By Lee Romero
A spicy struggle for survival
So much to say, so little time. The only thing “new” about this piece is its artistic upgrade. If you know the book or seen the 1984 version, then you know the deal. There’s a lot. I, on the other hand, never read the book or ever got around to see the first (believe it or not); therefore, I went in knowing nothing. Well, not nothing-nothing, because I’m aware of the story, but after watching it… this is only the tip of the iceberg.
DUNE centers around Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalamet), a gifted young man born into a great destiny who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe. The mission: to ensure the future of his family and his people. As evil forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their own fear will survive.
On a technical aspect, DUNE is a gem (I think). Gorgeous! An overall spectacle to watch and listen to. Visually, it’s delicious. There’s so much texture and sharp scenery and color and just overall, breathtaking imagery that allows you to soak in the film in so many ways. Villeneuve does his best at making sure there is never a dull visual moment. Shot in IMAX, the results are a winner!
What also helps elevate visual pleasantries is the film’s soundtrack. So much power behind it, the soundtrack serves as a character in its own right. Hans Zimmer has always had the ability to present fantastic scores that match up to any kind of story/film. With DUNE, his style is a bit different in a sense of providing an intense feeling. Throughout the entire piece while music in the background, it’s a joy ride of unease, but audibly engaging, elegant, and entertaining.
As far as the cast… it all works! Everyone’s on point, serves a purpose, and present themselves in a form where each of them shares a link of relevancy and importance to one another. They’re all Chess pieces on a universal board of sanity and survival. Of course, lots has to do with the script – cowritten by Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, and Eric Roth. Dialog meshes well with everyone. The story can get confusing at times, so attention is a must. I found myself lost in moments, but able to pick up the pieces as the story moved along. It’s very wordy (so prepare yourself) and time consuming, but you appreciate why as the film moves along. There’s a merit to its madness. It hooks you and with a cliffhanger as an ending, I really do hope this film does well so we can get that sequel going. Loose ends need to be tightened!
That being said, much like all else, this film won’t go without ridicule. Everyone’s always triggered. You’ll see. However, trust me when I say this is one of the best Sci-Fi’s I’ve seen thus far and one would be totally doing themselves a disservice if the plan is to watch this on their iPad or iPhones. Your choice, of course. BUT… It’s designed for big feelings, and one will not be feeling it if the film seen in any other format other than IMAX.
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Genre: Sci-Fi, Adventure, Adaptation | Rated: PG-13 | Run Time: 2:35
Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgard, Jason Momoa, Dave Bautista
Directed by Dennis Villenueve
