Dune (2021)

This year, I got to see yet another adaption of the 1965 classic science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, Dune. I've previously watched the extremely psychedelic 1984 version, and clips of the 2000 television miniseries. Having been in the works for years, and initially supposed to air in 2020 until derailed by Covid, it finally premiered in October of 2021. Does the film live up to the hype that has surrounded it? Find out!

Created by Denis Villeneuve, the master behind the excellent films Sicario, Arrival, and Bladerunner 2049, whose imagery seemed to inspire so much of real life 2020, this promised to, at the very least, be a feast for the eyes. From pre-production stills, to the trailers, we were not left wanting in all the visuals of eight thousand years in the future. It was, without a doubt, visually appealing. 

From the oceans and castles of Caladan, to the windswept and hostile sandy deserts of Arrakis, the worlds depicted by Villeneuve are breathtaking. Enormous visual spectacle is put together, whether its ships taking off from underwater, enormous worms moving in seas of spice laden sand, or massive ships sending fleets down to planets, we see just how big the universe is. It's so refreshing to see how the world changes. 

This is all accompanied by a phenomenal score by Hans Zimmer, which pulls you in just as well as the visuals. Impeccably paired with the stunning sights, we see that it is an amazing auditory experience as well with the music giving the beats from dread to hope to joy. I found it enthralling and I simply couldn't be distracted from what I was seeing. The mid point of the movie where the fighting rages was so well done that I lost myself in the spectacle for quite a while.

The casting especially is excellent, with House Atreides well rounded out by its ruling Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac) and Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and their son and heir to the Dukedon, Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet). Their loyal retainers Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin) their mentat, Thufir Hawat (Stephen McKinley Henderson), the Suk doctor Wellington Yueh (Chang Chen) and finally, swordmaster and mentor to Paul, Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa). 

Opposing them are the forces of House Harkonnen, led by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) his monstrous nephew Glossu Rabban (Dave Bautista) and their own mentat running many schemes Piter De Vries (David Dastmalchian) serving a secret plot to bring down the Atreides.

Between these two warring factions lay the Fremen, a group of desert dwelling warriors who have been trod on for years by Imperial tyranny. Among them is the respected leader Stilgar (Javier Bardem) and the woman of some of Paul's visions, the mysterious Chani (Zendaya). 

Put together its an amazing ensemble cast who will blow you away with their excellent work!

With the aesthetics, from the set design to the costuming, you'll be blown away. It has some amazing science fiction work which is brought low enough with the clever inclusion of swords, knives and personal shields that you get a real sense of a changed future. The armor worn by the various factions makes them immediately identifiable, the clothes and apparel feels natural, and the sets are all geniusly designed. I loved how distinct and permament it all felt. Beautifully rendered in practical effects and CGI.

The story, in its bare bones, is told very well for this nearly three hour adaptation, and there are some scenes shot almost shot for shot in how they are represented in the books. The scenes on Caladan in particular and the heroic rescue of the crawler crew from a sandworm attack most of all. It was phenomenally well done in that regard.

However, the film seems to expect more than a passing familiarity with the minutia of the Dune universe. Some of that is easily incorporated into the film, from mentats to the Bene Gesserit, but much of the why of the story is left to be assumed. One famous scenes from the books is the Harkonnen's explaining their pathological desire to destroy House Atreides, but in the film we're almost left assuming the why and that the Harkonnen's are villainous because of how they look. So, much of the reasoning behind this centuries old feud is left for the viewer to assume rather than know. Similarly, with the Emperor being absent from this, the politics are a bit muddled, unlike the 1984 film where they are almost detrimentally front and center.

Casual viewers might come away struggling to understand a few things, the importance of the previous Duke dying in the Bull Fighting Ring, the hopes of Arrakis being green one day, Harkonnen cruelty, and the relationships between these houses, but its something you can reasonably infer. The Bene Gesserit are also well done, but almost absent in place and purpose except for the opening. Overall however, it is quite 

One thing that did baffle me was the PG-13 rating for a film which could have easily been rated R. There's not that much violence granted, and some special effects cover it very well, mostly with the clever shield fighting. However, it did seem to rob some of the more impactful scenes of their meat which could have been helped along by maybe a little more graphic depictions of the violence inherent in the battles or desert life. It just seemed like a lot of the action was a little subdued for that.

Overall however, this was a film which was gorgeous. From the acting, to the music to the set design, it leapt off the screen and kept me focused like few movies have done in the last few years. I was immersed, and I think even casual viewers will be too! Definitely worth seeing!