Dune [4K Ultra-HD] [Blu-ray] [2021] [Region Free]

From memory it was prety true to the book and brought the whole story to life for me in a new way. Looking forwards to seeing the sequal.

Really good special effects, but I expected a more expanded story in this, than just a straight re-visit of David linch’s version.

Against my expectations I very much liked this movie. Even my wife was intrigued – for most of it; she found the start en little puzzling like most would, and disliked the abrupt ending, like most would. I should have warned her.
Nevertheless I found it an immersive joy to watch – something I haven’t experienced for some time.

I should say that I’ve never seen the 1980’s Dune. Also I am a complete Star Wars junkie, a universe that I love for many reasons if not its space-opera straightforwardness. There are touch points but this new Dune movie is darker, more Game of Thrones-style but with a more sophisticated narrative.
The casting was quite strong with many well-known stars in credible roles. The costumes and settings mesmerizing, the CGI spectacular.

Some classic movies, with strong visuals and sound I like to own in 4K/ultra-HD, I’m glad I paid up for that with this movie. The perfect ultra sharp picture, the desert vista’s and sound effects make it worth it. And for less than two cinema tickets I could enjoy the movie in possibly better quality than in the theatre, and at a future date again, while not being annoyed with popcorn-munching cinema-potatoes next to me.

Can’t wait until the next instalment and would be surprised if there will not be an HBO spin-off series.

Dune is, to put it mildly, a rather polarising novel, and a formidable challenge for any film-maker. The fact that this adaptation succeeds triumphantly in presenting a coherent story that almost anybody could follow, and does so while retaining the genuinely dark atmosphere is a credit to all involved.

It’s beautiful, especially on blu-ray. That is the first thing that strikes when watching. The cinematography is stunning, with all the giant vistas and intricate interiors needed for the story to work. The sound is also stunning, although like far too many recent films (and TV shows for that matter), in pure stereo I found myself juggling the volume on an almost constant basis in order to hear the dialogue, and then avoid getting my head blown off by excessive music or effect volume. This, I suspect, is a result of downmixing from what was essentially created as a surround mix; if so, I wish they would put a bit more attention to the regular 2-channel / stereo levels. Not everyone can either afford, wants or has space for a surround system, or even a pseudo-surround via a soundbar.

That criticism apart, back to the positives. The direction is excellent, the pacing well-judged, without trying to rush things, and fortunately doesn’t fall into the lengthy, and increasingly tedious CGI ‘chase’ sequences that blight far too many recent releases. Yes, there are a couple here, but they are relatively brief, and actually integral parts of the plot, rather than being present apparently for the sake of themselves. It is also good to see the worms not receiving excessive visual coverage -being worms, they are supposed to stay mostly underground after all, only emerging at key intervals. When they do, their features and presence is excellent, and more or less how I for one imagined them to be. The hand-to-hand fight sequences are also well handled, resembling a cross between Star Wars and a Scott Adkins martial arts film, the choreography generally being very good -again, a credit to those involved in crafting the sequences, the script-writers, direction and actors. Overall, the script is excellent, being reasonably faithful to the first part of the original novel. Although there are a couple of minor issues that could be better-clarified (for example, the idea of the personal shields, and their being the reason for a relative absence of firearms is a little abstract as-presented), these do not really detract.

The acting is very much a high point in the film, helped by the fact that the script does give the performers reasonable scope to work, which sadly is more than can be said for many other recent science-fiction films. It’s also an ensemble piece; everybody involved gives a performance that is at the very least good, and many are downright excellent, notably Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, Josh Brolin and Javier Bardem. Insofar as you can believe in characters in a science-fiction / high-fantasy film, you generally believe in these, even down to the slight Oedipus subtext between Paul and Rebecca in the latter stages of the film -to put it mildly a disturbing idea and no easy task for the actors.

Overall, Dune represents a high point in recent science fiction; well written, well produced, and well acted. While not quite as clever as it likes to give the impression of being (an issue the novel conceals under a torrent of invented words, names and convoluted writing), it’s an excellent film, far better, and far darker than most. Twenty years ago, we wondered if The Lord of the Rings could be successfully adapted. While the results were certainly far from perfect, the answer was a resounding ‘yes’. On current evidence, we can now say the same for Dune. Well worth watching.

The “awesome” of my title is meant in the strictly dictionary sense, “Adjective. Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe; as in the awesome power of the atomic bomb”.

From the get go this film grips you. Visually it does so- no zoning out due to bad CGI here- every shot is a masterpiece. And certainly aurally it does so. The Zimmer score most definitely both impresses you and daunts you; thus filling you with the aforementioned awe. Whether or not anything of much moment is actually taking place. Someone fiddles with a ring- “DUUUUUUUUHHHHHHHH BRRRRRRRRRR UHHHHHHHHHHHH” thunders the score with profound bass tones and an unnatural, eerie sounding electric guitar. Perhaps what Brian May’s Red Special might sound like 20,000 years in the future? And that’s when nothing is happening. When the action takes place you do, from time to time, find yourself wondering whether you can actually survive the whole two and a half hours. The feeling seems to emulate the dread that haunts the characters betimes, with regard to the ever present possibility of being swallowed by a 400 meter long monstrous worm.

Which brings me to a side point- if you’re buying this on blu ray or DVD you should make sure you listen to the film properly. I say “listen”, not “watch” deliberately. It’s my conviction that modern day films are at least as much about the sound as they are about visuals- if not more. The sound tells you how to interpret the film; what to think, how to feel. And that is, perhaps, more true of this film than any other I’ve seen. True, it’s not a very nuanced message; it basically says “BE AWE INSPIRED AND DAUNTED” for the entire run time. But it’s certainly an experience, and it would be an utter shame, and a waste of 2.5 hours and fifteen quid, to listen to this film on a tinny TV speaker. My advice would be- take the opportunity to upgrade your sound system. At the very least, get a decent sound bar. Much better still, a decent stereo hifi. But, ideally, a full blown 5.1 system. I guarantee you won’t regret it. Why spends hundreds and hundreds on a massive tele and compromise on the sound which constitutes at least half the experience? Films are made in surround sound for a reason. Watching them in poor quality stereo through the TV’s tinny built in speaker is like watching the Wizard of Oz in black and white.

Anyway; I digress. Returning to the movie…. so is it awesome? Yes- in the sense I’ve sought briefly to describe above. Does it grip you? Most definitely. I couldn’t avert my eye (or ears). I was still thinking about it the next day and, here I am several days later, still thinking about it and writing this review. I think I even might want to watch it again.

But is it enjoyable? And this is where I’m not so sure. See, I’d imagine that being witness to (say) an act of GBH would grip me. And fill me with awe. But I certainly wouldn’t enjoy it. And while this film inspires you in many ways- it does have huge defects. For instance; no humour. As in; at all. “But it’s not meant to be Jumanji”, I hear you say. I get that- but a little touch of dry humour- just here and there- can only add to even the most serious of films. And no characterisation. Again; at all. Everyone is a one dimensional, straight out of the box, generic sci-fi character that makes Obi Wan Kenobi look nuanced by comparison. Take Duncan, for instance; the heroic warrior of the piece; the prototypical Han Solo who seems like (if his character were to be developed in any meaningful way) he’d probably turn out to be a loyal and true warrior whilst also being a bit of a rogue with something approximating a sense of fun- or as close to it as you can get in this galaxy that’s far far away from ordinary human experience and emotion. (SPOILER ALERT) But when he dies performing his supreme act of sacrificial loyalty and love, do we care? Not really; because he was a lifeless cardboard cut out with none of the charm or charisma of Lucas’ ripped off counterpart. The moment is like a microcosmic representation of the whole film- we’re impressed; but we don’t care.

I think final judgement must be reserved for when the sequel arrives, and the two will ultimately stand or fall together. And it’s impossible to tell, until the sequel arrives, exactly what to make of this first instalment. Will I watch the sequel? Definitely (all things permitting). Am I looking forward to it? No- not really. So, all in all; four stars because it’s awesome. But not 5 because I’m not convinced that I actually enjoyed it.

Spoiler Alert!

Pretty faithful to my imaginings of the book I read as a teenager 40+ years ago. The huge drawbacks with the TV series was apalling acting on a low budget and the David Lynch film that he went too far off piste and tried to tie the whole story up in 15 minutes at the end. At a guess this film is the first of three, possibly more, and this first installment finishes just as Paul joins the Fremen but has yet to be named.

Thus far the acting is far better and the character development excellent although I have to agree with other critics that Lady Jessica does seem a bit lacking. However it’s the CGI developments since David Lynch that really take this version to a new level and finally, rather like the Lord of the Rings, we are able to believe slightly more that events are unfolding on a planetary scale. Gaps in the picture that might yet get plugged – no Count Fenring or Fey-Rautha and it was interesting to see Liet-Keynes portrayed as a woman.

I’ve not yet tested it on my girlfriend but am intrigued to see if she, without having read the book, understands it.