Review 620: Dune

 

It’s kind of hard to talk about Denis Villeneuve’s Dune as a full blooded adaptation of Frank Herbert’s legendary sci if novel because it isn’t, it’s part one of an adaptation. Villeneuve is clearly giving it The Fellowship of the Ring treatment in building the world and the characters and in sighting the conflict.

Based on the sci fi novel Dune by Frank Herbert, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence—a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential—only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

The first time I picked up a copy of Dune at my local Daunt, I was both intrigued and worried by how thick it was   It was all I could to to refrain myself from buying it

Once they arrive on Arrakis, House Atreides takes over mining for "Spice", a mysterious, very valuable substance that prolongs human life and enhances congnative abilities. House Atreides mines in the same way we mine Iron Ore, Gold, Sliver and Diamonds and how the Wakandans mine Vibranium in Black Panther. 

Denis Villeneuve's direction is spectacularly unobtrusive, the cinematography is gorgeous and captures the barren, unforgiving landscapes of Arrakis; the score by Hans Zimmer is erie and evocative and expertly reflects the harsh desert world of Arrakis. The locations are fabulous, the special effects are splendid, the production design is excellent, the costumes are majestic.

Initially, I could not believe the cast that Denis Villeneuve had assembled for this film, Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem

Rebecca Ferguson doesn't lag far behind Chalamet playing Lady Jessica 

Oscar Isaac  playing Duke Leto Atreides. Duke Leto is the Ned Stark of Dune, an honourable head of a noble house whose always trying to do the right thing.

As Duncan Idaho, the Swordsman of House Atreides and one of Paul's mentors, Jason Momao basically plays himself but it works for this role. Momoa and Chalamet have a strong brotherly onscreen raport that's rather charming and it's clear that Paul looks up to him

Probably due to the decision to spread the story over two films, Skarsgard and Bautista only appear in a handful of scenes  

4/5.

The Anonymous Critic.