DUNE

[bolidemichael]

First reports of the upcoming Dune films have emerged and it's sounding promising.



I am a big fan of the original film and the sci-fi fiction by Frank Herbert (about the fight to control spice production on the planet of Arakis) is an even better read.

Any fans on PH? If you've been left disappointed at the last batch of Jar Jar Abrams movies, this may well fill the void.

[bolidemichael]

Of course, it's a David Lynch film. My favourite scene is with Paul Atreides... "THE PAIN!!!!".

[bolidemichael]

Yup, he's mad about it and he been working on the storyboard for years, which in itself in apparently incredibly rich in detail. I hope that they do it justice, it'll be incredible.

Ref the books, I've only read the main one - that's the one that I'd tackle first.

[bolidemichael]

Thanks for the update!

My initial thoughts:

- a slight mid characterisation of Baron Harkonnen

- the use of a popular song in Dark Side of the Moon threatens to capitalise cheaply on the cult pop culture element of Dune's following (though obvs they want to attract as many viewers as possible)

- they've touched upon two key elements of dialogue in the movie with the 'pain' and 'fear is the mindkiller'

- the worm looks awesome

[bolidemichael]

dxg said:

Clockwork Cupcake said:

I'm quietly and cautiously optimistic, given how well Denis Villeneuve did with Blade Runner 2049.

And with Arrival...

Thanks for this; I just watched this with Mrs Bolide. It's delicate and poignant.

[bolidemichael]

motco said:

'Dances with Strangers' is a book on the very subject. Can't recall the author's name immediately.

Kevin Costner?

What struck me was how the movie didn't follow a well worn trope of an overwhelming machismo from the military and also the absence of forceful exertion towards the female protagonist.

She was respected and admired, which was really quite a refreshing perspective and closer to the reality of everyday human relations.

Hopefully, we'll see this 'space' given to Paul Atreides and the people of Arakis. It's what seventies movies possessed... a little bit of breathing room. Finger crossed here.

Edited by bolidemichael on Thursday 10th September 10:21

[bolidemichael]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

The best way to watch the David Lynch film for the first time is having not read the books yourself, but with a person who has both read the books and already seen the film, and can fill in the gaps for you as you go.

Then go and read the books. And then watch the film again.

That's how I was lucky enough to experience it in 1990.

hashtagmetoo

Edited by bolidemichael on Friday 11th September 10:04

[bolidemichael]

This is a fascinating interview with both David Lynch and Frank Herbert, conducted prior to the release of the already-completed movie in 1983. David Lynch talks about the creative experience from filming such a large movie in Mexico City and Frank Herbert talking about the political commentary of the Dune Trilogy and his iconoclastic views on society's tendencies towards Messianic figures. Frank Herbert was previously a speech writer for a US Senator.

[bolidemichael]

Halmyre said:

bolidemichael said:

This is a fascinating interview with both David Lynch and Frank Herbert, conducted prior to the release of the already-completed movie in 1983. David Lynch talks about the creative experience from filming such a large movie in Mexico City and Frank Herbert talking about the political commentary of the Dune Trilogy and his iconoclastic views on society's tendencies towards Messianic figures. Frank Herbert was previously a speech writer for a US Senator.

I don't believe Lynch has ever discussed the film since. From what I've heard he absolutely refuses to talk about it.

Here is a recent commentary where we offers some insights (he is clearly deeply affected by it) into the lack of creative control and how he 'die[d] the death', twice over - the lack of creative control and of commercial success.

[bolidemichael]

Vickers_VC10 said:

I find the decision to what looks like my eyes as a direct remake of Lynch's version, an odd one. Whilst I do really like Dune, I acknowledge its fairly derided as not being true to the source material and generally being a mess.

My only thoughts were perhaps to enable a sequel to be filmed, first they had to remake it with a fresh cast. Not sure either way this trailer looks very good.

Villeneuve has categorically stated that he isn't referencing the Lynch movie but working off the source material i.e. the book. There's a good interview from August at the Shanghai Film Festival which is very insightful.

[bolidemichael]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

Vickers_VC10 said:

Comparisons are obviously going to be made though if you include the hand in box scene and Paul saying.... ' I must not fear, fear is the mindkiller' FWIW I couldn't get along with the book and gave up.

So you haven't read much of even the first book but you feel qualified to comment on whether the new film is a remake of the old film or whether it is true to the book(s) that you haven't read?

As Rumblestripe points out, the Hand in the Box and the Litany Against Fear both feature heavily in the books. And quite early on the first book too.

I'm just as bemused - with respect, why bother to comment at all!

[bolidemichael]

bloomen said:

whitesocks said:

Hopefully this spurns on other films studios to adapt other Science Fiction books.

Lord Of Light/Ringworld/Planet Of Adventure/Tau Zero and Downbelow Station are some that I would love to see filmed.

Let's see if it delivers first. Dune is an old property and Villeneuve didn't set the box office on fire with Blade Runner. I hope it does well. Sci fi seems pretty fertile on TV anyway.

It isn't consequential to me whether he sets the box office on fire, though the downside would be that there is no possibility of the subsequent two novels in the trilogy being set aside (not that I've encountered any rumours of subsequent movies).

[bolidemichael]

This should give me time to re-read Dune. I'm currently on page 186...

[bolidemichael]

It's quite, erm, bombastic...

[bolidemichael]

Dromedary66 said:

Got to be a contender for most overhyped film of the year.

Which year? It was supposed to have been released last year!

[bolidemichael]

It's very political, so I imagine that a twelve year old would have a tough time with it. I re-read it recently and it was very engaging.

[bolidemichael]

Du1point8 said:

Dog Star said:

snoopy25 said:

Oh really? Blimey i thought it was the full film.....I'll wait till it comes out on a streaming service then

Which is a great way of ensuring that the second half of the story doesn’t get made; they will need box office revenue. Get down to your local cinema.

Whoever posted that ^^^ up there about “Paul Atreides dies”. - you what?!? This film covers the first half of the Dune novel. Paul does not die in Dune.

Paul Atreides dies in the figurative... reborn as Muad'Dib from the original... so not actually dying.

That's quite a stretch... there is no allusion to a figurative death and re-birth, unless you are referring to the recovery from having been 'awoken' by drinking the worm-wotsit-water concoction?

[bolidemichael]

Well, twenty two months almost to the day after I started this thread I've finally watched it -- a morning showing n IMAX.

I think that it's largely well pitched; common complaints are how weak Lynes is depicted by a character that struggles to grow in stature and isn't compelling.

Duncan Idaho is quite cool after an initial buddy buddy intro and Leto is good too.

The main takes away is that it wasn't a disappointment and I'm content. Paul is really good, vulnerable and slight enough to be underestimated but steely and imbued with enough self belief to be convincing. Jessica is good too as both a Mother and educator.

I think that the ornithopter scenes were good, but the Lynch film's scene of "THE PAIN!!!!" was always going to be impossible to top and this film hasn't.

Also, I would've liked more English accents in House Atreides.

[bolidemichael]

Clockwork Cupcake said:

FunkyNige said:

What are we doing about book spoilers in this thread? There's a character and whole subplot that isn't in the film (or at least this part) that I expected to be in there, but thinking about it some more it could easily be dropped if they make certain decisions. Apologies for being so vague, I don't want to spoil part 2 if I can help it!

Given how many people haven't read the book(s), and given this is the TV & Films thread, I think we shouldn't post book spoilers in the same way that in the Game of Thrones and Expanse threads people didn't/don't post book spoilers.

Everything has been discussed hitherto in this thread, but for the benefit of noobs, just tag any potentially sensitive comments with [spoiler]. It'd be a shame to miss out on proper DUNE discussion in anticipation of the never never.

[bolidemichael]

zax said:

Despite spending half a century on this planet I haven't read the books and have not seen the 80's attempt. Went to see this last night and enjoyed it much more than I expected to. Can't really think of anything jarring I noticed apart from the previously mentioned bagpipes (the tune!) and the magic balloons on the spice harvester pick up ship. OK and maybe Jason Momoa was still a bit too Jason Momoa... Certainly worth seeing on a big screen or IMAX with good sound. I'm looking forward to part two now! Question is do I read the books between now and then? Not sure, don't want it to turn into a Lord of the Rings "spot the issues" experience.

It's only going to cover the events of the single book DUNE, so you should be okay reading it and I would recommend it. It's very engaging.