Dune (2021) | VFX Notes podcast Ep 18

[@MarioLanzas.]

7:40 I didn't find the movie slow at all, neither Blade Runner 2049.. (and this is coming from someone with Attention deficit). I think the public in general is not used to a more contemplative kind of movie anymore. Everything now has to be fast-pased, with constant action and humor. Social media and its constant scrolling is also a contributor to this for sure. Songs are also getting shorter now. But these movies tell a lot of details through the images, and to see all that and get, it's the right pace

[@AllThingsFilm1]

I've yet to agree with Hugo's reviews of movies he's covered the VFX work for. I didn't find Dune or BR 2049 slow.

[@MarioLanzas.]

20:05 What a relief you disagreed on that. that statement was just so sad.. just deciding to recreate everything we can through VFX just because we can and is cheaper... what a sad thing. Missing out so much there. Even if we could 100x100 recreate certain aesthetics and visual nuances, that's not all that matters in a film. the process also affects the result. Doing something more real instead of recreating it always adds to the film. Our eye is extremely sensitive to tell when something is not real, even on an unconscious level we don't really see, but feel, and that also affects the cinematic experience

[@k_johnyim]

Finally!! have been refreshing KZbin for new VFX Notes episodes everyday :)

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. It’s our 2nd Dune podcast. The 1984 version was also covered before. We will have a 3rd episode soon about the 1970 ‘unmade’ version. Thanks for watching

[@hallersamuel]

One of the best podcasts period.

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for your support. This means a lot to us. Thank you

[@pseudonymousbeing987]

I counted 5 actual jokes, if we count little Maud'dib scuttling and sniffling as levity which I think definitely counts. But your point was actually about the tone. I don't think the tone should be anything but stern, austere and stern with exactly the sort of droplets of levity we got (except more of em for character building). Because if we do see the sequels play out the terrible purpose and darkness at the heart of this epic then stern is the only tone that will consistently work. For me I really bought it during the early Bene Gesserit scenes testing Paul. I want to see how they'll amp up to the levels of crazy eyes this story gets further in though. It will be a nice shade in the tone, but it overall remains very sternly epic. Btw there's the scene where Yueh says "meaning no disrespect to your lady mother" where I totally thought he might do a yo moma bit. It works as a meme format.

[@wathsi99]

I'm not sure how or why people who are familiar with the novel identify the David Lynch film as a better adaptation, at least story wise. That film took the source material and missed the point of the book by a mile. I've read that Dune (1st novel) get misidentified a lot by the reader, hence why Herbert wanted to drive the theme and message home with the 2nd novel, Messiah.

[@dieguinho5884]

Amazing podcast! :)

[@HugosDesk]

Thanks so much for watching. We are dropping episode 22 this week. Thanks

[@dieguinho5884]

@@HugosDesk looking forward to it

[@retromograph3893]

About the celluloid after effect. I guess one reason they did it is it’s a much cooler story than saying “yeah, we just added a fake film effect”. And I’m curious, why would it cause problems for the CG guys, wouldn’t it be done as the very last effect, after all the CG?

[@xpez9694]

@ 08:07 on humor in Dune. Looting another planets spices is not funny business...LOL. Seriously though, I thought the scene with them spitting was the peak of humor for a second.. I thought it was a Mel Brooks moment about customs and etiquette...haha!

[@Displant]

amazing

[@3dchick]

The sheer scale they conveyed was the first thing I noticed and it stuck with me throughout. Even the rooms, everything felt big and old and used.

[@HugosDesk]

Absolutely right, it also looks a lot more real because of that. Thanks for watching

[@TeamKillerBounce]

What if they did it with the final edit? Which has all the VFX/compositing done, then run the finished film through that whole Digital to Film to Digital process?

[@Jb-hv8uh]

They did! It was finished, or very nearly, and release got pushed back due to the pandemic which gave them the time to have a go at the process.

[@AllThingsFilm1]

I love watching your breakdowns on VFX. But, reviews of the films themselves, I have yet to agree with you.

[@simonjones277]

THIS IS PART 1 OF A 3 PART VERSION OF THE BOOK

[@HugosDesk]

OK, THANKS FOR THE INFO BUT I KNOW THAT! THANKS FOR WATCHING

[@manuelwatts1864]

Jodoworski's Dune ... If only ... y'know? Edit: With the conceptual artwork of H.R. Giger ...

[@HugosDesk]

Don’t worry we are making a episode about that epic ‘not released’ film

[@jonathanstewart351]

I haven't seen it yet, but from the comments I've heard here it seems the film over-achieved with the look and effects but the story got lost somewhat in the all the wonderworks. In my opinion the story is the most important thing. I'm happy to have less breathtaking beauty if the story is well played and immersive. Now I'll have to see it and find out if I'm right.

[@HugosDesk]

Yes, that was my opinion. The film is beautiful but a bit slow for my taste and it’s leaving too much for part 2 and 3. But am hopeful this will be like Godfather part 2, Dark Knight and Empire Strikes Back. Builds on the first one to make an amazing part 2!

[@lucagiovanetti9870]

The story itself is irrelevant and it's not just the wonderworks. What Villeneuve has done is a masterpiece of aesthetic symbolism used for the creation of a gigantic ancient, dystopian universe. He perfectly succeeded. He made the world of dune look ancient, dark, mysterious, surreal, metaphysical..but he was able to combine these other-worldly elements with the brutal realism of a warring society.

[@junoxvc]

It was the first movie I've ever fallen into sleep while watching it on cinema. The film was very slow and I also had struggled watching it honestly. So I agree to what Hugo said. On the contrary, visuals and audio were quite brilliant though, I would hardly disagree with that. It's not the greatest film in terms of storytelling. It was merely a very static movie with a few action packed sequences that didn't end up satisfying so much either.

[@brandosbucket]

Not seen this film, but the face-add comp work at 12:11 looks pretty bad.

[@darviniusb]

I think you had the wrong expectiations. The film takes itself serious and the actors to. Immerse yourself in the movie and place yourself in that world. Could you really be in the mood for jokes or happy? Denis style is very realistic and down to earth emotion. Normal people do not joke all day long, from time to time at a drink sure. This is not the best dune adaptation but one of the bet movies ever made. Saw the movie in cinema and was breathtaking, the whole huge 3-400 seats people where transported for 3 hours on anotehr planet an everything was so realistic and the environments similar to a documentary from middle east more then any movie sets. Fantastic serious movie where the visuals support the story and the story is not destroyed by forced jokes every couple of minutes. I guess you where not a fan of Star Trek TNG Hugo. :)

[@HugosDesk]

Good for you! If you got transported that’s great. Am glad for you. I thought it was a boring slog. But that’s just my opinion. Anyway thanks for watching the show

[@stevenkhenai7407]

I do really agree with Hugo at every point he said. The film is slow, and leaves a lot of gaps... I enjoyed the VFX yes and some few scenes but I can't say it is the best thing I have seen recently. No.

[@HugosDesk]

Yep, agree. I know it’s not a popular opinion but the film has some issues. Hopefully part 2 is a step forward

[@roro.narvaez]

“Humor”… 🙄

[@lucagiovanetti9870]

The movie wasn't a boring slog at all! Maybe for you guys, who really have serious problems understanding arthouse, philosophical, symbolic movies. The film is technically stunning. What has been achieved in terms of visuals, set-design, special effects, sound-design, costumes, the brutalist and minimalist architecture..you name it...it's absolutely extraordinary. But believe it or not, that ain't the strongest point of the movie. It's an immersive experience of body and mind. It has the power to draw the viewer into a magnificent, fascinating, gigantic, ancient, dystopian universe. The world building is stunning. The movie doesn't tell you a story, it shows it to you. It's a spiritual experience that either gets you or it doesn't. Let's just say that...apart from the stunning visuals etc...this movie is not for mainstream audiences! It's not your typical money-grabbing action-packed blockbuster. Those i find very boring and hollow! This movie is deep and it's steeped into symbolism. Too bad you guys didn't catch that and worried only about VFX. That proves how superficial you are. Dune is probably too sophisticated for you. Perhaps you should make videos about star wars or the MCU crap!!!!

[@HugosDesk]

Maybe you should calm down a bit and not insult people on KZbin. I expressed my opinion and you should respect that. But since you can’t respect other people’s opinions allow me to respond. I actually understand arthouse, philosophical, symbolic movies, in fact I have a masters degree in Fine Art and did History of Cinema and Video Art during University. I feel I have the necessary tools to critique this movie. Fortunately I also had classes in critical thinking regarding art and movies. So I feel I have enough ‘understanding’ to make this review. Btw, this is a podcast about Visual Effects, that’s why it’s called ‘VFX Notes’ so yes we where very concerned with the VFX since that’s the nature of our Podcast. I would also add that this movie is absolutely for ‘mainstream audiences’. It’s a 165 million dollar production from Warner Bros. I can guarantee you that it’s not a ‘indie’ or ‘art’ movie! Anyway, Have a great day and thanks so much for watching the Podcast until the end.

[@mechtheist]

The blocky shields look incredibly fake to me, cool, but utterly unrealistic from a physics standpoint. It was really off putting to me when I saw it when the movie came out, almost as bad as the sound BS for the weirding way. Trying to generate fields with boundaries like that would be incredibly difficult.