DUNE: THE MOTHER OF SCI-FIs

NON-SPOILER REVIEW

The third live-action adaptation of Frank Herbert's award winning book of the same name - Dune (1965), is currently making the rounds, and for good reason. I had been waiting a long time for a new epic sci-fi film to get lost in, and Dune is just what the doctor ordered, and then some. It is well known, that Frank Herbert's Dune novels heavily impacted the sci-fi genre - influencing the likes of George Lucas's Star Wars and many other sci-fi films that have since come after. So for it to be in the spotlight in glowing terms right now is no less than it deserved. Director Dennis Villeneuve's (Blader Runner 2049, Sicario, Prisoners) adaptation of the first book in the Dune series is simply majestic. 

A multifaceted mammoth which effortlessly  blends the sci-fi, fantasy, action and drama genres to near perfection. While a lot of credit goes to Frank Herbert for creating such a rich and immersive world filled with mythos and political intrigue, Villeneuve's onscreen translation is grounded, tactile and corporeal. In many ways Villeneuve did to Dune what Christopher Nolan did to Batman in Batman Begins, creating a believable, relatable world in contrast to the razzmatazz of the earlier adaptations (Dune -1984, Dune - miniseries).

House Atriedes

Dune takes it time, slowly introducing this huge world and its characters to the audience. In many ways we're just as isolated as the Atriedes in Arrakis, oblivious of the events and machinations in the larger landscape of the Imperium. The drama elements come to the fore here, and action scenes even when few and far between are memorable.

Visually, Dune is absolutely stunning, with sights and sounds that make it unforgettable. Arrakis is different from any other pop culture Desert planet we've seen (and we've seen a couple) and the different multicultural influences don't feel forced or 'woke' - as they are beautifully interwoven into the world so well, that it feels like a distant possibility. Add the genius of Hans Zimmer to the score and you have something beyond special, and this is just the surface level stuff. Dig deeper and you find a deeply engaging narrative of honour, loyalty, legacy, politics and betrayal, with complex and unforgettable characters portrayed by some of the top acting talent out there at the moment. 

"You fight when the need arises"

I'm not one for hand-holding and even though the film was just fine without it, I probably would have liked a little more exposition on the Houses of the Landsraad and the Imperium, perhaps an elongated Chani voice-over, or quick text to shed some more information about the universe.

When it comes to world building, the groundwork for this universe has been well laid out. The plot masterfully embedded with characters whose stories we want to see to their respective conclusions. As Chani said "This is only the beginning", and we want to see how deep the Rabbit hole goes.

As someone who's seen Dune both on the big screen and at home, I'd recommend you do both, preferably experiencing first in the theatres, and then at home or whatever order, just make sure you see it twice for good measure as some concepts may fly over your head the first time if you're not familiar with the books or earlier adaptations.

There's much more Chani to come

Prior to the film's release, Villeneuve had hinted a desire to make the series a trilogy (the Dune books hold more than enough material), expanding into the second book of the series - Dune Messiah (1969). While that is yet to be confirmed, we're at least sure of getting a sequel and I'm quite excited that there's still so much we're still going to experience from this universe. The recent news that Dune Part 2 will be releasing in October 2023 signifies a long wait, however, I will be counting the moons until I return to "My Desert, My Arrakis, My Dune." 

Reject Rating: 9/10

Images courtesy of Warner Bros./Legendary Pictures