So when acclaimed filmmaker Denis Villeneuve (Arrival, Blade Runner 2049) became attached to direct a big-budget, large-scale adaptation of Herbert's novel, I was finally interested for the first time in my life. I never watched the 1984 David Lynch adaptation that was met with great derision from critics and fans alike, although it does have its vocal defenders (Hindsight alert: Lynch turned down directing Return of the Jedi to helm Dune). Maybe I was too rash, and maybe my older present self would be more accommodating to the struggle, or maybe it just wasn't worth the effort. After those five excruciating pages, I gave up. I can still recall my frustration of reading those first five pages and having to repeatedly flip back and forth to a twenty-five-page glossary of terms so that I could even start to comprehend what was happening on the page. I had begun to read more fantasy literature and was looking at older, heralded novels. I attempted to read Frank Herbert's novel Dune when I was in the seventh grade. Would be a great shame if the unconfirmed sequel(s) not made! I hope it does well and isn't forgotten like Bladerunner 2042. I appreciated that the film focused on setting the stage on Arrakis, but not seeing even a glimpse of the Emperor and/or the Spacing Guild felt like omitting huge players in the political narrative and world building.Īnyway, a very good movie otherwise if you like slow burn dramatic space operas with heavy lore. Villeneuve was so focused on creating this ambience of a grounded, bleak political landscape that it feels like he neglected the immersion of a super heated desert. The film insists on informing me of these things but the super muted and cool tones and lack of heat waves on camera were unconvincing. I feel the color tones used really did a disservice in convincing me how incredibly hot, uninhabitable and valuable water is on Arrakis. However I liked the liberties it took with storytelling and my memory is foggy but it also made the narrative easier to follow than previous iterations. Granted this first installment doesn't work much as a standalone film and is very setup heavy for a sequel. (Wtf was that?)ĭune 2021 is still exactly the slow-burn, atmospheric space opera it was intended to be but now with modern art direction and cinematography that really pushes those elements.

I didn't read the books but was very much into the 2000-2003 miniseries on SciFi Channel (that I still recommend, stuff like this just isn't being made anymore with the closest modern thing maybe being 'The Expanse') and also had the recent displeasure of watching the original 1984 film.

Snow bros 2 with new elves