Dune (DVD)

Great story, great acting. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve watched this movie.

First, a disclaimer: I last read Dune more than 40 years ago, so my recollection of the book is suspect at best.Still, this movie seemed to capture the feel of the book far better than the 1984 movie which tried to show too much at once and ended up just being more Hollywood than Herbert. This movie captures more of the feel of the book and scenes in the movie are eerily like I imagined them when reading the book. I liked this movie because it surprised me with the depth they went to to portray the strange world of this story. You'd think that more detail might put off people who haven't read the book, but I think the greater detail was well chosen to pull you into the movie and make you feel more familiar with this strange environment; to make you feel just as much a part of it as someone who had read the book. Most movies gloss over these details in favor of the "high points".The book that the movie came from was quite a creative piece of storytelling. It presented a universe in a remote future where humanity had spread to far worlds and adapted in strange ways to their new environments. Still, even as the environment is very strange, those who people it are still human. As odd and complicated as the elements of the story are, they are still believable because the characters are written well.Dune is the story of how knowledge, intelligence, and respect overcome great power and treachery. A Duke is asked to come to another world by the emperor to replace the family that had been running it for centuries, if I'm not mistaken. Also, it wasn't just any world, but the only world that produced civilization's most rare and necessary substance - a very special "spice". The Duke knew that the existing ruler would not take his displacement lightly. On top of that, he wondered why the emperor had chosen him to replace the old family. The Duke prepared himself as best he could for attack, but when it came, it was far worse than he imagined. His house was almost utterly destroyed, but then, this story is not about the Duke.Although the movie, as I understand it, doesn't even cover all of the contents of the first book, it is very watchable on its own since it doesn't leave you at a cliff-hanger as a television series will often do. Still, I look forward to the sequel since I know that there is so much more to come.

Making a Dune movie (or series) has been tried many times but this is by far the best job to date. I first read Dune over 40 yrs ago and have read it several times since, so I'm pretty critical of any movie or series. The 1984 version was very good but I loathed it's idea for 'Voice' and the 'Weirding Way' of fighting. Another attempt had an open-air waterfall on Dune and I wondered if they even bothered to read to book at all.This film is very, very good in both those areas. It's handling of Voice is -almost- perfect. And water (I should say moisture) discipline on Dune is treated well - though I am making allowance for what the poor video effect would be of having Fremen wearing covering caps, forehead pads, and using their mask all the time outdoors. That may be more correct but it would make filming difficult. They did use the full cap and mask on the one real 'sand crossing' they made, though.A lot of side stories were left out but nothing that was critical in my opinion. If they had put everything into the movie they would barely make it to Dune before running out of time and it would have to be at least a 4-part 'movie'.All in all I think Denis Villeneuve's Dune attempt is excellent so far and I expect great things from Pt 2. I was really happy to see the studio approve Pt 2 as quickly as they did.***Some Spoilers***- I loved the use of the desert mouse over and over in various scenes. Hopefully, this is foreshadowing of what's to come.- Their treatment of ornithopters was --awesome--, dragonflies instead of birds but the effect is so great I would call it an improvement over the original (though the double-seater craft should have been front-back wings instead of over/under). If Herbert had known more about dragonfly aerodynamics he may have taken that approach, too.- Their handling of the worms was -magnificent- and worth every penny they spent for the CGI on those and their effect on the sand around them. The sand waves the worms made was great. They really brought home the impact of something so large on such small creatures like men and even not-so-small machines like the harvester.- The Imperial Testing Station was a bit out of line with it's open ceilings but they did have the plants and the original explanation of why it was there. They even covered the ornithopter that brought everyone to the station.- Kynes' death scene was a bit different but the original would have taken much more time and this adaptation was acceptable.- The first sand crossing for Paul and Jessica was done really well, clear down to the drum sand, and included an added scene where they rest out in the desert, which was excellent.- The fight with Jamis was not in sietch like the original but I understand they were making a hard cut between Part 1 & Part 2 - making it obvious Pt 2 will be mostly with the Fremen including in sietch.- I wasn't too happy about the troop not wearing their caps on their way to sietch Tabr but that's the only real fault I have with the movie. Though I did approve of the Fremen's handling of Jamis' body.I can't wait for Pt2!!PS I did remember one other Big Oops in the movie. During the Harkonnen invasion of Arrakeen there was a (what looked to be space-ship mounted) laser being used in one scene. To me, that completely negated the whole explanation of why lasers aren't in common use as a weapon.