“Dune: Part One” premiered Oct. 22, with Part Two currently scheduled for October 2023.
Courtesy of IMDB
By Baron Reichenbach
While the annual lineup of sci-fi films tend to fall flat, “Dune” exceeds its peers as a masterpiece of cinematography and powerful storytelling.
“Dune” was released in theaters and on HBO Max on October 22, the first of a two-part adaptation of the 1965 Frank Herbert novel.
It stars Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, son of planet-ruling Duke Leto Atreides and Lady Jessica of the psychic Bene Gesserit order.
The cinematography and soundtrack of “Dune” is reminiscent of Denis Vileneuve’s previous film, 2016’s “Arrival.”
Shots of sweeping landscapes and intense action scenes accompany a score that turns from subtle ambience to crescendo on a dime. The combination keeps the viewer constantly attentive and creates a constant atmosphere of epic mysticism.
“Dune” also excels in visual storytelling.
The basics of Holtzmann shield technology, a concept featured heavily throughout the film, are explained through a simple demonstration in the first few minutes: Paul tests his shield with a quick strike, which it repels, and a slow one, which it lets through with a flash of red, setting up a visual cue which helps tell the story of every fight sequence.
When there is exposition, it often isn’t about technology, but on the people and societies of Herbert’s universe — a focus which honors Herbert’s own.
Notably, “Dune” actually omits some of the technological exposition of the source material, and still works well because the filmmakers understand where the thematic focus is on the grounded, believable human stories of the characters and factions.
Where other works of sci-fi might focus on a hypothetical human condition brought about by advanced technology, “Dune” tells a social, political and spiritual story which closely resembles a fantasy epic, addressing familiar human themes regarding imperialism, environmentalism and religion.
The performance of the cast is also noticeably strong. In particular, Jason Momoa as Duncan Idaho exquisitely portrays the rugged and down-to-earth swordmaster of House Atreides and Stellan Skarsgård serves an unsettling, sadistic villain as Baron Harkonnen. And Zendaya as the Fremen Chani, present throughout the film as the focus of Paul’s visions, fulfills her buildup as more than Paul’s match when they finally meet face-to-face.
“Dune: Part Two” is currently slated for an October 2023 release. Vileneuve stated that an adaptation of “Dune: Messiah,” the series’ second novel, is also planned.
5/5 stars.
