Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.
No matter how many times I have tried to watch David Lynch’s 1984 big-screen adaptation of Frank Herbert’s seminal bestseller ‘Dune,’ I have never managed to stay the course. I was recently sent out a 4K review copy of the film, the extended three-hour cut but as before, I fell asleep halfway through and never made it to the end. When I saw the first trailer for Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune,” instead of fear and apprehension at the thought of another adaptation, I found myself enthusiastic and giddy with excitement, mainly because of Villeneuve himself. After “Sicario,” “Arrival,” and “Blade Runner 2049,” movies that blew me away, visually and emotionally, I couldn’t wait to see how he would embark upon the seemingly impossible task of translating Herbert’s written word into a visually spectacular world that would make sense and prevent me from falling asleep.
And boy did he succeed! While the running time is 155 minutes, I didn’t feel the hours go by. We are given so much to absorb, it keeps you transfixed to the screen and while I found myself truly enjoying it as a whole, it then dawned on me that this is only the first part of a two-part story. It reminded me of watching Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” for the first time in theaters, I had never read Tolkien’s work before so when “Fellowship” ended, I was taken aback that I was going to have to wait another year for the next chapter in the series, and that’s exactly what happened here. The screen went black and the credits began to roll and I felt like falling to my knees and shouting out “Noooooooooooooooo” at the top of my voice but I was in civilized company so I resisted the urge to do so. I am, however, excited to re-watch it again, especially in IMAX, if you are up to seeing it in theaters, IMAX is the way to go.
Set in the year 10,191, humans have expanded into the universe and colonized untold planets. Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) is the son of Duke Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac) and the powerful warrior priestess, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson). They live on the planet of Caladan and when Duke Leto receives word from Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV, the ruler of the universe, that he is to be given the stewardship of the dangerous desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, he accepts the offer. Arrakis is home to the Spice, the most valuable substance in the empire, which is known to extend life and prolong consciousness. It also permits the folding of space, allowing spontaneous interstellar travel. When Duke Leto, his family, and his army arrive on Arrakis, they are introduced to the native people, the Fremen, who tell of the prophecy of a messiah that will lead them to freedom.
At night, Paul has prophetic dreams about meeting a young Fremen girl where he leads her and her people out of slavery but he also foresees his own death and wakes up confused, not knowing where his future lies. One night, he is awakened by the sounds of gunfire and explosions and quickly realizes that they are under attack. He and his mother, Lady Jessica, are taken captive by the Harkonnens, the archenemy of House Atreides, and the previous stewards of Arrakis before it was taken away from them and handed to Duke Leto Atreides by the Emperor. They manage to escape but wind up in the desert, home to gigantic sandworms who are attracted to rhythmic vibrations on the surface, forcing Paul and Jessica to walk in an erratic, non-rhymic fashion that Paul learned about when he first arrived on the planet.
Soon thereafter, they meet up with a small band of Fremen led by Stilgar (Javier Bardem), and Paul finally gets to meet Chani (Zendaya), the girl from his dreams but when he and his mother learn that they have been betrayed by the Emperor and someone within their close circle, they accompany the group to Sietch Tabr, the home of Stilgar and his particular troop of Fremen. As the Emperor conspires with the Harkonnens to kill the Fremen and take the Spice for themselves, Paul and Jessica team up with the Fremen, learning all they can from them, and teaching them everything they know, in anticipation of the approaching battle.
Denis Villeneuve successfully navigates the pages of Frank Herbert’s comprehensive novel and transports it to the big screen with great appreciation for the source material. Villeneuve is that rare filmmaker who is able to infuse sci-fi and drama triumphantly, laying memories of David Lynch’s sprawling monstrosity, to bed. The entire cast is uniformly excellent, with Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson grabbing the majority of screen time. Chalamet’s Paul Atreides is reluctant at following in his father’s footsteps and this is established early on, yet we know, as the movie unfolds, he will become the leader he was meant to be. He is constantly trained by his father’s Master of Assassins, Thufir Hawat (Stephen McKinley Henderson), Master of Arms, Gurney Halleck (Josh Brolin), and Swordmaster, Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), men who teach Paul the importance of personal combat and warfare tactics in anticipation of him one day becoming the new Duke, characteristics that will benefit him greatly. While the movie does have a few slow parts, cinematographer Greig Fraser immerses you in the various worlds throughout, utilizing striking imagery, and stunningly shot sequences, specifically those containing the giant sandworms.
Personally, I cannot predict if this iteration of “Dune” will be profitable for Warner Bros., I hope it is as I thoroughly enjoyed every frame and I would very much like to see its concluding chapter but in the end, a large sci-fi epic that runs nearly three hours long could go either way. Hopefully, that way will be forward.
Now available on Premium Digital, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray, and DVD January 11th
