In a more precise and acute way.
She's our emotional delivery.
And, while the book shows us how distressed she is... I think it falls short on its delivery. We're so focused on how brilliant and resourceful and strong she is, that the parts where she's our emotional connection to the story... Are thus overshadowed.
Or at least, that's what I think happened to many Dune readers. Me included. Herbert was great, but here he didn't quite managed to convey it as deeply as he should've.
The movie IMPROVES upon this, by showing us her suffering in more expressive ways. While not taking away from her strengths.
Considering that the rest of the characters don't give nearly as much of that emotional stuff, this is particularly important to me.
Also, when she has to be "intense but subtle" to show the mixture of a passionate heart along with great talent as a controlled Bene Gesserit... Rebecca Ferguson delivers beautifully. She really stands.
Pretty much all significant actors get to shine, even when they have small parts.
Bautista expresses much about the Beast's raw personality, in a few gestures.
Skarsgard is subtler than the Baron would seem in the books, but in a good way. He casts an imposing aura of menace and cold ruthless intelligence, just by his simplest body language. He uses the grotesque figure of the Baron to greater effect, keeping it from becoming silly or too off-putting. The "less is more," used succesfully.
Zendayah runs all the range smoothly, really selling each scene in spite of how much they repeat "girl in Paul's dreams" thing (a bit too much, I'd say). She shows affection, calculated mistrust, honorable respect or rugged confidence. And the way the movie mixes present and future regarding her... That contrast just adds to the mystique. You just can't wait to see what happens when they meet for real, and those scenes keep showing her at her best.
Chalamet shows Paul's mixture of confidence, burden and doubt, without exaggeration ( which is the biggest pitfall in such things, usually). He's not overtly expressive, but it fits the character. And when he explodes with emotional reaction, it works quite well.
With that, along with some short peeks, we're already getting a visceral, intense foreshadowing of what the future will mean for him personally.
Isaac takes advantage of every opportunity, to show us the most compelling qualities of the Duke. His loyalty-inspiring attitude and ethics. The love for Jessica and Paul, is played out just right. No corny stuff, no exaggerations, no clichés.
I could keep going on about the actors, but you get the point.
The visuals are quite good, and the music does its job nicely. The stillsuits are good, the ships are cool, the indoor scenarios capture the essence of what Dune is about, the sandworms and the spice look great. The teasing over finally seeing Shai'Hulud in all its glory, only adds to the experience. The choice in the spice's aesthetics, added to how it's shown in subtle or obvious ways in different situations, is a good one.
WHY A 8.5, AND NOT A 10
First, the smaller issue. The landscapes.
Maybe my expectations are off. Maybe I was expecting something more "alien" and Villeneuve didn't feel the need for that. Since it's still human settlements we're talking about. And Herbert never made the planets THAT alien-looking, really.
I think my biggest reason to expect something more outlandish, and also the reason the previous filmed stuff relied on such outlandish stuff as some of the costumes and so... Is the fact that it's such a distant future.
But it also makes sense, to not deviate too much from common sense. After all, even while humanity has varied a lot over the millennia... Once it reached a certain level of "civilisation," things became more streamlined. Patterns became more common.
It doesn't make sense to expect our highest social class to start dressing like witch doctors or Queen Amidala, after all... Impractical as it is... Just because "oooh, it's the fuuuture."
Also, I got some Ridley Scott vibes from the flick. From some of the visual, atmosphere and music. Mostly reminding me of Blade Runner, and Prometheus.
And that felt kinda cheap. Not a rip-off, but still sort of wrong.
So, you can see I second-guess myself about this "negative point." And that's the reason it only lowers the score by 0.5.
What manages to lower it by one whole point, is something that was bound to happen. Important stuff, left out for no good reason. A mistake that, in my opinion, diminishes Dune's greatness as a masterpiece that stands apart.
They would've done much to show how complex and clever Dune's plots are. Considering how good they were at showing and explaining other things, they should've made it just a few minutes longer and add all this too.
It's mostly about the Harkonnens' plot. It's too oversimplified. It loses its "that's genius" factor.
THAT bit alone, is what elevates the Harkonnens above overtly simplistic villains. Breaking a technique so reliable, every paranoid noble and Bene Gesserit thought they could trust.
A good way to show that, would've been to include her body language use of the Voice.
And I totally understand that's hard to convey through film, but still...
They decided to scratch that. Which also diminishes from the Harkonnen's cleverness AGAIN.
The rest of the movie, convinced me they left that out with the best of intentions. By following the same guidelines, that turned out to be a good idea throughout the vast majority of the film.
For example, Jessica´s exchange with Shadout Mapes changed significantly yet managed to convey all it had to flawlessly. Transitioning smoothly from the book's slower pace, to the movie's dynamics.
I usually write fast, and without any edits. And this is no exception.
I first read Dune about 20 years ago. Since then, I read it again one or twice. Last time was about 9 years ago.
I decided to not re-read it, prior to the movie. To get a bit of both worlds. The newcomer, and the knowing fan.
My memory is pretty good, but I've forgotten some of the details over the years.
I've always been a cinephile of sorts. And I'm pretty demanding.
I've worked on myself over the years, to keep my own expectations (and those of the general public) from affecting my perception of a movie too much.
And I think I'm good at it. I try to keep my demands as objective as possible, while remembering I'm there to enjoy art in all of its subjective glory/awfulness.
And I also believe, this was THE biggest debt the "sci-fi adaptation" genre had with us. Dune is sci-fi's biggest best-seller and a masterpiece, after all..
It's a great adaptation. An excellent experience for both fans and newcomers, I believe. Well-balanced, for the most part.
It sticks pretty closely to the source material, but without being a carbon copy.
Doing everything "by the book" when it comes to adapted material, defeats the whole purpose. What's the point of just repeating, after all?
Also, it's bound to fail. Some stuff, you just cannot adapt as is.
So, where the movie adapts, it does so out of necessity.
To avoid forcing it, to speed up the pace 'cos it's a movie, and to simplify for newcomers.
In short, whatever sacrifices in accuracy and detail are there... Make sense, almost all of the time. It's done with respect, and quality.
You get the necessary explaining and clues. Mainly through the actors' fine work, I'd say.
The acting brings us in emotionally. It makes both newcomers and fans care.
For a fan, some of the clues may seem too small. Glossed over, even. But subtlety and brevity are positive here, far more often than not.
It's rather slow-paced, for a 2021 movie that's meant to be epic and include some action. But that's a GOOD sign.
I saw it as a healthy middle-ground. It's not as slow and intellectual as the book (that'd be a snore-fest, in cinema). And it's not as fast as your average big-budget big-FX flick. So, it has a balance between complexity/detail and intensity.
Considering the sheer pressure to oversimplify and make everything as action-packed as possible... Dune's pace being that slow, is bold AND respectful. A show that Villeneuve prioritises art over business.
I'm more for plot and characters, than an FX and aesthetics. On the latter, the movie works pretty well too. We're finally at a time where technology is worthy of bringing such an epic story to life, and it shows.
I just cannot quite put my finger on the small sensation, that some parts of the aesthetics fell maybe a bit short of "flawless." That they didn't contribute as much as they could, to the atmosphere. But I'm sure it'll be fully captivating for most, still.
NOW, FOR THE SPOILERS
Upon watching the film, I realised that what I remember the least about the book is the exact order in which things happen. So, maybe that's the reason Yueh's betrayal caught me unprepared.
Or maybe the movie is just THAT good.
I think Jessica's portrayal was more successful in this movie, than in the book.
There. I said it.
Her position is makes her the most troubled character. Because she cares deeply for many others. And is also far more aware of the dangers awaiting them, than the rest. In a more precise and acute way.
She's our emotional delivery.
And, while the book shows us how distressed she is... I think it falls short on its delivery. We're so focused on how brilliant and resourceful and strong she is, that the parts where she's our emotional connection to the story... Are thus overshadowed.
Or at least, that's what I think happened to many Dune readers. Me included. Herbert was great, but here he didn't quite managed to convey it as deeply as he should've.
The movie IMPROVES upon this, by showing us her suffering in more expressive ways. While not taking away from her strengths.
Considering that the rest of the characters don't give nearly as much of that emotional stuff, this is particularly important to me.
Also, when she has to be "intense but subtle" to show the mixture of a passionate heart along with great talent as a controlled Bene Gesserit... Rebecca Ferguson delivers beautifully. She really stands.
Pretty much all significant actors get to shine, even when they have small parts.
Bautista expresses much about the Beast's raw personality, in a few gestures.
Skarsgard is subtler than the Baron would seem in the books, but in a good way. He casts an imposing aura of menace and cold ruthless intelligence, just by his simplest body language. He uses the grotesque figure of the Baron to greater effect, keeping it from becoming silly or too off-putting. The "less is more," used succesfully.
Zendayah runs all the range smoothly, really selling each scene in spite of how much they repeat "girl in Paul's dreams" thing (a bit too much, I'd say). She shows affection, calculated mistrust, honorable respect or rugged confidence. And the way the movie mixes present and future regarding her... That contrast just adds to the mystique. You just can't wait to see what happens when they meet for real, and those scenes keep showing her at her best.
Chalamet shows Paul's mixture of confidence, burden and doubt, without exaggeration ( which is the biggest pitfall in such things, usually). He's not overtly expressive, but it fits the character. And when he explodes with emotional reaction, it works quite well.
With that, along with some short peeks, we're already getting a visceral, intense foreshadowing of what the future will mean for him personally.
Isaac takes advantage of every opportunity, to show us the most compelling qualities of the Duke. His loyalty-inspiring attitude and ethics. The love for Jessica and Paul, is played out just right. No corny stuff, no exaggerations, no clichés.
I could keep going on about the actors, but you get the point.
The visuals are quite good, and the music does its job nicely. The stillsuits are good, the ships are cool, the indoor scenarios capture the essence of what Dune is about, the sandworms and the spice look great. The teasing over finally seeing Shai'Hulud in all its glory, only adds to the experience. The choice in the spice's aesthetics, added to how it's shown in subtle or obvious ways in different situations, is a good one.
WHY A 8.5, AND NOT A 10
First, the smaller issue. The landscapes.
Maybe my expectations are off. Maybe I was expecting something more "alien" and Villeneuve didn't feel the need for that. Since it's still human settlements we're talking about. And Herbert never made the planets THAT alien-looking, really.
I think my biggest reason to expect something more outlandish, and also the reason the previous filmed stuff relied on such outlandish stuff as some of the costumes and so... Is the fact that it's such a distant future.
But it also makes sense, to not deviate too much from common sense. After all, even while humanity has varied a lot over the millennia... Once it reached a certain level of "civilisation," things became more streamlined. Patterns became more common.
It doesn't make sense to expect our highest social class to start dressing like witch doctors or Queen Amidala, after all... Impractical as it is... Just because "oooh, it's the fuuuture."
Also, I got some Ridley Scott vibes from the flick. From some of the visual, atmosphere and music. Mostly reminding me of Blade Runner, and Prometheus.
And that felt kinda cheap. Not a rip-off, but still sort of wrong.
So, you can see I second-guess myself about this "negative point." And that's the reason it only lowers the score by 0.5.
What manages to lower it by one whole point, is something that was bound to happen. Important stuff, left out for no good reason. A mistake that, in my opinion, diminishes Dune's greatness as a masterpiece that stands apart.
They would've done much to show how complex and clever Dune's plots are. Considering how good they were at showing and explaining other things, they should've made it just a few minutes longer and add all this too.
It's mostly about the Harkonnens' plot. It's too oversimplified. It loses its "that's genius" factor.
- Duke Leto questions Jessica about her loyalty, but we never see that the Harkonnens were engineering that mistrust. As a distraction.
- Yueh's betrayal looks really generic. We're never told, that the reason he was never suspected is 'cos of the Imperial Conditioning and how it's believed to be unbreakable.
THAT bit alone, is what elevates the Harkonnens above overtly simplistic villains. Breaking a technique so reliable, every paranoid noble and Bene Gesserit thought they could trust.
- In spite of my high regards for Jessica's portrayal, now I see, we don't yet truly get shown just how talented she is. She's not just a well-placed Bene Gesserit. She's one of the best among them.
A good way to show that, would've been to include her body language use of the Voice.
And I totally understand that's hard to convey through film, but still...
They decided to scratch that. Which also diminishes from the Harkonnen's cleverness AGAIN.
The rest of the movie, convinced me they left that out with the best of intentions. By following the same guidelines, that turned out to be a good idea throughout the vast majority of the film.
For example, Jessica´s exchange with Shadout Mapes changed significantly yet managed to convey all it had to flawlessly. Transitioning smoothly from the book's slower pace, to the movie's dynamics.