Dune (2020) - Denis Villeneuve

Bigpig said:
I understand that you might hate heading to the theatre to watch a movie and your reasons is quite frankly none of my business but it doesn't change the fact that local cinemas are vital for the movie industry and the paying customer.

It's been quite public that Villeneuve went to war with the WB/AT&T to try and delay and make sure this film made it into movie theatres.

The man himself https://variety.com/2020/film/news/dune-denis-villeneuve-blasts-warner-bros-1234851270/ - ‘Dune’ Director Denis Villeneuve Blasts HBO Max Deal (EXCLUSIVE)
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I don't doubt it, but as I said, that's not my problem.

My reason for not going is simple. I don't want to sit inside a room full of people for hours in the middle of an airborne virus pandemic. I have lots of alternative leisure activities that don't require that exposure

I am willing to spend as much on watching the film at home as I am watching it at the cinema. The idea that digital delivery is lower margin than in-theatre I find laughable, so the problem lies somewhere in their business model, not at my end.
 
Do the Fremen really need saving in the book? They have a large sophisticated society hidden from view. They are the unhoned weapon ready for Paul to use, he needs them more than they needed him. Yes those nominally in charge attempt to persecute them but the book makes it clear that it is a costly failure. The Sardukar are heavily denuded by their attempted pogroms

I haven't seen the film so I don't know if it's white saviour but I don't think the book is.
 
Yes that's right. The premise is the danger of blind deification of the hero. That reviewer is just seeing what they want to see and not what's actually there and I'm 90% sure the trailers etc are just using the 'oppressed natives vs colonisers' because that's all the USA in 2021 can talk about. The book is the bible for Denis, as he's said.

The Fremen don't need saving and Paul doesn't save them - they were doing just fine before he came along - what he and Jessica do is take advantage of them due to their beliefs being influenced by the Bene Gesserit religious engineering / Missionaria Protectiva. This has the unintended but unstoppable effect (as Paul becomes aware of and knows from looking into the future he cannot stop) of whipping them up, and there's many more of them than anyone in the Imperium was aware of, into such a religious fervour that combined with them being trained in the Weirding Way they're unstoppable once they start their holy war for their messiah.
 
Somnambulist said:
Yes that's right. The premise is the danger of blind deification of the hero. That reviewer is just seeing what they want to see and not what's actually there and I'm 90% sure the trailers etc are just using the 'oppressed natives vs colonisers' because that's all the USA in 2021 can talk about. The book is the bible for Denis, as he's said.

The Fremen don't need saving and Paul doesn't save them - they were doing just fine before he came along - what he and Jessica do is take advantage of them due to their beliefs being influenced by the Bene Gesserit religious engineering / Missionaria Protectiva. This has the unintended but unstoppable effect (as Paul becomes aware of and knows from looking into the future he cannot stop) of whipping them up, and there's many more of them than anyone in the Imperium was aware of, into such a religious fervour that combined with them being trained in the Weirding Way they're unstoppable once they start their holy war for their messiah.
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Well, there are multiple things going on.

There is the basic saviour trope to begin with, the land of savages with the prophecy that some saviour figure will appear, and comes from a this high-born imperialist house...so they aren't wrong on that front, although it is only one of many aspects, and for the record, I wouldn't have it down as a criticism.

The aspect of the books where the jihad that Paul unleashes gets out of his control and terrorises the galaxy doesn't really come into the first volume much. That's more where the later books focus.

Surprised reviewers aren't making more of the eugenics themes! I guess they don't generate clicks quite the same :P
 
mid_gen said:
Well, there are multiple things going on.

There is the basic saviour trope to begin with, the land of savages with the prophecy that some saviour figure will appear, and comes from a this high-born imperialist house...so they aren't wrong on that front, although it is only one of many aspects, and for the record, I wouldn't have it down as a criticism.

The aspect of the books where the jihad that Paul unleashes gets out of his control and terrorises the galaxy doesn't really come into the first volume much. That's more where the later books focus.

Surprised reviewers aren't making more of the eugenics themes! I guess they don't generate clicks quite the same :p
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Wait till they start going on about 'cultural appropriation' of Islamic stuff (ignoring that the religions in Dune are odd mixes of religions from the 10 millennia prior, which themselves are mixtures of the religions from the 10 millennia prior to that (aka our present day).

I think with the eugenics it's not going to stir up much fuss because it's purely about the goal of trying to successfully breed a particular individual rather than anything related to collective superiority or purity. They'll probably love the BG wimmenz empowerment!
 
neviditelny said:
Speaking about IMAX, does anyone know where there is IMAX screens in London?
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There's the big BFI one by Waterloo station which wins on size, Leicester Square has the Cineworld (formerly Empire) laser IMAX which has the better picture IMO unless the former has been upgraded in the last couple of years.

EDIT - doesn't look like it has: it's the biggest screen in the UK but only when showing 70mm analogue IMAX films. The rest of the time it's an ageing 1080p projector.

Dune was shot on some fancy digital 4K IMAX-certified camera so I'd recommend the Cineworld for the much sharper picture.
 
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Somnambulist said:
There's the big BFI one by Waterloo station which wins on size, Leicester Square has the Cineworld (formerly Empire) laser IMAX which has the better picture IMO.
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Sounds interesting. Just been checking my schedule and got a couple of days off in end of October where I might go to London to see Dune at the IMAX. Just need to decide which one to go to.
 
mid_gen said:
I mean, they aren't wrong anyway, the main premise of the first book is the classic white saviour trope. I wouldn't have it down as a negative in a review though, except to trigger the predictable exposure from it, they've got one bite here! :p
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Outrage increases traffic!!
mid_gen said:
I don't doubt it, but as I said, that's not my problem.

My reason for not going is simple. I don't want to sit inside a room full of people for hours in the middle of an airborne virus pandemic. I have lots of alternative leisure activities that don't require that exposure

I am willing to spend as much on watching the film at home as I am watching it at the cinema. The idea that digital delivery is lower margin than in-theatre I find laughable, so the problem lies somewhere in their business model, not at my end.
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All about the experience. I cringe when I see the home streaming fee and would no way pay it. I've had various home cinema setups and it's just not the same for that first time viewing experience. Would rather wait a few months and buy the film on home media.
 
Somnambulist said:
EDIT - doesn't look like it has: it's the biggest screen in the UK but only when showing 70mm analogue IMAX films. The rest of the time it's an ageing 1080p projector.
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Even if Dune was filmed on 70mm, I wouldn't go to the BFI. The sound sucks and the seats/lack of legroom sucks. I'm only just over 6ft and was cramped AF. You're screwed if you're taller. :p

Also it's always rammed where as Cineworld Leciester Square is dead on weekdays (if you can go at that time). I went to see Avengers Infinity War on opening day and there must have been 20 people in there. I love going there when I can (it's bit of trek for me living in Gloucestershire :o)
 
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marc2003 said:
where as Cineworld Leciester Square is dead on weekdays (if you can go at that time)
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Isn't that IMAX still one of the few with the dual laser configuration for better images - hdr
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/dolby-cinema-leicester-square.18849951/page-2

maybe the sound isn't as good there ? but having heard r4 front seat review of the film - I'm not sure I will be enamered by the his typically sympathetic soundtrack;
unlike the set&machines which they raved about.
 
jpaul said:
Isn't that IMAX still one of the few with the dual laser configuration for better images - hdr
https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/dolby-cinema-leicester-square.18849951/page-2

maybe the sound isn't as good there ? but having heard r4 front seat review of the film - I'm not sure I will be enamered by the his typically sympathetic soundtrack;
unlike the set&machines which they raved about.
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It looks and sounds great there. I think it’s just because it’s not really a ‘local’ cinema being smack bang in the middle of the city most people only go at the weekend when they’re not at work or if there’s a premier or something.

I’d listen to Zimmer’s sketchbook album I posted. It’s not the official soundtrack so isn’t giving away plot points etc, more him taking a few pieces from the OST and riffing on them like jazz musicians improvising over a song’s chord progression. People are saying the film is his best work and I get the impression as with Denis’ film, it’s a more on the ‘straightforward’ end of their creative output.
 
flea.rider said:
i'm not thinking he has a problem .. even hard core rippers will have to see it at the cinema :)
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Hope so. The latest featurette is amazing. The sense of scale is unmatched. Stellan creeps me out in most of his roles but looks totally terrifying. Really getting that Vader presence vibe.
 
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