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

DUNE (2021)Denis Villeneuve is arguably the most accomplished director working in film today. His storytelling is expansive, rooted from rich source material that is further elevated with immersive visuals whose colours are soaked in social commentary; Prisoners examined the frailty of society's civility, Arrival illustrated the necessity of higher communication and collaborative thought (something that appeared alien as Trump had won the election), Sicario shone a torch on the duality within morality, and Bladerunner 2049 asked whether humanity was exclusively a human quality and if so, why do we appear so incapable of it?It is obvious Villeneuve is an acolyte to Frank Herbert's epic; the House of Atreides, the Harkonnens, the Fremen and Arrakis itself are as you would image them to be. It does not disappoint. Every element of the design from the architecture, the machinery and weapons to the giant sand worms are executed with conviction, further evidence that this Canadian film maker is the apex in world building. Like all his work, this demands to be shown on the largest canvas possible. The ensemble cast as one would expect are flawless and Chalamet makes a very credible Paul Atreides, he embodies the spice itself around which all others orbit.One has to address the white elephant as those of a certain age are still stained by David Lynch's operatic '84 behemoth. It's hard to forget the ginger haired spritely Sting running around like Puck in Midsummer Night's Dream, the bold brazen look of the Bene Gesserit Sisters or the neo-punk S&M inspired costumed sheer repulsiveness of Baron Harkonnen. It's difficult to talk about this latest version without having the foreboding dust clouds of the former not too far away. How does this compare to Lynch's hugely flawed but impactful romp?Villeneuve's adaptation is more nuanced, it feels far more authentic. The dynamics between Paul, Lady Jessica and Duke Leto are more fleshed out, events are given greater weight by dramatic scenes being played out like the rescue of the harvester workers or Duncan's stand. Amongst all the splendour the central theme of fate is finely weaved into the fabric of every frame. The House of Atreides are fully aware of the position the Emperor is putting them in but press on regardless, almost embracing their fate. This atmosphere of inevitability is heavily worn by all the protagonists and visually renforced by the repitition of Paul's visions. The Fremen and their connection to Arrakis are given a strong religious tone. There are signs of Jerusalem here and the question of whether any kind of occupation is righteous is frequently brought up. The stark echoes of colonisation and its harmful impact on environment including the indigenous people can't be ignored.Stellan Skarsgård's Baron is limited in Part 1 but his quiet menace resonances like the thumpers used to attract the worms. The pain in a box scene between Reverend Mother and Paul is beautifully played with an understated brutality. The director thankfully avoids the inner talk that frustrated the audience when watching Lynch's version, a classic example of a tool that worked effectively on page but appeared pretentious and irritating on screen.The cinematography is grand without being overwhelming, Zimmer's score adds to the pallet when required but there is a grain of something lacking in all its admired efficiency. Dune is Villeneuve's work of devotion; this will only further cement his reputation but he has a difficult task ahead. The first film covers two thirds of the book and I've always felt the third act was a letdown. I'm not sure how he can top Part 1 if he remains loyal to the book. Cinematically, Villeneuve has proven he flourishes in the most ardious of landscapes, he can find ample water where there is none. I eagerly anticipate to be proven wrong.

You watch this so that you can watch Part2, but it’s still a great watch

Just in time for Christmas. Delighted

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.

Great part 1 of a hopefully epic trilogy

As described

very good