Giedi Prime's Black Sun | Harkonnen Dark Star Explained | Dune Lore

An exploration of the black sun of Geidi Prime, home of House Harkonnen and a consideration how this kind of star and its light would affect this planets inhabitants, socially, psychologically and physically.
Nerd Cookies PATREON: / nerdcookies
Nerd Cookies DISCORD: / discord
Twitter: / nerd_cookies
Follow me on TWITCH: / nerdcookiearcade
Intro Track Name: "Watching The Clouds" Music By: LAKEY INSPIRED @ / lakeyinspired
Official "LAKEY INSPIRED" KZbin Channel HERE - / @lakeyinspired
License for commercial use: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported "Share Alike" (CC BY-SA 3.0) License.
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel does not claim any right over them.
Special credits and links for original artwork can be added to the description of this video by emailing a request to [e-mail].
Fair Use
Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research.
All content falls under fair use: any copying of copyrighted material done for a limited and “transformative” purpose, such as to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work. Such uses can be done without permission from the copyright owner.
Use of any copyrighted material in this video qualifies as fair use.

[@NerdCookies]

Thank you for watching this video! If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on PATREON: www.patreon.com/nerdcookies

[@aurora_occidentalis2248]

The Harkonnen fireworks remind me of the alien glyphs in _Arrival._

[@flyingfoamtv2169]

no coincidence.

[@DLLW93]

I think the image was capturing the heat released from the fireworks which made interesting ink-blotch like patterns

[@technobabble123]

I wouldn't compare the two, only because the glyphs in Arrival felt more smoky. The fireworks in Dune part 2 felt more like someone throwing paint at a wall. It looked very liquid-y

[@sonpopco-op9682]

The "fireworks" looked (tome anyway) like someone was dropping splashes of black dyed water onto the top of a dome. I had no idea that was a sky, it simply looked like they were all interior shots. Why the inhabitants were all bald albinos made little sense.

[@matheussanthiago9685]

​@@sonpopco-op9682planet of hats

[@nateo6806]

FINALLY someone's talking about this. Giedi Prime scenes stole the show in my opinion, Villeneuve filled in so much backstory about the Harkonnen with just a few sentences. Pretty genius scripting. Thanks for the video!

[@MrZoora23]

My favorite scene was in this sequence

[@tgiacin435]

And honestly, regardless of opinions on the BH KJA books, I’d love to see an adaptation of the house books showing more of Giedi prime.

[@madsw33n3y9]

The best dystopian depiction I have seen in a long time, THANK YOU someone else gets it

[@curtiswfranks]

I know! I spent the rest of the movie just hoping to return to that setting/scene (even though I knew that we would not).

[@dr.matthewhertert310]

as much as i loved the movie this pulled me out of the film a bit - i couldn’t stop thinking about the engineer world from alien.

[@baronrichardharkonnen]

Denis' version of the Harkonnen insignia finally makes sense. It's a black sun.

[@theayeguy5226]

well no, it just puts out infrared light

[@t.c.bramblett617]

@@theayeguy5226 that's a black body radiator

[@royalecrafts6252]

Infrared should be a dim red color if the sun peaks at infrared, the planet must be icy as well

[@Paulin-pw5jx]

@@royalecrafts6252it’s an industrial nightmare maybe they got the heat covered

[@overbeb]

The black sun or "Sonnenrad" is an old Norse symbol and has also been appropriated in modern times by fascist/white supremacist organizations.

[@christopherflux6254]

The Geidi Prime sequence should win a Best Cinematography Oscar on its own. Absolutely stunning

[@bloodaonadeline8346]

they filmed with an infrared camera it’s not like the shots are amazingly composed or something. It’s looks really beautiful no doubt but that’s not gonna win them a cinematography award there are better shots.

[@j.0x00n4]

@@bloodaonadeline8346I felt the same way, the opening shots of the movie are absolutely gorgeous-which I feel like got slightly ruined by the fast paced back and forth dialogue. Likewise, the immersion in the arena scene kinda got ruined for me when Margot Fenring (Lea Seydoux's) character kept zooming in and out with those glasses at different characters just to show the grandness of the stadium-which is already established. No new information is actually given. While it does it's job at telling the story, I feel like a lot of it could've been cut because it doesn't do a great job in editing or composition. I still love the movie, but the consistency straight up feels like another director came in and did some of these shots.

[@amazin7006]

​​@@bloodaonadeline8346That was definitely not infrared lol. Maybe an overlay, but commercial infrared cannot be that high resolution. That would be better than what some militaries have. Apparently they just used infrared to base their "goal" image on, and instead used film lens filters instead.

[@kptmaci4979]

@@bloodaonadeline8346 yeah, there are better shots. In the same movie, no less xD But still. Geidi Prime had some of the most beautiful shots of the last decade. Whole Dune had. Especially part 2

[@tomdeluca5946]

Hopefully next year

[@blackpekoe4163]

The lack of hair also takes away people’s individuality, which contributes to the way everyone is treated as interchangeable and completely disposable by the Baron and his family. The lack of eyebrows severely curtails facial expressions that one might use to communicate emotions, which again blunts their ability to respond to other people as human beings and reinforces the family brand of sadism, disrespect for life, and casual brutality.

[@Gelatinocyte2]

huh... How did I NOT notice their lack of eyebrows until now...?

[@reginaphalange9417]

💯 (it reminds me of the South Park episode about the cult of Blaine where all the children shave their hair and therefore have more and more difficulty distinguishing themselves from each other)

[@stoicghost4313]

Black hole sun won't you come? And wash away the raaain!

[@smokymountainangoras]

The Mahdi is written to bring rain irl !!!

[@billberndtson]

I'll be honest, ever since Chris Cornell died I have to be reminded from time to time that men sing still. I just feel that losing Mercury and Cornell in one lifetime is a bum deal.

[@lawahhawad144]

1st class song from the 90s

[@Punished_Rustles]

as written

[@koko40800]

"Since the beginning of time, man has dreamed of blocking out the sun" - Monty Burns

[@jdane2277]

Interestingly, there is one sentence in the first Dune novel, where Baron Harkonnen is looking out at black space from his ship, admiring the blackness, and then thinks that the only thing more beautiful would be porcelain white plated onto the black background. That one short scene of musing seems to have been expanded to create the film Giedi Prime black and white world.

[@flyingfoamtv2169]

i like how the early part of the novel humanises the baron, which allows you to better understand his plan. (then later the fucked up stuff comes up)

[@kennethfender3518]

​@flyingfoamtv2169 I also like how near the end of the novel when Feyd Rautha tries to have the baron assassinated he's just . . . disappointed. He wants to have a legacy and wants it to be Feyd, but the scheming and brutal betrayals of the Harkonen's that he himself has perpetrated again and again have left them spiritually empty.

[@jdane2277]

@@kennethfender3518 Villeneuve seems to be the only director to understand the Dune novels

[@mikeroman5208]

@@jdane2277 well, Villeneuve obviously never read past the first book or maybe book 2 because about a third of book 5 takes place on G-P (called Gammu there) and there is no hint that it's anything other than a (relatively) normal planet with a normal sun.

[@jdane2277]

@@mikeroman5208 huge changes from Giedi Prime described as oil-soaked and Gammu. But then Arrakis changed too. And don’t forget films, take huge liberties with books to condensed them and write the story in such a way that cinematography and screenplay makes sense

[@richardrejmer8721]

The moment I saw the black and white scenes on Gedei Prime, I thought *"YES!!! That's EXACTLY the environment that would lead to characters like the Harkonnens!"* .

[@gofoats]

That, and the utter cowardice during the Butlerian Jihad....

[@richarddecredico6098]

well, ignorance is bliss, eh? impossibly stupid shit like only Hollywood can do

[@primeirrational]

@@richarddecredico6098you must have really strong feelings about this movie for leaving a lot of similar comments in many threads, lol. Relax mate.

[@richarddecredico6098]

I have strong feelings for the idea that this medicrity is beong heralded as something great, that is true but I am very relaxed as I just nutted on the keyboard you the one that needs to get excited ya dope @@primeirrational

[@FURognar]

​@@richarddecredico6098 it was a rare attempt at envisioning what an alien world would truly look like. Other attempts have been made adopting different color temperatures to emulate an alien environment (Pitch Black for example) but not in this extreme way. I feel this was quite an admirable attempt. Perhaps it will inspire other filmakers to experiment with the technique.

[@pac1fic055]

The black sun and Gigeresque shapes of their vehicles and buildings make me think of a homage to Jodorowsky's vision of the Harkonnen home world.

[@kptmaci4979]

Im glad I wasnt the only one who was reminded of Gigers work while watching Geidi Prime sequence. Especially parade with bulbous ships later on was what stood out to me like some Gigers concept come to life!

[@t.c.bramblett617]

@@kptmaci4979 Some Moebius references too!

[@hettbeans]

The architecture of the seating area where the Bene Gesserit women were watching the gladiator match was ✨extremely✨ Giger

[@ethanbuchner7841]

It's not just Gigeresque; they did in fact use Giger's original concept art that he produced for the abortive Jodorowsky project

[@lcb931023]

100% inspired and a tribute to Jodorowsky.

[@adrianr87]

This is a brilliant example of adding flavor to an adaptation that wasn't in the source material.

[@seanhewitt603]

But done by a person who has no taste for originality.

[@TheLVJ]

​@@seanhewitt603 REEEACHING...

[@PsychoholicSlag83]

It is mentioned in the book colors looking different under different suns, I assumed it was a nod to that

[@Extracredittttt]

​@@seanhewitt603what lol

[@Kitzishot]

In the source material Geidi Prime actually ends up becoming a forested land after the Harkonnens were removed.

[@RationalGamers]

The entire Giedi Prime part was pretty astounding to watch, I esspecially loved the fireworks. Masterful filmmaking.

[@RX552VBK]

And the creepy Cannibal girls

[@giftshezi198]

I found the civilisation creepy but fascinating nonetheless!

[@richarddecredico6098]

for sure if one is an ignorant dope it was great seriously this is what passes for cinematic genius now? holy fuk we are doomed as a culture

[@negative6442]

​@@richarddecredico6098Do you get off on being a contrarian?

[@richarddecredico6098]

I get off on giving honest and sincere comments This film was medicocre AT BEST AND THE PEOPLE RAVING OVER IT ARE YOUNG AND IGNORANT uSING INFRARED FILM HAS BEEN DONE LOTS OF TIMES BEFORE AND IS NO CINEMATIC MILESTONE NAGGER PLEASE @@negative6442

[@ChrisMillerCrazyHouse]

Seeing the Geidi Prime scene on the big IMAX screen was pretty amazing.

[@edwarddore7617]

The entire movie really.

[@sertaki]

And damn was this sequence loooooud But incredibly immersive in a very scary way.

[@judewakefield7213]

This is one of the best movie experiences I've ever had.

[@estemelrod3445]

Denis Villeneuve use of cinematography to world-build is unmatched. The ship rising from the depths of Caladan. The heighliner in orbit. The Shai-Hulud appearing out of the sand like out of mist to swallow the harvester. The mind-blowingly loud and visceral sacrificial Sardaukar troop benediction in Salusa Secundus (my favorite scene in all of Dune). But Geidi Prime...GOD. DAMN.

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

Secundus and the sardukar was amazing. Mongolian throat singing, blood rituals, and pouring rain on barren rocks. I love what Dennis did with these worlds.

[@osasunaitor]

I agree. Each world has a unique character, sound and even colour palette in these films. It really adds a lot to immersion. And yes, this Giedi Prime sequence captivated me like nothing else has in a long time. I spent the rest of the film thinking about these visually brutal scenes. What an experience

[@bfg9k_]

The entire Geidi Prime sequence was masterful. Infrared cameras, black ink blot fireworks in "daylight" and white ink blot fireworks at night, and Lady Margot's seduction of Feyd was 😙🤌 the visuals and the music. What a trip. I've seen it twice in IMAX so far and i want to see it many more times

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

Lady Fenring: “package secured, returning to base”

[@edwarddore7617]

I saw it in IMAX, now I want to see it in Dolby Cinema

[@SolidGoldHedgehog]

@@edwarddore7617You should. Watched in laser Imax and dolby atmos in 70mm, which was an absolute treat.

[@jeffa17]

Just watched it in dolby Cinema will go again for imax ​@@edwarddore7617

[@simpleau2]

Léa can seduce any man with a beating heart

[@renuvatio9986]

I love the idea of the sun being as it is shaping what the Harkonnen look like and it sets them apart from the other races

[@MulderStarling]

A distinct race, really?

[@VoidDragon82]

And yet they’re just baseline humans…

[@nsh1980gmail]

Yes, just like the different races of humans that developed on different continents with different environments and challenges.

[@nsh1980gmail]

@@VoidDragon82what do you imagine a baseline human is? There is no such thing. Just different groups with different abilities and temperaments

[@megavore97]

@@nsh1980gmailHumans are humans period. Genetic variation doesn’t mean people on different continents are separate species.

[@briandain8432]

Kinda like a Polar Bear, I was fascinated to learn as a kid that a white furred Polar Bear has Black Skin so it absorbs heat while deflecting UV.

[@brotherjohnnyxXxX]

The black sun of Giedi Prime was an ingenious addition, as it serves to explain the bizarre look and psyche of the Harkonnens. I'm glad we got to see Feyd's 100th kill in its full glory. It's without A doubt one of the most breathtaking scenes in cinema history. Thanks Nerd Cookies!

[@Despotic_Waffle]

What Denis has done to the Harkonnens is basically what the Bene Tleilaxu were in the original books. But instead of authoritarian militaristic, more spiritual genetic manipulators

[@otarthemad9780]

I had a similar thought, it’s what I would expect the Tleilaxu world and people to be like. The Tleilaxu were the ones who were mutated while Giedi Prime was a ruined industrialized hellscape.

[@LordOfNihil]

i figure bene tleilax would look a lot like the world from scorn. they are the genetic engineers of the galaxy.

[@Etticos.]

I thought this too. But the more I think about it, the more I realize how strange a direction Denis can take the Tleilaxu. Really lean into the bio tech. They could have biologically grown living buildings and living garments and shit. Get really weird with it. I mean dog chairs are already canon.

[@cyza1982]

We’ll figure out how Tleilaxu look in Denis’s head in Dune Messiah

[@LordOfNihil]

@@cyza1982just get dinklage to play bijaz. anyone can be a face dancer. e: i got the tlelaxu characters mixed up.

[@whitlermountain7198]

the way how they dealt with an infrared camera for the harkonnen homeworld was fucking brilliant, 10/10

[@draconusfrigidus]

I feel this is Denis' take on the book's inclusion of Duke Leto authorizing the strike on the Geidi Prime spice stockpiles (which doesn't happen in the movie). To explain: that key aspect adds the grey area that the Atreides technically struck first, so the Harkonnens have the defense of "Our attack on Arrakis was justified and in retaliation" to fall back on. In the film, making Geidi Prime a world wholly incomprehensible to the Atreides adds the same aspect of the latter believing their enemies are brutal and beyond redemption, while said enemies have the defense of "This is how our world has moulded us. Do you really have the right to judge us for it?"

[@jeremiekonegni4957]

I was totally enthralled with the scenes from Geidi Prime. The way the natural colors fade away as the characters would step into this strange light. So good.

[@kdog3908]

"Duncan remembered Barony with a clearness that made him shiver. Suspensor tracks shot through it like worm holes -- straight, curved, flipping off at oblique angles . . . up, down, sideways. Except for the rectangular absolute imposed by Harkonnen whim, Barony was built to a particular population-design criterion: maximum stuffing with minimum expenditure of materials." Frank Herbert - Heretics of Dune.

[@theayeguy5226]

The Harkonnen emphesis on "purity" is referenced in one of Herbert's later Dune books, "Heretics of Dune" IIRC. The characters are in an ancient Harkonnen no-globe and the ghola Duncan Idaho sees an inscription reading "SWEET CLEAN PURE" and cannot relate that to the Harkonnens. A Bene Gesserit then remarks on how little he understood his enemies.

[@lucasbachmann]

The McPoyle clan from it always sunny in Philadelphia would understand.

[@kenaustinardenol1338]

Its an interesting concept, though I never thought about it very much reading the books. No wonder Gurney Halleck was pissed off when he inherited Guidi Prime, later named Gammu

[@CantankerousDave]

He did re-establish its environment eventually, though.

[@LordOfNihil]

i refuse to acknowledge that book exists. it was just awful and unnecessary.

[@shockwaverider869]

Thought Gurney became encharge of Caladan..

[@kenaustinardenol1338]

@@shockwaverider869 He went there wit Lady Jessica, but at some time Paul asked him to fix up the former Harkonnen planet

[@flyingfoamtv2169]

@@LordOfNihilwhich book?

[@blackmetaldevil2]

Giedi Prime was by far my favorite part of the film

[@gregorygreenwood-nimmo4954]

The Giedi prime sequence was one of the most visually arresting and brilliant aspect of what has to be one of the most beautiful sci fi movies ever made. What ever one might feel about Dune 2's shortcomings as an adaptation of the source material (or, for that matter, about the scientific credibility of the notion of a 'black star'), the sheer quality of the cinematography, and overall visual genius, of Denis Villeneuve and Greig Fraser is simply undeniable.

[@fernwebber4829]

When I first saw the trailer in a theater, there was a single shot of the colorless face of Feyd-Rautha in the outdoor setting of Giedi Prime. It was there for a second and then it was gone, but several people in the audience gasped, the way people do at a jump scare in a horror movie. Just goes to show how much that one little design choice so strongly enhanced the creepiness of the Harkonnens and their world.

[@ewc58]

The esoteric symbology of the black sun hasn’t even been touched by any critic or reviewer yet. DV knows though

[@MaleusMaleficarum]

Because most people are going to get it wrong anyway.. and just call it N@z1

[@jacobelmslie3862]

its flat earth stuff... and eclipse

[@MaleusMaleficarum]

Interesting... why was my comment deleted?

[@MaleusMaleficarum]

Oh... I see why... because I was contributing factual information...

[@heretowatchvideos100]

Who's DV?

[@OfficialSapphirePhoenix]

The Geildi Prime act of the movie was the highlight honestly...I was immediately obsessed with the world and its history and hooked me in immediately

[@misanthropicservitorofmars2116]

For movies about Arrakis, Dennis went out of his way to make the other planets absolutely incredible.

[@osasunaitor]

Same!! I love the depictions of Arrakis but I can't get the Giedi Prime scenes out of my head, absolutely captivating, I almost felt shivers at the cinema.

[@yellodread]

I thought the Giedi Prime scenes in Dune Part Two stole the show. A genius move on the part of the writers as Herbert's novel doesn't say much about the Harkonnen home world. The absence of such information presented a glorious opportunity which the filmmakers confidently seized, adding a fascinating detail to the already remarkable lore of Dune. It makes perfect sense too as we already know the planetary conditions which created the Fremen, House Atreides and the Sardaukar respectively.

[@guibix]

I've experimented with infrared photography and I think it's a great idea to express that alien look. And the transitions between interior and exterior are a magnificent visual effect.

[@Nicholas_Chen_]

Yeah as an astronomy enthusiast I am extremely fascinated by the concept of a black sun. I wonder if it is even scientifically possible. The film really showed it in an extremely fascinating light.

[@jae52247]

It is scientifically impossible. All stars emit black body radiation. If the radiation of a star peaks at infrared wavelengths, it will still emit some visible light as well (more red than blue or green). To our eyes, it will look very reddish because of that. Those are usually low mass stars (Type M stars). Because of this trait, green stars cannot exist as peaking at green wavelengths means that the star also emits blue and red light. So, it becomes white. As an astronomy enthusiast, I was bothered by this. But, it is sci-fi after all!

[@Daneelro]

As jae52247 said, in our era, even the faintest stars would be red to the naked eye. The film was illogical: if the Giedi Prime scenes are filmed in IR, and the stadium is bathed in IR sunlight, then their sun should be bright in IR, too. One direction closer to scientific truth the film could have gone is utilising air pollution. If the air is filled with dust, then in the near infrared, the sky will be bright but you won't directly see the sun. But this would also mean no shadows. As an aside, in the distant future, there _will_ be black stars: the end state of lower-mass stars, white dwarfs (a soup of atomic nuclei and free electrons about a million times more dense than water) will cool down to temperatures where they only emit IR radiation in at least 100 billion years. This theoretical state is called a black dwarf.

[@venomousspecifics45]

As an astronomer, the black sun really took me out of the world building. I kept wandering why it was black. It’s not a thing. Had to remind myself that it is only fiction and then got back into it. Most movies are extremely scientifically inaccurate. The film was beautiful, I saw it on Imax. I’m glad to hear they thought about it. Wish they had consulted an expert though. But maybe the symbolism was needed for optimal story telling. I’m not an expert in these matters.

[@tea-sus8722]

​@venomousspecifics45 i may be talking out of my ass, but maybe it was a black dwarf? And geidi prime is barely held together by unimaginable luck at first and maybe some future science tampering later

[@superchromatical]

Like the others in the comments I picked up on the inaccuracy from a light physics point of view (at least to human eyes) but I bet Fraser knew about it, and was willing to bend the rule because the end result is haunting and consistent with the emotional intent of the sequence. Now, if we wanna get REALLY nerdy about it - it would be neat if the humans of Giedi Prime over time evolved a visual system different than what we have on Old Terra; because of their IR-only sun (they no longer need the rods and cones in their eyes to be able to resolve non-IR emission). Non-Giedi Prime humans would have trouble seeing in the exterior environment of the planet, without assistance from technology, and vice versa when a Giedi Prime person is on a planet with a full-spectrum star.

[@charlesratcliff2016]

I want to thank you because answered this particular question on Giedi Prime's Black Sun . You are the go to source for all things Dune.

[@Xaviar_St.Thomas]

Watched the movie last night, the entire Harkonan planet scenes were unsettling, horrific in itself, alien, insane. Great movie … well done !!

[@romanglinnik8073]

The use of infrared photography was genius! I spotted it right away and it might not seem like much but it's a vital decision when considering the worldbuilding. Infrared photography reveals details you wouldn't see normally and especially under such little light.

[@mrspidey80]

36 Ophiuchi B (which is the star Giedi Prime orbits) is a K class star. It would not have dark light. It's still a lot brighter than red dwarfs and even those don't have that. The light would certainly be different, but it would be more orange/reddish.

[@paulhk2727]

As someone who studies Physics, I personally don't think the black sun explanation is in any way scientific. There is no known type of light that would make human eyes only perceive black and white shades, only when the light is very dim we can't differentiate colors, which isn't the case in the movie. Furthermore the star described is a red dwarf or by the name a black hole, both of which don't produce this kind of effect. My head canon explanation therefore is, that the Harkonnen species has become colorblind. It really would make sense (and maybe calling the black sun would just be a cultural/religious thing) and would keep the the same intentions Villeneuve had. I like the artistic reason for chosing B&W and reject the pseudo-scientific explanation. Just kinda makes me think that simply saying "the Harkonnens are color blind" would've created almost the same outcome while keeping the realistic Sci-Fi nature.

[@slavadabadoo]

I think a large portion of decisions for Dune 2 were made to be either visually or sonically artistic. It's a sad shame the story and the attention to detail Dune 1 did so well were the detrimant to that audio/visual aesthetic. I've seen a lot of fans of Dune 2 suggest how it has and will change Hollywood, raise the bar to a new standard. Unfortunately I have to agree, but I think for diff reasons than fans of Dune 2. I think Dune 2 has shown how much more directors will be able to effectively lean on technology and visual/audio to get a favorable reaction from the audience vs writing a compelling script and story. Dune 2 looked and sounded absolutely amazing. There's nothing beneath the surface though 😢

[@andyheinz8413]

Exactly. Thanks for pointing this out. I don't like Villeneuve's interpretation of the Harkonnen's in general but I appreciate artistic freedom of course. But in my opinion it's not canonic.

[@PeloquinDavid]

I've got to say that while the daytime shots of Giedi Prime were fascinating, it's the evening/night sequence involving Feyd and Lady Fenring that really grabbed my attention: mind you, that was not so much a Harkonnen-dominated scene as a BG one...

[@cheuk5917]

Yes, the dim sun Giedi Prime has shining at noon would be even dimmer than our sun shining in the evenings before total darkness.

[@Turboy65]

It's not Herbert canon, but it IS interesting, A star that would radiate enough thermal energy to sustain planetary life but have virtually zero visible light output would be interesting, if possible at all.

[@martinharris5017]

The monochromatic lighting and overall look of the Geidi Prime scenes also appear to owe a lot to the HR Giger concepts he did for Jodorowsky back in the 70s.

[@LeviIsaac]

Just got into Dune after part 2 released, such a great story. It's always good when content like this can help one ease more into it and explain the necessary or complex stuff, keep it up!!!!

[@bloodaonadeline8346]

it makes the baton almost look like he’s made of marble with that IR camera look.

[@blueshit199]

I like how this absolute nerd waited his whole life to film a Dune adaptation and is now putting in random ideas that all of us thought sounded cool in our heads as kids, and he's doing it with style. Like who didn't think of such names as "Black Sun" or "Dark Star", and he's making it work with the setting

[@sebask811]

One of my favorite scenes in the movie. The idea of the black sun, the intense black and white, the anti light fireworks and the slightly creepy but powerful score, all point towards, yet again, a mastery of the art of making movies.

[@sectorgovernor]

Giedi Prime 's Star is 36 Opiuchi B, indeed a lower luminosity Star. I think Giedi Prime just would have looked darker, like in the Part One scenes. I even thought these were daylight scenes. I liked the black and white style though... It' s just less real...

[@Trygvar13]

@@henrikkowalski3144 Yeah it's supposed to be more orange than our sun but not completely black like in the movie. It was cool buy I had a hard time accepting this sun. Also, the Harkonnen were bad long before they moved to Giedi Prime. But I understand why they did it.

[@smokymountainangoras]

I heard someone involved with the film say Geidi Prime doesn’t have visible light, it’s more like UV and Infrared. Which harkens to the Vatican telescope 🔭 on Mt. Graham looking for (the black sun).

[@vercot7000]

@@henrikkowalski3144 Well, is their audience going to be astronomers or primarily laymen? I'd say the latter. It looks cool? add it in.

[@johnlancaster84]

So glad you touched on this, it was an amazing special effect. I remember seeing it and instantly appreciated the unique interpretation of "fireworks" in such an environment. Part 2 is a masterpiece, I can hardly wait to sit down and watch both of them together!

[@germany456]

That’s so cool making an anti firework, watching it in theatres were beautiful

[@lasthopelost9090]

The look and sound was really interesting, one of my favourite parts of the movie

[@KarlKarsnark]

I approve of this message. (thanks for joining Quinn on the Livestream the other day.)

[@drgordo112]

I was amazed by this scene. Thank you for making this video!

[@sgt.grinch3299]

Outstanding video Elaine. Thank you.

[@MiguelGarcia-zx1qj]

As it happens, there is a star named Prima Giedi (alpha Capricorn), or simply Giedi. Frank Herbert was not as lazy as another well know "future worlds creator" to choose a name by its familiar sound (no Leia ORGANA, not Darth SIDIOUS, etc. in Dune). So it's most plausible that Herbert was referring to said star. The problem is that Prima Giedi (or Giedi, that the Harkonnen prime planet orbits) is a G3 type star, very similar to our sun.

[@XGD5layer]

This is in the far future, so maybe it works.

[@MiguelGarcia-zx1qj]

@@XGD5layer, good point :) In any case, I learned from a video about "the stars in Dune" that Giedi Prime (purportedly) orbits one of the three stars of the 36 Ophiuchi system, an orange star that is not an infrared star (I doubt that there is such a thing as an infrared star). The video cites the Dune Encyclopedia, but said encyclopedia tells little :(

[@MattMcIrvin]

And a star with a quarter the luminescence of the Sun would basically still look like the Sun, to our eyes. Perception is logarithmic and we probably wouldn't be able to tell visually that anything was different. But Villeneuve needed something more visually dramatic. I remember once walking around during a solar eclipse that, where I was, was not total but was something like 90% total. Everything just looked like a normal sunny day, except that the shadows of the trees were weird. The sun just didn't feel as hot as usual.

[@tomwithuhn9472]

Nicely done video. You are always well spoken. I enjoyed it, thank you

[@jimschiltz5343]

I think Austin Butler is going to get Best Supporting Actor. D2 has a lock on Best Costume (again!) And Cinematography is a strong possibility.

[@posticusmaximus1739]

I just watched Dune 2 for the second time today. I loved the Geidi Prime scenes.

[@mitchelllawrence2798]

Informative and descriptive as always.

[@jonnytechno2662]

love how you absolutely answer all the questions.

[@danelamoreaux4166]

Love the channel and content. Another awesome video to you and your team.

[@kevinquinn7645]

Now I understand why the Harkonnen soldiers wear body suits when outdoors on Arrakis during the day, they have no natural protection from the UV light outside.

[@tileux]

Everyone on arrakis wears body suits outside. Even the fremen. Otherwise the water loss kills you. And even if it doesnt kill you, wealth on Dune is measured by water - which costs a lot to buy - so you dont want to sweat in the sun on arrakis. The only reason you see people’s faces outside in these movies is because they couldn’t make a movie with everyone wearing masks and face covers. But in the books thats what people do.

[@sololo312]

Thanks to you and your videos im going deep into dune and I love every second of it 😇

[@Osirus1156]

I have never seen a better representation of working in a corporate setting than the scenes on Giedi Prime.

[@kenricbourne9417]

I think these Geidi Prime scenes gave the Harkonnen world so much more back story and it was amazing from a visual standpoint. Clear masterpiece in the middle of the movie that really set up Feyd Rautha as a character in the film.

[@Fabdanc]

The Giedi Prime scenes were excellent. I loved them.

[@djny25]

Always enjoy your analysis.

[@robertporter7808]

great video and clips, gave me a lot to work from!

[@mandalorknight]

this is my first time comment - i don't do this very often but i think i have to say: * i love your narrating voice * your videos are great. i've already read dune but all this reminders are very fresh and appreciated for the movie :) * the intro song snippet goes HARD keep on rocking!

[@mwgary]

I was looking over the internet for an answer to this. Great explanation. 👍

[@thedoughnutking9514]

always great content

[@legi0n47x]

Having pondered the black sun myself this was an enjoyable listen.

[@johndutchman]

Excellent presentation: subbed . thank you

[@alexdesousa7966]

That black Sun suits the Harkonnen perfectly.

[@Marcelo83uk]

"You fought well atreides!"

[@drbrunch]

Geidi Prime sequences blew me away. So rad

[@AnimeFreak792]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who loved this part of the movie! This scene and their character designs were the first thing I stated appreciation for when I walked out of the movie theater! ❤ It was so alien and interesting! Thanks for this video!

[@therenaissanceman8392]

This is definitely more about art than science.

[@Red-ei9qx]

Because of the eerie black and white scenes of Giedi Prime, it is one of my favorite syfy planets!

[@jayjackson676]

I thought it was absolutely amazing how everything turned out under the black sun I would’ve never thought of that the fireworks the arena how the how everything looked was just amazing. another great video Miss Elena can’t wait for the next one

[@quentincollins1825]

The depiction of a black sunlit Giedi Prime was brilliant (pun intended), but doesn't jibe with how Giedi/Gammu became so green and lush later on. Don't think DV intends to cover that period, so probably irrelevant lol.

[@chrispekel5709]

Giant mirrors? haha

[@imasspeons]

It might be because how it's shown in the films has nothing to do with the book descriptions. Still cool though.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

Who leads the Harkonnens now that Vladimir, Feyd-Rautha, and Rabban are all dead? Or did Paul Atreides and the Fremen annihilate them and they are no longer a faction?

[@whylie74]

first stop on the fremen's galactic jihad tour.

[@koko40800]

House Harkonnen is no more...Paul smashed their House and ended their bloodline (except for Feyd's illegitimate daughter by Margot, who could never be a true heiress or inherit anything).....just what Baron said he would do to Leto....karma in effect (once again)

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

@@koko40800 Okay, cool, thank you! Makes sense.

[@daelra]

Don't forget. Jessica is the Vladimir's daughter and Paul his Grandson. There's Alia in the line too.

[@charliewatts6895]

@@daelra This!

[@skykn1ght78]

Brilliant! Mind = blown. The insane creativity Denis has is breath-taking.

[@aarontaylor8574]

All were great choices, a perfect visual/conceptual fit.

[@macklee6837]

I loved the black sun. All the parts on Geidi Prime were my fave bits

[@RodneyGraves]

I find that I must disagree with Villeneuve when it comes to the Harkonnen. I agree with your view that it was effective and affective filmmaking. However, my wife and I have read and discussed Dune to the point that it is a stand alone mythos, complete in and of itself. In my notes for Chapter 2 wherein we meet the Baron, Feyd, and Piter: All [is] driven by greed, gule, and an appetite for vengeance. A complete absence affection and tenderness; Appetite is all. Their quest for power is merely another appetite they are feeding. I further find that the Harkonnen are less shaped by their environment, than have perverted their environment into a reflection of their inner darkness. The Fremen dream of re-making Arrakis into a Garden, while the Harkonnen merely squeeze the planet and its population for the wealth the spice represents. And as always Elaine, thank you for your thoughtful analysis.

[@DeepChrome]

I recall someone suggesting the dark star was something the Harkonnens did to their sun - given that we're talking 20,000 years away from the present, the technology might be capable. Maybe that's what happened. Perhaps the prior star was too dim and didn't generate much light, so they had it altered. The other possibility is altering it so it became an exotic power source for their technology absent anything left to mine or harvest for it. Astronomers have found out that small dim stars will last a very, very long time. They just don't output a whole lot. But given that long lifespan, the Harkonnens could've decided to tweak it so it generated more light - in a way. As a result, it became as artificial as the planet. Another possibility is that they did mine and harvest everything out of the star and it became a white dwarf/black dwarf. I don't recall much about how a burned-out star's core emits in terms of UV/infrared, but it wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility as a way of showing the Harkonnens' greed.

[@seankoedoot6154]

While stunning in their own right, I love how the colorless Harkonnen contrast and exemplify the colors of Arrakis. The colors of the sand and sky in the eclipse scene are all the more vibrant and powerful when seen and remembered alongside these Giedi Prime scenes.

[@acoustic5738]

I have to admit the Harkonen lore makes the movie, its antagonism is what gives depth to the rest. And this scene is really powerful. Impressive.

[@olgawolga2901]

I wonder if they might have black rainbows, that would be so awesome.

[@axospyeyes281]

that ain't how rainbows work miss

[@xyaeiounn]

@@axospyeyes281 surely water in the atmosphere would make some sort of grey optical bow? Once you're high enough in the air, rainbows are circular anyway, sudre the infrared light is different, but water still refracts what we can see. What's weird is that we can't really see infrared, so if there was no visible light, wouldn't Giedi Prime just be pitch dark?

[@tileux]

A visual trick doesnt compensate for the fact that the harkonnens are not as repellent in the movies as they are in the books. One of those factors is that one of the baron’s worst features appears to have been cut out of the movie. But in general the baron is simply not as devious and manipulative in the movies as he is in the book. Its a further example of how the movies have cut out of the depths of humanity in the book in favour of shallow spectacle and made the characters as deep as petri-dishes. Another good example: if you take out st alia of the knife you take out the pivotal - and powerful -scene where Alia confronts the emperor, the reverend mother, AND her grandfather, and brutal truths are revealed - ‘grandfather, you have met the Atreides’ gom jabbar’. Dune 2 eliminates yet another magnificent scene. The emphasis is on spectacle, not character or depth, in the story or the characters. One day, a director will get Dune right. This is not that day..

[@hkl2007]

You can't replicate a book in movie form. They're diffrent mediums, they will look diffrent.

[@slavadabadoo]

Very well said! I guess I just don't understand all the build up for the Harkonnens...? The Baron was absolutely devious in Dune 1. In Dune 2, imo he's an after thought, as is Feyd. Licking a dagger is so sinister? Laughable. A great example of the lack of conflict Dune 2 does so well. Lame deaths for both the Baron and Feyd. For all the build up in Dune 1, the Harkonnens were pushovers in Dune 2. Same with the Sardaukar. Sardaukar were lame af.

[@archmageofmetal8883]

Just saw part 2 today. One of the coolest movies I've ever seen.

[@DistributistHound]

Superbly done this scene and good idea to show more about the Harkonen lore for those who have not red the book like myself. Although it was missing something similar for house Corrino and his infamous Sardukar Army

[@harvestcanada]

The Harkonnen must also be colour blind.

[@thomriley1036]

Feyd vs Drizzt in the infrared sun would be an interesting spectacle to behold.

[@AlanC2020]

My moneys on the drow 💪

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

Drizzt ftw!

[@ralfp8844]

That scened deeply impressed me at the cinema. Great work.

[@tsm784]

I saw it today. The Giedi Prime segment was my favorite part of the film.

[@CantankerousDave]

Good grief, that’s not how stars work.

[@jgb8038]

Came to say the same. It's like "show me you know nothing about light, astronomy, and stars, by making everything black and white." Still, it's a cool effect, but should have nothing to do with the so-called "physics" of a black star

[@user-fx5cd4px3k]

between the black sun and the upside down Nazi salute, Denis is definitely leaning into the fascist theme for the Harkonnens. The Black Sun is a type of sun wheel symbol originating in Nazi Germany. very interesting.

[@jacobelmslie3862]

its flat earth stuff... might have to do with eclipse

[@kieranforde3787]

​@@jacobelmslie3862 nazis dont believe in flat earth. Nor do most of the occult. Ot was like an eygyptian thing.

[@jacobelmslie3862]

the black sun does seem to be part of Fr33 m@$0ns symbology and linked to the flat earth... See vibe of the cosmos. @@kieranforde3787

[@vercot7000]

@@kieranforde3787 They certainly didn't believe in the basics of physics, that's for sure

[@kieranforde3787]

@@vercot7000 yeah they did lol. The Nazis had a massive centralised groups to focus all Thier research into some pretty nutty and advanced stuff. Ya know.the stuff that made the Panzer tanks. V2 rockets. The foo fighters. The delta craft. The massive construction projects. All of the advanced stuff the us has today with the exception of electronics was thanks to the Nazis today. Even tho the US government strangely seems unable to control any of it.

[@neofromthewarnerbrothersic145]

Giedi Prime was almost my favorite part of the film. Just so completely different from anything I've ever seen before. Makes me wish we could have a whole movie or series set there, I want to see what other kinds of crazy stuff the Harkonnens get up to.

[@cobainbride]

Great analysis!

[@germany456]

The black sun is actually so beautiful and how all the guys are bald, THAT SCENE WAS SO BEAUTIFUL. The demons with the helmets are beautiful when Austin was fighting those 3 guys

[@tappxor]

this is such a great vision, to justify that the harkonnen culture is like this because of their sun, it allows for even more ideas to come up and the result is simply perfectly coherent and unique

[@coleperry6185]

Im new to the Dune series but im enjoying every minute. When i got back from the movie (in IMAX of course) the first thing I looked up was why the Harkonnen planet was black and white and I didnt find much on the lore behind it so thanks for the video!

[@victorJGMascarenas]

Thank you, I was just looking for that the other day with no result...