Review of Dune (2021) by Captain_Chaos — 24 Dec 2021

When I first heard that a new adaptation of Dune was in production, I didn't know what to think. The cast, revealed early on, certainly held promise. But I don't think I expected what we got. There is an emotional intensity and just, humanity, to this version that I've never seen in Dune before. It's not even really there in the book.

I first read Dune as a child, and again when I was a bit older. I've read the second and third books twice as well. I've started the fourth twice, and left off of it twice, it failing to hold my interest, but that is a discussion for another time.

I love the 1984 David Lynch film. Some people do, others don't. It's very much a product of its time: a flashy spectacle with a flair for costume design and an excellent soundtrack. My memories of the later Sci-Fi channel miniseries are faint, but I can say it never captured my imagination the way the first film and the Westwood strategy games did. To say nothing of my imaginings of the lost 70s-era Jodorowsky adaptation.

A friend asked me if Dune: Part One made up for the Jodorowsky version never coming out. I told him I didn't think I was qualified to say. But this film brought the story of Paul Atreides to vivid, surreal life in a way I never anticipated.

The brilliant cast, excellent mechanical design, and soundtrack with incredible presence and intensity come together almost flawlessly. As a simple filmgoer, I cannot reasonably say how this film might have been improved further.

I appreciate the small details as well, like styling Chalemet's hair to resemble Kyle MacLachlan's in the '84 film.

Every so often a production with the budget of Dune: Part One turns out to be very good, and I reminded that filmmaking as a medium has not quite yet been subsumed by moneygrubbing hacks in suits who bow, scrape and grovel at the altar of Mickey Mouse.

I learned only just prior to its release that this flm was to be part one of a series, and went into production with full knowledge that it might not get a continuation. I can only hope its quality and success means that it will.