Dune reviewed by Mark Kermode

[@alansmith4655]

This film is laced with CGI but never looks like a Marvel or Transformers movie. Gives me hope that more directors can use CGI as an art form.

[@ozymandiasramesses1773]

It elevated the viewers creativity. Denis had a vision, not a boardroom designing a rollercoaster with some story bits in between it.

[@mancubwwa]

well, it is also due to the fact that CGI is used only were needed. IE they built full-size topther props, and even used some hanging from cranes for some scenes, with only wings added with CGI. And this is how it should be done: practical for everything that can be done practically, CGI for stuff that can't.

[@absta1995]

CGI is used a lot more than people think. It's just gotten so good that it's hard to notice. Have a look at the Chernobyl HBO vfx breakdown video to get a good idea

[@bobrew461]

That's like comparing an Apple with a Giraffe!

[@UndergroundHouseAndTechno]

...and feeds my hope that Iain M Banks' Culture might eventually arrive on big screen

[@Fauxbourg]

I remember my parents taking me to see The Return of the King when I was a child and that movie evoked a feeling in me that no other cinema experience since then has come close to. Dune brought that feeling back to me. Seeing this movie in an auditorium was something that I won't ever forget.

[@crayontom9687]

Great shout. The ending actually invoked the Fellowship of the Ring for me, which holds an equally warm and fuzzy feeling for me

[@leighsherval1023]

@@crayontom9687 those closing moments finished me off, those final shots. As a fan, it was a dream

[@nick1635]

I also got that "WOW, just WOW" feeling at the end. Its definitely a film to be seen on the biggest screen possible.

[@Trazynn]

@@crayontom9687 The Fellowship of the Ring came with that warm fuzzy promise of there being two more movies already in production. Dune left me with a sense of dread.

[@tma2001]

@@crayontom9687 unfortunately my experience of FOTR was ruined in the cinema - never went back to the cinema again or looked back after installing my own big sound home system.

[@somedipshtinthecomments2507]

Dune is the first big-budget sci-fi movie in a while that's actually felt like watching a *film* as opposed to 2-hr long videogame cutscene

[@davidjohnston2971]

agreed. glad it was not made into a studio mess.

[@DT-ml3hf]

Better than Arrival?

[@davidjohnston2971]

@@DT-ml3hf they both great sci-fi films. Dune is grander in scale and arrival is more intimate.

[@somedipshtinthecomments2507]

@@DT-ml3hf Arrival was also very good, was a while ago, though

[@eldante4139]

100% better than Arrival, which I thought was pretentious junk. Not everyone will agree with me. I know that Arrival has its fans but for me it just didn’t live up to the hype. Dune is fantastic, Timothee Chalamet is excellent in the lead role, continuing to build on his excellent career. Likewise the rest of the cast followed very well with great acting.

[@michaelkennedy8270]

The audience are smarter than everyone's always thought. Thank you Mark, that's a gem.

[@crazybabuskaman3923]

@@sbwlearning1372 I love Marvel and DC but not because it's a masterpeice, but mostly because it has so much action and world building that just keeps you intrigued. And that's why it's really popular. Dune on the other hand is a literal masterpeice with so much cohesive writing and world building.

[@Member_zero]

I would correct that statement like this: The Audience are smarter than Hollywood has always wanted them to be!

[@fredbloggs8369]

Geez I guess those two Masters I garnered didn't just come from a cereal box, after all? Honestly, a sizeable chunk of the audience is probably SMARTER than most film writers/directors. That's the gulf. Some coked out Hollywood director really thinks he's brighter than his viewers, even though he dwells in the surreal cesspit of La La Land, while most of us have to earn our keep doing real jobs :) I mean, if I were writing a script, I would at least aspire to, I don't know, coherence? Any rate, at least Denis doesn't patronise his viewers. Which is probably why he has grown into one of the most respected directors of the day.

[@AriesT1]

Looking at box office numbers, people sadly rather watch Eternals or Venom 2 than Dune and that is telling for this generation of "film lovers".

[@Member_zero]

@@AriesT1 It is to be expected tho. Eternals and Venom 2 are made formulaic to maximazie views. They apeal to lowest common denominator and push the right buttons for 12 - 20 year old population. It's exact same phenomenon you see in music, where Justin Bieber will inevitably pull more numbers than Dmitri Hvorostovsky for eg., with majority not even knowing who the latter is ... Even tho he is objectively speaking far superior singer. I'm not comparing Dune to fine art or Opera tho ... It's just to illustrate the point that sadly, better does not also mean more profitable. And Hollywood always steers towards profit. And sadly and more troublesome is - it's not a generational thing. something easy to digest that requires less effort from viewer will always attract a lot of people. Even Michael Bay's Transformers, which was deemed the "worst movie ever" at release, was successful enough to make tons of sequels... and tons of $$$.

[@Gyrant]

On the note of the audience being smarter than everyone thinks: This movie managed to do a lot of expository work and world-building by simply dropping implications and letting the audience connect the dots. There's no listening to exposition-dumps in the form of internal monologues or outright voice-over narration like the 1984 version. Maybe it's a bit less clear to someone who hasn't read the books, but I think it's refreshing that at no point did a character go "What's a Sardaukar??" or something like that just so they can have it explained for the audience to hear.

[@flyagaric123]

Did we watch the same movie lmao

[@dasmysteryman12]

As someone who has never read the book, those expository moments in the film, and the way I try to connect the dots among them felt very natural. I never felt force-fed with information.

[@nothke]

I never read or watched previous versions of Dune and I understood everything because the pace of introducing new terms was just perfect. I didn't feel it was either stretched nor overwhelming (like Tenet e.g.) at any time.

[@flyagaric123]

@@dasmysteryman12 it was hit and miss. Sometimes fine eg the opening with zendaya I thought was acceptable. Other times eg the fremen walk across the sand when Paul has watched that video; later he turns to his mother and goes hey mum we gotta do this special walk I saw it in a video and she mimics it perfectly immediately. Felt so inelegant

[@KainReave]

@@flyagaric123 Her mimicking it perfectly is 100% normal and it would be a wonder if she hadn't. What was idiotic is that she'd didn't know that already. They butchered 85% of Jessica and Kynes...otherwise great movie. Also not sure about what people got from the "hints" but the zero explaining (in any way) about computers being banned for the full 1st half (and possibly the 2023 half) is also a mistake. EDIT: No surprise really with the talk about wanting Jessica to play a "bigger" role, and the actress (great as she may be) not "being able to finish" reading the book and the directing choice of "making the first movie more about their relationship". Cmon man...the woman can choose the sex of her baby and she has lines like "you can't know, I barely know, it's only been a few weeks". FFS and all the external constant weeping instead of it being internal conflict for her.

[@PascalGrüger276]

This movie was so satistfying to watch because it was so focused in its execution. Really hope that they get to make Part 2.

[@timk6181]

Rumblings today that it's been pretty much confirmed. It's done well internationally, there's a spin off series being developed for HBO...I wouldn't worry.

[@PascalGrüger276]

@@timk6181 Thanks to everyone 🙏

[@samuraibeluga3749]

im hopeful but weary. large audiences have proven in the past that they dont want to watch long, high end sci fi movies. dennis brilliant blade runner sequel struggled in cinemas.

[@10md.]

It's a 2 and a half hour movie with hardly any fleshed out characters and a basic story, most of the time is spent in the worlds equivalent of castles but the movies set on different planets, we fly over a city we dont see, it's a y.a film with a huge budget like if Ridley Scott directed maze runner or hunger games were constanly skipping through things we need to get a feel for

[@10md.]

@Stephanie Moore I like sci fi, I've read loads of asimov, Philip k dick, Douglas Adam's, and other sci fi writers. Sci fi is my favourite movie genre and I like art house movies too (I'm currently going through French new wave films)..... denis villeneuve is a lesser Ridley Scott hes known for visuals but theres never much fine detail it's almost all scale with him (especially his last few) while Ridley Scott does scale and detail and we seen the difference in their versions of blade runner (Ridley wins) and why are his characters always so cold

[@BHCha-]

I echo everything Mark said here. People need to understand that Dune isn't a flashy, fast-paced thrill ride like Star Wars, it's focused more on worldbuilding and lore than on action, it's more artistic than commercial. It is an adaptation of a book that prompts readers to think, so if you go into a cinema expecting simple fun then you will be disappointed, Dune is anything but simple.

[@Danny_On_Wheels44]

It is slow paced and I loved part 1.

[@emmanuelsalazar9424]

Anyone familiar with Denis’ previous work, will not go into DUNE thinking it’s just a bit of disposable flash.

[@costeris35]

True but it has breathtaking images and thrilling ideas. Anyone who enjoys sifi beyond the smashy shooty explody level is going to get the joy of it.

[@connorveach5986]

Loved it. Lore galore!

[@theconsciousobserver6829]

Instead of simple, could it be said that it's pompous?

[@leighsherval1023]

As a huge fan of both book and director my expectations for "Dune" were through the roof and yet, through sheer cinematic force, it exceeded them. Seeing the world and characters brought to life with such craftsmanship was overwhelming to me. I thought it was absolutely stunning. I can't wait to see it again.

[@topskek9786]

It's a terrible adaptation. Dune 2000 had better atmosphere.

[@leighsherval1023]

@@RobertK1993 few changes here and there and some omissions, but the broad strokes are the same. None of the edits feel detrimental to me, it's all in service of adapting it for the screen

[@alastairmcleod3635]

@@RobertK1993 As accurate as it could be and the most book accurate adaptation to date

[@yuvalgabay1023]

@@leighsherval1023 tbh most people i saw that didn't like the movie are a. Sayed its board them(wich is fine you have your own taste) or b saying its doasnt add more from the book but like its the best they can do..ya some side characters back story got side lin but like its neccerry. I feel some of them just want a series (that will have less Money behind it) or just a 5 hour movie

[@topskek9786]

@@alastairmcleod3635 how can it be accurate when it makes Kynes a woman.

[@StevenSeagull123]

The sardaukar planet scene was one of the most metal things I have seen in a movie in a long time.

[@adamstone3318]

I loved there language. Harsh and brutal at the same time.

[@douglas2437]

YES. I LOVED IT. I LOVED THE ANNOUNCER'S DEEP DRONE.

[@ashley09691]

felt very much like one of those chase scenes in Mad Max: Fury Road

[@adamstone3318]

Yeah bro, it needed some sick guitar riffs. 🤟

[@ericsong5155]

Those blood pools used to mark soldiers faces were brutal

[@celem12]

When the Reverand Mother lands and takes off for meeting Paul, the sound and visuals were just assaulting me and I had goosebumps

[@celem12]

@Rob yeah I saw that on internet after, but I could swear in the movie they said Ever Mother

[@celem12]

@Rob loll enjoy is not even beginning to describe how I felt while watching this movie :P

[@tonyenkiducx]

The sound was absolutely amazing. The assault on all the senses was just stunning. The extreme brightness of the desert blinding me, the seats vibrating around me.

[@Pemulis1]

When I saw it I remember thinking at the two hour mark that I couldn't believe that two hours had already gone by. There was not a minute of boredom in this movie; never once did I wish the pace would pick up.

[@olderloverxx]

Thank you! I am baffled by people saying the movie was 'slow'. Baffled. There is a certain dreamlike intensity. Intense scenes. I was gripped from start to finish. The architecture for the ships.. the landscape.. it just grabbed me start to finish.

[@JudoMoniz]

@@olderloverxx People saying its slow are the ones that have become a product of social media. I honestly couldnt believe that i was in the cinema for 2 and a half hours by the time it was over

[@maximeteppe7627]

The world is so great, you just want to stay in it. that's why It doesn't matter that the scenes are sometimes slow.

[@ZPSBestProfileName]

@@olderloverxx What am I missing? I watched over half of it with a friend and we had to tap out. We were monumentally bored. Very little actually happened, and they relied a lot on jargon. As an aside, there was a lot more whispering in this movie than in most.

[@callummc1988]

I feel like I was the target audience member for this film. I have a passing interest in Dune, read the book years ago and seen both the Lynch film and the miniseries, but otherwise I'm not a superfan. This is one of the most beautiful films I have ever seen, and the story was told so well that now I feel like I'm more invested than ever

[@sweeperboy]

Exactly. I found the Dune books very good but also at the same time fairly impenetrable, so I think for those who either struggled with the books or haven't read them yet, they should enjoy this and perhaps use this to later appreciate the written version more.

[@Spaceghost4201]

I would say reading the book, seeing the original movie, and even the mini-series would make you a bigger fan than 99% of people.

[@paulmulryne8405]

Exactly this.

[@broken1394]

Alrighzt Kev you b telling me your reading UBIK next.

[@stevenbreach2561]

I agree totally,read it aeons ago,watched the 1984 film,didn't watch the mini series.I loved the new film,but I think it helped that I was vaguely familiar with the storyline

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

They seemed to use a lot of horror techniques to build atmosphere, menace and suspense. That was the thing I particularly liked about it.

[@Fauxbourg]

Now I kinda want a Denis Villeneuve directed Horror movie.

[@EmperorsNewWardrobe]

@@Fauxbourg the challenge of horror films overwhelmingly begins at the story, with direction being a later challenge. He’d need to find a rock solid story first

[@Trazynn]

@@Fauxbourg Prisoners and Enemy are horror movies. They just lack gore.

[@malspence6892]

@@Fauxbourg I really wish we would have seen a Villenueve take on the Alien franchise, but looks like Ridley doesn't want anyone playing with that particular toy.

[@hansakkerman2611]

@@malspence6892 and has ruined it, to such an extent, no-one else will touch it.

[@vickster5001]

Saw it tonight on IMAX. I can’t imagine people first experiencing that film on TV at home. It’s probably the most in awe of cinematic visuals I’ve been since LOTR in 2001. The cinematography is just stunningly beautiful. I also liked the sound and un-Zimmer score. The acting was solid, with Chalamet impressing as the lead, but everyone else was fantastic too. I’ve got the book but never read it. Now I can read it while we wait for them to green light part 2!

[@dam8087]

Yup IMAX is a must. The grandeur of the visuals, the sound effects and the amazing score, just utterly immersive

[@soulpath1]

Part 2 has just been green lit !!!!!!

[@vinlondon8904]

I read it somewhere that part 2 is confirmed already.

[@soulpath1]

@@vinlondon8904 from my comment.

[@soulpath1]

@@vinlondon8904 jk but yeah stoked for part 2.

[@kaib5048]

This is why I watch Kermode reviews, he describes and summarises things I can’t. The feeling I had (as a huge Dune fan) through the whole film was “this could fail at any minute”, it was a kind of restless energy that spoiled the first screening for me. It was amazing, but thanks Mark, I’m going to watch it a second time this weekend. Great review

[@Trazynn]

I can confirm this movie is far more comfortable on the second watch, especially if you're a fan.

[@JonCreates]

I had the exact same anxiety, especially as I was watching with some newbie friends. The second screening for me was much better. I could really relax into it and just immerse.

[@osakaandrew]

Mark said, "It's kind of a relief it is very good." I felt exactly that way about Blade Runner 2049 after first seeing it. I wonder how many more times are we going to say this about Denis Villeneuve films before we relax and trust him to make a good movie? This is not a criticism of Mark. The trepidation we all feel with these films is completely reasonable. But Villeneuve seems eminently capable of meeting or exceeding fan expectations.

[@ianw5663]

I took that as more of holding ones breath for the quality of the film itself, not necessarily failing to trust the director to pull it off. I imagine I'll have the same kind of fear if they ever adapt the more filmable 40k properties (Gaunt's Ghosts, maybe Eisenhorn); you want it to both be good AND be something that people who aren't already ensconced in that world will be drawn in by.

[@leighsherval1023]

With this and Blade Runner, it's only because he's working in a well worn space. The original BR is seminal. Dune has thwarted all previous attempts. But I think it's fair to say that Denis is up to any challenge

[@jonmayes3262]

who has ever doubted Villeneuve ever? literally nobody has haha, hes made banger after banger and is, and has been for a while, the best director of our generation

[@osakaandrew]

@@jonmayes3262 There was a time when everything you wrote could be applied to Ridley Scott, which seems utterly laughable now. Adapting anything that a) has "already been done" and b) has an established (and perhaps fanatical) fan base has lead to some absolute bombs from previously unassailable directors. "This could never happen to this director" are famous last words if I've ever heard them.

[@ayebraine]

It's more of a size of the hills the man is storming ) can't help but be wary

[@johnlever8898]

Having read Dune many years ago when I was 13, this brought the images back into my mind that I had 50 years ago. At one point I had tears streaming down my face

[@8enable]

John, same here. read the book in 1 week when I was 13, that was 40 years ago, love the 1984, but this, this made cry with sheer joy, wonder & amazement. It was like I was reading the book again, for the first time.

[@arnaudmenard5114]

Well, in interview, Deni did say that he was making the movie he saw, when reading the book as a teenager...

[@jonathonjubb6626]

I tried to read the book as a teen-ager but got bogged-down/bored.. Put me off sci-fi for years til I was rescued by Clarke/Kubrick.

[@tams805]

@@8enable Quite a bit younger here, but I too read it when I was 13. It was the longest book I'd ever read and I only picked it up from the school library because I wanted the challenge of reading a long book. Didn't think I'd be absolutely hooked and finish it in a week.

[@1974striker]

My son had only just read it. He said it was exactly how he saw it in his mind. Great film!

[@TSINIproductions]

With Oscar Isaac on screen and the desert scenes. I couldn’t help wonder how good Star Wars could have been if George had given the reigns to Denis Villeneuve, instead of selling to the house of mouse. He gives reverence to everything, the sand, the tech, the history, the characters, and gives the story itself time to breathe. Just imagine what he could have done with 6+ hours and access to our favourite sci fi characters and imagery. There was humour in Dune, all of it in world and in character, not a single “your momma” joke in sight.

[@jamescollinge5043]

I love me some Star Wars, but I think Dune is a better fit for Villeneuve. A pulpy, crowd-pleasing action adventure that's bound by merchandising just doesn't seem like his wheelhouse

[@lowserver2]

@@jamescollinge5043 Denis could make anything and make it gold honestly. give him any property, i dont care.

[@SriM0]

Star Wars would be such a downgrade for Denis Villeneuve

[@archvaldor]

Star Wars is good fun when done well, but it isn't intellectually demanding and it isn't supposed to be. To be fair to Lucas few would have predicted how badly Disney would mess SW up.

[@zzzzoijzzzzz]

I heard somewhere that Star Wars lifted some of its major ideas from Dune. For example the whole idea of multiple worlds filled with royal houses. There is an equivalent to "the force" in Dune (which has a name I can't remember). I haven't seen the new Dune yet but love the book.

[@CrassusSilverwolf]

Saw it on IMAX …… magnificent movie …… taking the family over the weekend!

[@dejjibd424]

This is sci-fi Lord of the Rings and I really hope we get the full trilogy. Go and see this at the theatres, it’s a fantastic cinematic experience.

[@cipherenigma]

I keep hearing complaints that “there should have been more” and “why is this 2 parts”. And my response to those people is simply, if a movies last impression is you wanting more, that’s a good thing. People keep mentioning these things as critiques which I will never understand.

[@zh8758]

I think you’re missing the point. I didn’t want more from the movie, I needed more. The film by itself can’t stand alone without a second part because it ended so abruptly. There was no real conclusion or wrap up that let me say ‘okay this movie told a complete story, I can’t wait for the next movie to tell me what happens next’. This was barely half of the story and needs the second part to be completed. By the way, I love the movie, but to say it didn’t need more in it is just not a rational statement.

[@psycold]

@@zh8758 Yeah I agree. They should have filmed both movies back to back, so the first one was at least still fresh in people's minds when they watch part 2. I think they did a disservice to both films but separating them with such a huge gap in time.

[@NateGH36O]

@@zh8758 I disagree, I thought it had a great arc. While it's not the original ending that Frank Herbert had, Villeneuve still found a story arc for part one. It ends with Paul defying his visions and this so-called prophecy! Everything we've been shown up to this point about Paul and his future is now in question. And while it wasn't a big blockbuster climax, it sure was an emotional one. He killed his first ever man, and now he is on his way to becoming part of a whole new civilization/society. I think it ended just where it needed to.

[@mammamiaculpa]

@@zh8758 Even if Dune (2021) doesn't stand on its own without a part two, is that necessarily a bad thing? For the first time in a long time, perhaps since I first saw Lord Of The Rings, it felt like I wasn't watching a movie with a sequel in waiting, but rather the first act of an epic story. Patrick H. Willems has a great video on trilogies that I think breaks this down quite well

[@NavidIsANoob]

@@zh8758 I totally get what you're saying, but I'm glad a director had the courage to break the rule that a film should be its own contained story. It's a very daring move that could backfire tremendously, but when Part 2 releases, we will know it to have been the right choice.

[@clivesilver463]

Dune is absolutely a cinema experience, the sound scape is incredible, and in world where I thought I couldn't be amazed by the visuals, I was with Dune. For the first time The CGI didn't look phoney, its looked real, I can't wait for part 2.

[@angelowentzler9961]

Villeneuve has explained in interviews that most of the effects are practical / miniatures. Chalamet has gone on record saying he had only *one* scene with green screen. Imagine that...

[@chatteyj]

@@LukeMosse I thought it was good but it almost did verge on being boring primarily because not enough character development/ arcing . That old modern hollywood film chestnut.

[@stephenhughes1176]

Never felt a need to comment on a film before,read the books back in the 80’s, blown away by Herbert’s world making. Saw the Lynch film liked it but the old “Sting in a nappy” section still makes me cringe. Ff to 23rd October,my 20 year old daughter treated me to front row 4Dx seats.(she was unaware what 4Dx was,when I explained she commenced a meltdown!) Dune starts and I am immediately a little fanboy! It is awesome,intelligent and breathtaking. My daughter hasn’t stopped talking about it since. We look forward to the epic culmination with anticipation

[@dejjibd424]

Wonderful comment

[@kc2086]

Aww c'mon, Sting was delightful. Plenty of other things to cringe at in that version, though... Also you reminded me of my one 4DX experience with the other recent Villeneuve, Blade Runner. My gf was none too pleased with the little kicks in the back and face spritzing during all the flying car bits! We still look back on her reactions to it and laugh.

[@globalturfwar]

This is "the New Hope" for an OG trilogy Star Wars fan, turned off by most recent "sci-fi" offerings (recent = last 25 years). Hope this spawns a more interesting Space Opera Universe for the new millenia.

[@josephbrennan370]

@asdfasdf go back underground troll

[@MrJC1]

A New Hope was 100% more gripping though.

[@KrillLiberator]

See, I get your feeling too, but as far as the rest of it I'm sort of the opposite, in that I really want Part Two to end on such a note that I can walk away, satisfied, and never have to worry about watching film after film to find out where the unending story goes next. I don't want a huge, sprawling story that goes on forever; a contained story in a huge universe that goes on forever will do me just fine.

[@tuff_trooper755]

@@KrillLiberator denis wants it to be a trilogy which I feel is fair for all the time he is spending making this and it's a big risk for him especially after blade runner.

[@1carlitoc]

It's not, A New Hope has a third act.

[@KeithFraser82]

Poster quote: "IT'S VERY GOOD" - MARK KERMODE

[@airinghouse]

Seeing the new Dune made me appreciate more the Lynch version for its attempting to wrangle this story in one film, as dense as it is.

[@georgestergios]

That is a great observation. Considering when Lynch made it it’s a great if flawed movie. This one is very good especially the sound which penetrated me! The interstellar monster ship’s mimicking the worms was very clever with the drop ships appearing like bees leaving so the sense of scale is further amplified when you see them landing. Lynch’s benejesarits were more stunning .

[@arnaudmenard5114]

Lynch's Dune is a very fun movie, but a poor adaptation of the books. But it still stands as a beautiful work, in its effects, in its sets and in the cinematography. But the actors where not elevated by the direction, and it lost a lot in the way it ended... Deni's is less "fun" by being more serious, however it gains so much more, by being much more coherent, the score more impactful, and the scene composition providing better set pieces. Both are good movies, yet both have very different tones and ways to be enjoyed.

[@TennisOnion]

Yes, this movie helped me appreciate his film much more. He nailed some scenes quite well even though the whole was a bit of a mess. I loved the guild navigator scene and set details

[@davidanderson1639]

Just saw Dune in IMAX & in short, it was absolutely jaw dropping. It is an excellent film & if like me, you’re a long time fan of the novels & world, you’ll not be disappointed.

[@laurapatterson9761]

I’m seeing this at the BFI IMAX tomorrow. I’m so excited, I feel like if there was one movie to see at the IMAX it would be this one. What a way to get back into the cinema!

[@ENTERTAINtheDUDE]

BFI is all booked up most days from what i see, might have to take a day off work for a morning viewing ;)

[@michaelaskew6025]

Hope you really enjoy it.👍😄

[@frankschrodinger1424]

Let us know what you think of it

[@obscuresoundz]

am also seeing this tomorrow in the UK at Odeon; also my first time going IMAX; got the film on torrent and been fighting hard not to watch, but seen the first 20 mins tho

[@NickHunter]

@@obscuresoundz First time you see the scale of IMAX screen you'll lose your shit, it's insane. And the sound system is just off the map. You'll have a blast

[@ComicsFromScratch]

Took a 90 minute bus out to see this on an IMAX screen and had the bus back not been too late to catch the showing at my local I'd have seen it twice tonight.

[@mashedmatt]

Dude, I drove 350 km to see it in Germany. And absolutely worth it

[@venelinvishnin8341]

You both are absolute madlads, and i approve it, the film was gorgeous, a bit slow but it was a nice change of pace from the status quo in the film industry right now.

[@veggi23]

Seen it today in the cinema. I was apprehensive as the clips I'd seen looked stunning, but I worried it would be all special effects heavy and no plot. I was so pleased that I had noting to worry about. Some of the scenes are almost Shakespearean, but also with a keen sense of wonder and modern storytelling. I could not get over how well the cinematography and story worked. They are also right about the music, even that aided the movie. The cast are all utterly brilliant, and I left the cinema wanting more...I will be hugely disappointed if the second movie isn't made.

[@cletus2580]

Watched it last night at the theatre and was overwhelmed....watched it again today at home in a dark room with headphones on high volume and I listened to every word of dialogue and the experience was ethereal...This is a movie masterpiece....

[@GobiPup]

I didn’t want it to end, so I’d say I loved it.

[@kdkseven]

Denis Villeneuve is a much more coherent filmmaker than Christoper Nolan (who i do actually like).

[@abe10alpha]

But I think Christopher Nolan is the way more ambitious director of the two and way more creative. But I absolutely love both directors and look forward to their movies more than pretty much anything.

[@kdkseven]

@@abe10alpha ambitious... maybe. Creative... i disagree.

[@caelintredoux2249]

@@kdkseven I’d say Chris is objectively more creative, not to say Denis isn’t creative as well. Think about it, Denis creates movies based on books or prior films like Bladerunner. Chris creates all of his movies from scratch, his own ideas and world

[@chiip90]

I think both are at the top of their game at the moment. It should be enough to be happy that we have two directors with actual vision who are willing to take chances.

[@kdkseven]

True, i just wish Nolan could reign it in a bit, not try to do so much. With his recent films i start off really into them, then just end up being overwhelmed, not in a good way, wondering what's even going on. They're all over the place. I'm not sure how 'creative' it is to just throw as much as you can into a single film. There's some focus required in bringing in all that 'creativity' into a coherent project. And i say all this really liking almost all of his work. Villeneuve on the other hand can take a project with huge scope and still manage to make it all coherent and palatable. And i'm not sure i'm in agreement that it takes 'more' creativity to bring an original work to screen than an adaptation, or that it even matters. They both require an enormous of thought, work and yes creativity.

[@mrbeast85]

Just got back from the pictures after seeing this; wow! I want part 2!

[@shubhagarwal9812]

First time he didn't say his iconic phrase "here's a clip".

[@yannick2047]

The part of the soundtrack that played during the first sandworm attack is a masterpiece. Somehow, I can‘t stop listening to it on the Original Soundtrack Album.

[@ReXtion88]

What's it called? I'm going to mainline the whole thing but that needs to come first. Incredible

[@yannick2047]

@@ReXtion88 it is called „Ripples in the sand“ and it is track 8 on the soundtrack album (at least on the version of the album I bought :-)).

[@Trazynn]

It reminds me of the street food scene in Bladerunner 2049, where it sounds like there's a giant motorbike the size of a city block revving.

[@simongoodman7486]

To anyone who cares for the future of Cinemas, please endeavour to see Dune on the big screen. The world building and monumental scale on display is testament to the import of the theatrical experience. You will carry this film with you long after leaving your local multiplex. There’s a reason why people of yore referred to Cinemas as ‘Dream Theatres’ and a film this rich in narrative intricacy, haunting sounds and astonishing vistas is truly worthy of such acclamation. It’s a trip!

[@GrubStLodger]

You've convinced me to see a film I've been calling 'Dunc'. (Addendum.. and I liked it.)

[@mroctober3657]

Haha

[@Andy-rc9db]

Dunc Idaho?

[@Patrick-jj5nh]

It's pronounced dune not dune

[@HeisenBird]

An amazing spectacle and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Loved Charlotte Rampling as the Reverend Mother but I felt the "straight line" through the plot that Mark talks about is to the film's detriment as besides Paul and Jessica there was very little character development. Yueh in particular was incredibly hard done by and was not in the film anywhere near enough considering his importance to the story. The absence of the entire subplot about who the spy in the Atreides camp was meant that his revelation near the end fell really flat. There was no build up or development of his relationship with Paul, so it felt like it came out of leftfield rather than having any emotional impact. Fingers crossed not only for Part 2 and Dune Messiah, but for a version of Part 1 (Director's Cut?) with about 40 mins of extra footage edited in to help fill in some of the narrative and emotional blanks.

[@patrickchoque7720]

Yeah I definitely agree with the Yueh bit. He could’ve done with a lot more fleshing out- but I understand it was more important to set up Paul and Jessica.

[@douglas2437]

Man children of dune, too, would make me faint with happiness probably

[@Zombieskelper]

I felt it was a little cold on characters, Yueh and Piter De Vries being the obvious ones, but it's hard to see where more time could be spent with the secondary characters as there wasn't a great deal of fat on it. If I had one big criticism of the film it was that Paul's vision of the future jihad didn't really sell it for me, felt really small and didn't sell the scale of what was coming which made Paul reaction to it seem over the top and a little histrionic. That being said it really is half a 5 hour movie and I can't really judge it till I can sit down and watch the full thing in one sitting.

[@Ballardian]

I totally agree. But also where the hell was the Feyd-Rautha character? He plays a fairly important role in the novel, being the Baron's nephew and possible heir. And what about about the Baron's mentat, Pietr De Vries? He has virtually no presence in this film, whereas in the novel (and in the 1984 film) he is fairly memorable.

[@HeisenBird]

@@Ballardian To be fair Feyd doesn't really come into the story until the second half of the book anyway, so his absence isnt really felt.

[@crayontom9687]

Great film. Villeneuve is a great Director. I don’t think this is his best work, I’d probably say Arrival and Blade Runner are his best, but for the cinematography, score and just the scope of this, it really is outstanding. Gonna go and watch it again next week

[@eternalawait365]

Check out Incendies please

[@GhostJJJ]

Sicaro for me by far

[@ahenchan5422]

@@TheAdArchive Wow. Each to their own I guess. I thought the score and that wailing in particular was phenomenal. My skin tingled it was so powerful.

[@Sphere723]

I agree. An outstandingly well made film, but I think some of the key relationships in the film fell a little flat. Half of it is on the writing which was adequate but not great. But I didn't think Oscar Isaac played a very convincing Duke Atreides. And while Jason Momoa did a serviceable job, he didn't add much to the film. Josh Brolin did his best, but he wasn't given much to work with. None of their deaths hit particularly hard. Overall the film needed a little more of an emotional core to go along with the spectacle. That's something that both Arrival and Blade Runner did better.

[@peterfrancis8194]

Don’t normally think “I need to watch that again in the cinema” and actually mean it. Went 2 days ago, going back at the weekend!!! I actually didn’t mind the original but this was much better, and benefits massively from only being 1st half in terms of detail and pace

[@stevenplimmer5115]

To me, it reminded me of David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia. Massive scale, gorgeous throughout and excellent cast.

[@kc2086]

That HAS to have been an influence on Herbert. When you see where the story goes (though it may take until PAST Part 2 into the Dune Messiah movie), the comparison might seem even more apt.

[@antonycharnock2993]

That was one of the first things that came to mind when I watched the film. Frank Herbert has said it was an influence. He saw T.E. Lawrence as a messianic figure to the Arabs like Paul is to the Fremen.

[@antonycharnock2993]

@@kc2086 This is true. Frank Herbert has said as much.

[@peersvensson9253]

As much as I enjoyed the movie I'm a bit sad Denis left out so much of the political intrigue. There are vital scenes from the book that I hope make it into an extended cut one day.

[@Trazynn]

The entire dinner scene. It's essential to the story but impossible to put on the screen due to the varying internal monologues.

[@chrissonofpear1384]

Will there be more Corrino intrigue, Fenring and Guild stuff, next film...? The 'is Jessica a traitor' plot line can be dropped, fairly easily, though.

[@MrSmokinDragon]

@@Trazynn Well, the "Inner Monologues" is a problem for the entire book-to-movie transformation, as Dune is rife with them, but yeah, the dinner scene is particularly problematic.

[@KesselRunner606]

@@Trazynn - Inner monologue in a book, is acting on a screen. A good actor can tell a whole page worth of inner monologue with a side eye glance. I always felt that the political machinations and Byzantine plots within plots is what gives Dune it's grounding of reality, in a story about human consciousness expanding to a godlike level. It gives so much depth to the characters. For example, watching this movie, do you get that Thufir Hwatt hates Lady Jessica? Now that's only a minor detail, but it's one that combines with all the others that explain how House Atreides was wiped out so effectively at the betrayal of Arakeen; and also why Baron Harkonnen is such a dangerous enemy. No matter what you do, he's seven moves ahead. I guess it's the trade off. If you want to portray the sheer scale of Dune, you _need_ the big screen. But I really feel that the better medium for telling the intricacies of the plot - what really makes it tick - Dune would be better with a prestige budget cinematic TV series.

[@JudoMoniz]

@@KesselRunner606 Tv Shows are always best for this type of story. But as far as a movie i dont think he could have made it much better

[@jackashworth3956]

im relieved, i was never bored, it looked fuckin glorious, it rolled on at quite a pace maybe a little too quick in parts, part twos gonna be interesting, theres alot of dead characters now so introducing more in the 2nd installment needs to be dealt with well. im happy, im praying we get to see the next one. do i love it? no not quite, i think i may after another viewing or two tho. bravo Denis

[@Bensterr23]

So happy I saw it on a massive screen with a fantastic sound system. A sense of scale that I haven’t experienced in cinema in years.

[@T1tusCr0w]

One of my biggest worries is people will think the effects are underwhelming. Because they are so good everything just looks like it’s actually there. Amazing stuff tbh. I lived the film. Wish they had both been made at the same time and we were only waiting till next autumn for release of part 2.

[@clash5j]

I really can't imagine a better adaptation of the book being made. Is it perfect? No. But, with a book as dense (and wonderfully difficult) as Dune, this is as good as any fan of the book could wish for. Minor issue: Wish Thufir Hawat had just a bit more screen time and it was explained exactly what a Mentat is and how Thufir served Duke Leto

[@hutch1355]

@d R There might be more emphasis on Thufir in the second film due to his position going forward in the book

[@bobjenko]

My minor gripe is that, along with Dr. Yueh. While I thought the acting was brilliant and subtle implications were there, I think it could've been executed slightly better with bigging up that there was a traitor that was close to the heart of the Atreides. Which links back to Thufir as he has a role in that in the book. One scene I loved in the book was Jessica almost figuring out that Yueh was the traitor, so that not being there disgruntled me the first time, but on a rewatch (with the added benefit of IMAX) I wasn't too annoyed. On your first point, on said rewatch I did see it as you said and followed it more rather than trying to critique it.

[@hutch1355]

@@bobjenko Obviously it would have been difficult to justify to the studios but I would have thought it might have worked better in 3 parts. The first film going up to the fall of house atreides and allowing for more time to explore the rainforest room and all the intrigue behind the scenes that happens in the book. Would have personally felt like a more definite arc with the film then basically being about trying to prevent the plot from happening and ultimately failing. Would have also allowed for lots more exposition on the power of water on arrakis and the interactions between the landsraad, the spacing guild and the imperium.

[@davidmooreulster]

I thoroughly enjoyed Dune. The cinematography, the score, just the enormity of it is breathtaking. My issues lie in the details though. I understand that many aspects of the book cannot translate to film but I thought the sense of foreboding that Herbert built so well when the Atreides landed on Arrakis was missing. The Duke’s assassination seemed rushed to me and Doctor Yueh didn’t get nearly enough screen time to impart that feeling of betrayal that the books gave. I was surprised too that Paul’s growing prescience was not a bigger part of the film following the spice “trip” in the tent. Following this event he becomes much more self-assured and capable in the books but the change isn’t as stark in the film. For me, it was a great way to set the scene for the sequel but had a number of puzzling choices that left me scratching my head afterwards.

[@Nazlairdie]

That was exactly what I felt as well, beautifully executed but particular details & characters not given enough time, which I suppose was inevitable.

[@roshi98]

I think you have a point about Yueh not getting enough time but I disagree that the sense of foreboding wasn't there. Duke Atreides knew from the start that the emperor was at a minimum seeking to weaken the two most powerful houses, and later when he tells Jessica "I wish we had more time" and "I should have married you" he was clearly aware that disaster was imminent. Paul's prescience was developing as the film moved forward, from vague visions to greater clarity, but only near the end after fighting Jamis did he become Muad'dib, though it won't be until the second movie where Muad'dib is fully realized.

[@297fihsy]

I absolutely loved the movie but agree about Yueh. I feel like he got significantly more screen time in Lynch’s Dune and that film didn’t have the luxury of being a two-parter!

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

Yet to see in cinema but holy moses it’s incredibly immersive even on small screen. Couldn’t believe how high stakes seemed when the betrayal sequence began and the Harkonnen enacting brutal scenes of genocide. The attention to detail is as expected, it would be criminal if this doesn’t get the green light for a sequel. The spaceship effects are so fantastically done, they have a sort of floaty glidy motion that looks truly other worldly. Loved the RAIN on Caladan and the prison planet. Nice contrast with desert.

[@thenewapelles6448]

Dune was always going to be divisive. I'd be willing to guess that most people who dislike this film would dislike the novel as well. Denis did a fantastic job translating Herbert's story to the big screen.

[@jacowboy]

Nope... I'm a huge Dune fan, and I did like this movie for its technical prowess, but I was left very unsatisfied with it because of its narrative shortcomings. Or to put it simply, I loved the visuals and sounds and music etc, but the story is very lackluster... Kermode says something about not having to dumb down movies, but I do think this is a dumbed down version of Dune... which is a shame, since everything else is pretty good. So I actually think it might be the more hardcore fans of the novels who might dislike this.

[@johnnyjohnny2650]

I disliked the novel for the sole reason you have to turn to the glossary and look up what 2 or 3 words mean on every page. I can't read a book like that.

[@radicalpaddyo]

@@jacowboy It's this reason why I am glad I read LotR after the seeing films (though I had read the Hobbit before) in the cinema all those years ago. I love how the books deepened the experience of watching the film's afterwards and the relationship between the two in my head is at peace, if you will. I will do the same for dune and see what happens!

[@nosuchthing8]

johnny that's what I liked about it

[@johnnyjohnny2650]

@@nosuchthing8 Just took me out of the flow of the story.

[@worlddd7777]

Only thing that i would add is some 30 minutes between when Atreides arrive on Dune, and the moment Harkonnen attack. Just little bit more time with characters, and it would be perfect.

[@metalore]

@@harrybirchall3308 disagree, I think Paul's visions were the strongest and most unique thing about the movie.

[@staninator8827]

This was an incredible movie, made for the big screen. People need to go see this or we will not get a part 2, and that would be a great shame. Please go see this film, give this film money!

[@nick1635]

I'm going to watch it again in the cinema, and have already pre-ordered the 4K steelbook, not just because a Part 2 really needs to be made, but because the first film is just such an incredible movie from start to end.

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

bang on!

[@staninator8827]

Good news everyone! Part 2 has been green lit.

[@chatteyj]

I wanted to but it had stopped playing only 4 months after its release in the UK, so had to buy it o blu-ray

[@Gnator8t4]

I saw it on Monday and feel left out of the buzz. Don't get me wrong, it's an impressive spectacle for sure but as someone who had zero knowledge of this world going in, I understood WHAT was happening, but I struggled to connect to the WHY. It had it's moments, but I did find myself checking my watch a few times during it (bear in mind I'm a big fan of 2049). Having watched a few reviews of it now, I feel more enthused about getting a sequel than I was, but I had difficultly caring about what was going on in the moment and felt a little underwhelmed, in spite of it's overwhelming scope

[@MrATimm]

I felt very similar. The spectacle was very entertaining, but it felt like 3 hours of very elaborate exposition, and I left asking myself “I enjoyed that, but what actually happened”. I really hope Part 2 will connect the dots and bring it home. I’m willing to give it a shot for the visuals at least

[@r4h4al]

Same. I kept checking the time to see how long of the film was left.

[@r4h4al]

@@Theocracy8 I cared more about LOTR it had more soul to it. Actually ROTK is one of my favourite films.

[@Gnator8t4]

@@Theocracy8 I actually did a run of the whole trilogy in cinemas a few weeks ago! Love Fellowship and Return of the King, like Two Towers a little less but it's still great. Compared to Dune, it's much more accessible in it's storytelling to those who haven't read the books in my view

[@jimbobbles2265]

Yeah, was checking my watch too.

[@ReXtion88]

Absolutely agree. If you don't see this in IMAX then you are missing out. A cinematic experience par excellence

[@sarahwalton2662]

The location for Arakis is Wadi Rum here in Jordan. Lawrence of Arabia, and The Martian are among some of the movies that have used it as a location. It's a short drive from Petra. If you love movies.... come and visit this beautiful country :)

[@joshufo9959]

I was just generally aware of Dune and this film has made me a fan so much that I'am going to read the book

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

You will be pleased. It has an emotional and spiritual element that is its essence. Easy to find too!

[@iangagel6027]

I've been waiting for this review specifically.

[@iangagel6027]

@@ulfingvar1 yes it did . . . Yes it did.

[@badder27com]

Me to

[@Zernebogus]

I would have seen Dune regardless of any negative reviews but I am honestly relieved a reviewer I respect enjoyed the film.

[@doctormarazanvose4373]

Why does his opinion matter so much to you? if his opinion didn't align with yours then what would you do? question his or your own?

[@CharmingReality]

Fantastic review. Masterful filmmaking from Denis Villeneuve. Mark didn’t even mention the cast, or some of the outstanding performances, which help make the film so believable and less (dare I say) operatic and “Lynchy”. It’s a blockbuster, in the truest sense of the word and deserving of a Part II.

[@Tsotha]

I found it interesting that Denis Villeneuve's "Dune" takes the polar opposite approach than David Lynch did, avoiding most of Lynch's trademark surrealistic imagery in favour of aspiring to succeed or fail on its own premises: Those being basically that of an old fashioned historical epic of the type Hollywood rarely makes today, just set in the future. And I actually think it works better everything considered.

[@KittiyKyat]

Denis makes art. This movie did not leave me when I walked out of the theater, like most movies these days.

[@FlawedFabrications]

Dune is the greatest "fantasy/sci-fi" movie since Lord of the Rings, without question.

[@horns2525]

What about blade runner 2049?

[@Rich_H_1972]

It's a stunning film. Fantastic experience and HAS to be seen on the largest screen you can get to watch it on. I was totally blown away by it and have tickets for tomorrow to see it again. It's so very good. Really deserves part two (and even part three, depending on how the break down the story). A work of art.

[@olderloverxx]

I cannot figure out why there is such division about this masterpiece. Not boring. Not for a second. Intense. Beautiful. The DUNE story told beautiful. A beautiful golden intense masterpiece.

[@drbukowski9490]

Different people like different things. It’s that simple, really.

[@olderloverxx]

@@drbukowski9490 understood. That's a little obvious. Going by what you said why then bother giving, or listening to a critique at all then? Why bother listening to Mark? Or any critic. They may like it and you don't.

[@douglas2437]

Well said.

[@KJ_1810]

@@olderloverxx … your second comment makes absolutely no sense.

[@cannibalholocaust3015]

I think you have to be a fan to have this reaction. Not possible for a newbie to both understand and appreciate the scope of the story based on this film alone. Many will come to love this Lore as a result of Denis and his obsession.

[@dejjibd424]

I loved it. Thank you for this review Mark. Please give us part 2 Denis.

[@stephenphillips4609]

I saw the film last night at my local IMAX. It's a sumptuous, breathtaking film. I wasn't bored, for all that it was 2 1/2 hours long, it never felt like a slog, but felt like a long, vivid and satisfying dream. I loved the sinister atmosphere, the constant sense of threat - be it with Charlotte Rampling's was testing of Paul, or at the palace on Arrakis. As good as everything was, the production design, the effects (those sand 'worms') and the ornithopters, the stand out was the cinematography. It was breathtaking. The landscapes, the interiors...it's a work of art. Contrary to some reviews I've heard / read, I didn't find the ending abrupt or anti-climactic. When Paul hits a milestone (becoming Fremen, not just an Outworlder) - and the way he did it - felt like a natural point to pause the story. Ultimately, for me, my yardstick of a damn fine movie is how I feel when I leave the theatre. I was euphoric. I got into my car and had to tell myself, 'this isn't an ornithopter'.

[@RT22444]

My only complaint is I didn't see it for the first time in a Dolby IMAX theater. I watched it on HBO MAX instead. It absolutely blew me away, I watched it 2 nights in a row. I would have watched it for 4 hours if it were that long. If it blew me away on my own TV, I knew, even whilst watching, it would have been completely mind-blowing in a theater. GO SEE IT IN A THEATER IF YOU CAN. So stunning. So dreamy and deep. Inspiring. UGH!

[@urbanimage]

I thought it was a very watchable film, and I'm rather looking forward to seeing part two.

[@late_privktorian_era]

wildly breathtaking in scale and dramatically inert at times that holds it back from being a masterpiece. still some great performances and they should absolutely write the check for the next installment

[@zx9mel]

"dramatically inert" sums up at least 90minutes of this movie IMO

[@samuelmncedisi1065]

@@zx9mel The musical score, production scale and the visual effects, are what's driving the narrative that this movie was ''amazing, a masterpiece, etc'' by the vast majority of people, not the actual characters and storyline/plot. If you were to ask anyone who the characters were and they weren't familiar with the source material, they likely wouldn't be able to tell you. This was better suited for a series like GoT or Wheel of Time, than a feature film.

[@jimbobbles2265]

That was a grating contradiction for me. Look how epic this is but don't worry about the character development and the dialogue

[@brunobarton-singer9622]

dramatically inert is exactly the words I was looking for for this movie! It felt like the one moment where you really had a scene led by character and performance was the pain box scene, which I loved. Otherwise it feels like human interaction and development is in short supply.

[@Sphere723]

My feelings as well. I think Oscar Isaac was a little miscast.

[@michaelcox8820]

Having read the book, I feel Villeneuve did a fabulous job. Its a rotten book to try and make into a movie, but he pulled it off. Also, the character dialogue in the book is dreadful, maybe not as bad George Lucas level...but cheesy and pantomime level at times. Well Villeneuve fixed this for this movie, the dialogue is exquisite and even though the characters talk about lofty religious ideas and destiny, it feels somehow grounded and not irritating. That's a major plus in my book.

[@kc2086]

Yup. The book has some classic lines, all or most of which Denis kept so far, but it's mostly clunky dialog and modernizing it is in no way a bad idea. I like the inner thoughts and scenery building of the book, though. That's the stuff that made it stand out at the time, right?

[@chatteyj]

@@kc2086 Yep the inner thoughts stuff felt like a big omission from the film. Don't know how you can portray that on film however.

[@kc2086]

@@chatteyj that sort of inner monologue only works in anime, and even there it doesn't feel right for many viewers.

[@sobrique8883]

Dune was the film I've been waiting 25 years to see. Ever since I fell in love with the book, the Lynch Dune was 'ok' and the mini series was too, but neither really captured the amazing sense of 'epic' as the book. I thought it was impossible. There's just too much there to make into a film. But Lord of the Rings redefined a lot of what was 'possible'. And when I saw Blade Runner 2049... well, I thought Blade Runner was also going to be almost impossible to sequel, just because of the nature of it, but somehow Denis Villeneuve carried it off. I was still praying that probably my most loved story wouldn't suck _this_ time. And I wasn't disappointed. (I mean, there's always part 2 I guess, but I was genuinely amazed by how good the first part was)

[@Cassiopeia7o7]

Saw it in 3D in Imax on Saturday and then again on Sunday in a different theatre... Even though I read the books, I just couldn't stop thinking about this world, had to see it again. I've never done that before. Needless to say, I loved it. Not filming the second part would be a crime. The spice must flow!

[@yo3Jsan]

You don't feel the Duke's love for Jessica. You don't feel Jessica's love for the Duke. You don't feel Paul's love for his father. There's threadbare emotional relationships between the characters. Paul's character is not an emo, he's bright, charismatic, bold and playful. Dr Yueh is not just a random Chinese guy, he's a mentat, something that isn't even established in the world. There are major things omitted from the film - Paul doesn't even cry when he kills Jamis. Liet Kynes is a huge character that is barely explored, his character is meant to deepen the mythology of the Fremen on Arrakis and their dreams, he's just a sneeze in this film. Mark says he never got bored, but I don't know how that can be, the film had one tone, one note, being played again and again, there's no change in pace, or feeling, everyone speaks in the same flat way. I respect this film, and the visual scale and mastery of it, but..........it's just a series of actions happening without any real meaning or context behind it. - A Dune fan.

[@kumstuke]

Exactly, and then when Duncan was about to sacrifice himself, I had to care for him. Like lol really, who is Duncan and why should I care about his death. Instead of showing me a long shot of ships landing and taking off how about some character development

[@commentarytalk1446]

Nailed it. Emotionally cardboard with canned lines and deliveries. Aka Blockbuster movie to pull in the money by not taking any risks.

[@yo3Jsan]

@@kumstuke I feel the same way.

[@gtotorean]

Seen it in IMAX at Cineworld Plymouth. It was emotional... Fully immersed into the worlds through sound and vision for the duration of the film. Can't recommend enough watching it on the big screen.

[@abcdefghi2749]

This film is the setup like the book. It's an incredibly faithful adaptation to Frank Herbert's 1965 novel. Its world building, character development and introducing the topic and themes of the stories as well as the complex level of religion and politics involved in the film. It's long for a reason. This only covers half the book as in the title of the movie, Dune: Part one.

[@greyman419]

"There's a whole thing about having to walk in a certain way so as not to create TREMORS that will attract the attention of the WORMS which is very much like...."

[@JD-fb5ps]

"There's this film about worms that are attracted to tremors. And if anyone makes and tremors, the tremors attract the worms... I think it was called, The Worms That Liked Vibrations"

[@greyman419]

@@JD-fb5ps Im so glad somebody else listened to that in the Simpsons mode

[@GA-1st]

A grand time at the cinema!. Brilliant, visionary film by Villeneuve, with outstanding cinematography and production design to match his ambition. The Zimmer score had shades of Maurice Jarre's classic "Lawrence of Arabia" theme. Brilliant film, that felt like a throwback when spectacle wasn't defined mostly by special effects. My only real quibble is the sound mix. For whatever reason, I wish I didn't have problem understanding dialogue as often as I do.

[@firefly4f4]

Honestly while the film is gorgeous, I found it had no characters, only parts of a plot. That is, all the people only exist and are developed such that they serve the plot. Paul may be a chosen one 2x; that's all I got out of it. Anything else I picked up from my knowledge of the books. And the score was a typical Hans Zimmer overpowering, drowning out the dialogue at points. I really wanted to like this more, but aside from liking the visuals I found myself struggling to care because of that lack of character.

[@j2174]

Agreed. There was something there, but they just didn't bother to make us care about any of the characters at all. The most I got was a disappointment when they stabbed the one character in the back, when they were about to ride a sand worm. What a waste.

[@mrbrianoblivion]

Couldn't agree more, the more time has passed from watching it the more it felt empty, just getting by on vibes. The actors are wasted and the ending, which was broadcast throughout the film dragged and felt flat.

[@j2174]

@@mrbrianoblivion Exactly. The visuals (when you could see them) were great. Too bad the character development and whole of the film wasn't much better. Nothing wrong with the part of the story covered, its relatively simple, but somehow they still forgot so much.

[@TheColossalBlanket]

I went in knowing nothing about Dune but I knew it would be an epic so was looking forward to it. I was pretty bored for most of it. The visual experience was great but I didn't care at all about any of the characters. Obviously there's more to come but I don't care to know what it is and I really wanted to.

[@Monster-Abee]

I feel like I'm wrong for not seeing what's so great about this movie. The audio and visuals were very good but the story didn't hold me.

[@seamusburke639]

I think Dune's complexity has actually been oversold. Dune isn't incomprehensible. It has a lot going on with factions, and politics, and locations, and a lot of made-up words, yes. But all of it makes sense in context and it's easy to put together once you're immersed in it. I'd describe this version of Dune as "self-assured." It had such confidence with its effects, and set-pieces, and scale, and acting. It knows exactly what kind of movie they're making, and it's not going to scramble and hand you a glossary before you walk in like the Lynch version.

[@wombleingfree]

Dune is not a massively complex un-filmable book, it is a fairly straight forward sci-fi novel. Lynch’s Dune may not be for everyone but it follows the book pretty closely.

[@khimaros]

I agree, everyone's acting like it's un-filmable. The only problem they have is how to deal with the conflict of; 'Show don't tell' Vs 'The massive amount in internal monologue the characters in the book have'.

[@heyokaikaggen6288]

One thing that does puzzle me about Dune is the commercial strategy, or possible lack thereof. Warner Brothers clearly didn't have complete faith in the material, otherwise they would have shot back to back. Now they have to, very expensively, reassemble a very much in-demand cast and crew. After all that, where does it get them? You can't really viably get more than a Part 2 out of it. It just seems like it would have made so much more sense to make a series out of it.

[@nifralo2752]

If Dune makes enough money they can be bribed back. Plus half tge cast are in masks. And the Baron has loads of prosphetics and the the dad is dead. Only really Paul Jessica the leading tribesman and maybe the baron's nephew have to be played by the same person. This is such a nit pic but i wish there was a picture of the emperor on a wall or something. Logically shouldbt there be? Or maybe the previous one since its implied that the emperor is kinda young. Its mentioned he has no sons so its plausible hes like 30. Or who knows maybe hes really 740 and ruled for 600 years.

[@jmclen7]

In one of those alternate Blade Runner cuts, Roy Batty, referring to a trip he’d made to Alabama (not mentioned in the other cuts), turns to his android buddies and he says, he says to his buddies, he says “I… I’ve seen people you things wouldn’t believe”. Very much looking forward to this movie though!

[@imperatorrm]

I liked the film but I'm unhappy with some of Villeneuve's choices. The Gom Jabbar scene was stripped down, we don't hear the Reverend Mother's explanation of the Kwisatz Haderach, instead, we get Jessica's inaccurate version. Lynch's version of the Gom Jabbar scene was more faithful to the book. As for thinking they are treating the audience smarter, why doesn't the new film tell us the name of the spice, melange, or acknowledge the more mystical aspects of Paul's skills and development? You can tell us these things, we may not fully understand but it's part of the world-building that there are aspects of the year 10,191 that are strange to us. Villeneuve's depiction of the voice was well done, you see the effects from the victim's perspective, their lack of awareness of complying. The opening scene exposition on Arrakis with Chani explaining the oppression of the Fremen was well-done, conveying a lot of information in a short time. It's not in the book but it was important for the context of the story, cinematically. A good film, very well made, but I think Villeneuve avoided some aspects of scenes from the book because it would create too many comparisons with Lynch's version, as some of Lynch's dialogue is very close to the book. Kull wahad!

[@davidjones272]

The more mystical side of Paul's abilities are made clear, but it's presented through the story, not via exposition.

[@jonathanentwistle30]

Phenomenal film, I was in two minds about seeing it at the cinema and am so pleased I did. For me this raises the bar for film making as a whole, yet alone within the sci-fi genre. I have not left a cinema buzzing like this since I was a child, an absolute treat

[@citizengraves1632]

The film came out in Germany a month ago, and since then I've seen it 7 times in the cinema. When Mark Kermode says that the film is never boring, that is a total understatement IMO!

[@Frunk123Frunk]

I’ve been checking Mark’s page for days now, waiting for this review. I had already read Peter Bradshaw’s review, but with him it’s always a gamble. I had to have the final seal of approval from Mark. I mean I would have watched Dune anyway as a huge fan of the book and the director Deni. I feel like God listened to my prayers giving Deni the chance to make the Blade runner sequel and Dune - the first one being my favourite film of my life, Dune being my favourite sci fi novel of my life. I fear for the future of cinema, we are so much in need for visionary Mavericks like Denis. Just one last thought , and this one is for you Mark: when I watched your top 10 favourite films of the 2010s, I was 100% convinced Blade runner2049 would be in the top 5. So as we went on from the 6th, 5th, 4th position, I thought - Yes, it will be number 1! Only to find out BR2049 did not make it to the list! Wasn’t even mentioned as runner up or something. Seriously, that was one of the biggest “cultural shocks “ of my life. I still love you Mark, perhaps one day we’ll get an answer why :) So next Saturday for me in Crawley Imax. I cannot describe my excitement.

[@KeytarArgonian]

‘The sound is more important than the picture’ This, 1000 times this! I don’t know if it was just my cinema, but to me the sound was dialled up to 12 at all times, so much so that the sound felt like it was at a Level, that was close to discomfort.. but that wall of atmospheric sound felt like it was pushing against me in my seat just blasting immense shots on screen and physically pushing me back into my seat. And those sounds are some of the most unearthly noises, I swear afterward I felt I had never heard sounds like that before in my life. And then at other moments like the big battle scene, the sheer bass of the audio was instead trying to blast me out of my seat completely. You FELT those explosions. It was almost like a 4D experience at times but just because of that meaty sound. And you’re just not going to get that at home, even with a surround sound.

[@ratboy555]

Great review. This movie flew by, but wasn't fast paced. I think it might have been perfect....look forward to watching both parts on the trot when (if?) PT2 comes out! 😬🤞

[@douglas2437]

Absolutely spot on. I'm a huge huge Dune fan, it's my favourite. And the book nailed everything, the sound, the look, the sparseness, the otherworldiness, the spirit of the story. So far, it's just spot on; I'm absolutely stunned and excited for the possibility of part 2.

[@DH-cw9it]

I've seen it twice in two different UK cinemas. Dune is my favourite book, and the scale and visualisation of this was awesome. The script worked really well to convey the spirit of the story without getting bogged in minutiae. One issue I did had was that the audio was epic, but the balances were off a lot sometime, with background noise obscuring sections of dialogue. Did anyone else see this? (One example was Paul's vision of the Jihad while in the tent)...

[@lastudentessa]

Hi! Yes, I agree about the sound balance or mixing issue. Despite seeing it in IMAX (in Canada), I had a hard time hearing a lot of the dialogue in the last 20 to 30 minutes. My theatre was respectfully silent so that wasn't the problem. It had me wishing for subtitles because I couldn't hear Paul's dialogue about his vision at all.

[@ninawildr4207]

Yes agreed!

[@ianw5663]

Watched Dune with two friends of a moderate fantasy/sci-fi taste who know of Dune only from trailers and my excited chattering in group texts and they both loved it/immediately bought the book on Amazon - Villeneuve accomplished something truly remarkable in with this film.

[@ASKpq]

I think Villeneuve’s films are more elegant and composed than Nolan’s. Nolan’s become clunky and over-stuffed.

[@gilliandoplemore9357]

agree.

[@OakleyMartinMusic]

@asdfasdf I would have to disagree. I love Interstellar as much as the next man but to call Dune hollow and generic is a misstatement. Dune did a great job of building a world but not trying to push every detail of the lore into the film leaving no space for character depth. It's sound design is just on another level compared to other block busters nowadays and the soundtrack is superb. I could go on but I wouldn't call Dune generic.

[@letsRegulateSociopaths]

@asdfasdf well I think Interstellar was trash, so I guess Gustibis non es Disputandum, Eh?

[@NavidIsANoob]

@asdfasdf Dune has such a massive cult following and solid foundation in western literature that it will absolutely be remembered for decades to come. Lynch's Dune was a mess of a film and it's STILL remembered fondly.

[@beneathpavement1]

We just left the cinema. Like MK, I didn't feel talked down to. Most importantly, the planet and culture of Arrakis was fully realised. Walking home, I said to my son that I remember watching the Star Wars movies and wishing that the film had allowed us to stay with the Jawas or the Tuskan Raiders, to actually get into a place and civilisation and not just sketch it, and that's what Dune felt like. Of course there was action and fantasy-style knights and set piece battles, and more than a hint of GRRM plotting and aristocratic cliche in the noble house and the ruthless house, but more importantly,, it made me want to live longer with the Fremen and get into some spice rituals and become one of them, which, seeing as it was ultimately Paul's story arc, was a resounding success.

[@6ixpool520]

Yeah, we will get much more of the fremen in the next movie :)

[@HD-ol1mc]

We had a family trip to the movies today to see Dune, me and my husband and two teenagers. We all loved it!

[@GrayNeko]

This was the best adaptation I could have hoped for! It was human, it was tactile, I could all but taste the spice in the desert sand! Hey, filmmakers around the world, there are amazing novels waiting to be put to film. But you have to love and respect them first!

[@switchmuso]

Omigod! at 9.00 : " I didn't want to do a voice-over, so I got Hans Zimmer to do a voice-over" has to be the greatest compliment ever paid to a film composer.

[@benjaminodonnell258]

I have very few criticisms of this Dune, but my main one is the ending. There was a way to end on a kind of dreadful cliff-hanger: the naming. In the book, Paul's visions of the Jihad include the Fremen chanting "Mau'dib! Mau'dib!" as a blood-soaked battle chant while they fight and slaughter accross the galaxy. Around the same time, wholly outside of his visions, Paul sees and is charmed by the little kangaroo mouse that survives in the desert (this *is* shown in the film). After the duel with Jamis, Paul is inducted into the tribe. He is told that Fremen have two names, an intimate name among their tribe, and a public name for outsiders. For his intimate name, Stilgar names Paul "Usual," which means "the base of the pillar," for Paul's hidden strength. Stilgar then asks Paul what his public name should be. Paul remembers the kangaroo mouse and asks what it is called in the Fremen tongue. The Fremen laugh, and say the cleverness of this mouse is a good omen, and chant in joy their name for the mouse:"Mua'dib! Mau'dib!" Cut to Paul's horrified face as, in his head, the joyful welcoming chant of his new name morphs into the bloodsoaked battle cry of his visions. The music swells. Roll credits.

[@Karboooo]

yeah wouldve been good....the desert mouse is shown a few times in the movie yet nohing is tied to it

[@Cathy_in_colour]

Saw it this morning in a wonderfully empty theatre. It was fantastic.

[@angelareele858]

The drama or the solitude?

[@Cathy_in_colour]

@@angelareele858 both. Especially after a theatre full of people talking and eating from rustly bags throughout Candyman a few weeks ago.

[@lokbatan]

Hope you live in a place where the film has been out for a while, other wise it doesn't bode well for Part 2.

[@Cathy_in_colour]

@@lokbatan I guess people are mostly at work/school at 11.20am on a Friday...I was fortunate enough to not be.

[@leighsherval1023]

I usually fear the audience despite loving the cinema. It doesn't take much to ruin screenings for me. Saw this at the IMAX Waterloo earlier, full house. The audience was absolutely transfixed

[@grassygnoll3345]

My Wow! moment was the Ornithopter start up sequence. It just looked and sounded so real.

[@warlockofwordschannel7901]

Agreed, gorgeous moment, in an otherwise stark sequence

[@Aeysir]

When part 2 is released, I will be there for the inevitable 10pm to 2am Part 1 and Part 2 double bill on the biggest, loudest screening I can get to

[@JKSJKS1]

Yep lol