DUNE Movie: Thoughts, Opinions, and Impressions

[Umbran]

case in point: the fact that Daenaeryes goes bad is not the issue, I could believe that. The fact that she does in the way shown, at that moment, that quickly…is beyond belief.

So, I didn't watch the show, but I have read the books to date.

In the books, Daenaeryes is pretty horrible. It is clearly given to us early on that her family is prone to mental illness through a combination of breeding and abuse. She projects an air of innocence and good intentions, and she is initially in the position of a victim. But then you look at her actions after that point - she slaughters people by the thousands for not doing what she wants. Her dedication to "freedom" is really only dedication to her.

It is pretty clear that she is her brother's sister, a Targaryen though and through. And they were not beneficent rulers. Her turning on anyone who allied with her is perfectly in character for her, and should come as no surprise.

 

[payn]

Interesting, I just read that the dinner scene was filmed but cut from the film. I'd love to see that in a director's cut!

 

[Stalker0]

So, I didn't watch the show, but I have read the books to date.

In the books, Daenaeryes is pretty horrible. It is clearly given to us early on that her family is prone to mental illness through a combination of breeding and abuse. She projects an air of innocence and good intentions, and she is initially in the position of a victim. But then you look at her actions after that point - she slaughters people by the thousands for not doing what she wants. Her dedication to "freedom" is really only dedication to her.

It is pretty clear that she is her brother's sister, a Targaryen though and through. And they were not beneficent rulers. Her turning on anyone who allied with her is perfectly in character for her, and should come as no surprise.

You are absolutely right. Now in the show they don't do as good a job at showing that, there are hints....but its a lot more muted, still there are hints of it. So again the idea that she ultimately "goes bad" is reasonable, and watching that journey would be an exciting one to see.

But that's not what happens. She literally just "goes nuts", and just destroys everything at the moment of her greatest victory.... which is completely unprecedented. In every other case on the show, at any point she does something that's "going dark", there is always a justifiable reason for it. A debatable reason mind you, but a reason none the less. But at the end....no, just goes off the deep end, in a way that makes 0% sense. She heels turns in a way that would make Pro Wrestlers blush.

If the writers had shown that journey slowly over time, I could have absolutely bought it. But again this is the issue with the rush job of Season 8. They didn't have the time to make that journey (and by that I mean the screenrunners decided to end it quickly, HBO was begging them to make it longer), so instead of doing something mid way that could have worked for the character they presented on the show, they just "force it to happen"....and the end result is shoddy and stupid.

So back to my original point, its not that the plot points of Season 8 are "bad", its how they manifested is what is so terrible.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Going to see it tomorrow night. Haven’t read the books or seen the older film, but I’m excited to see the adventure of Dune (which I assume is the name of the main character).

Well, you certainly wouldn't give a major character a boring name like Paul!

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

the thumper? was that supposed to mimic the rabbit? seriously its like a whale chasing an ant to food?

The worms react to, and attack, anything making a regular pattern of vibrations on the surface, like someone walking or running or marching, etc. I think they also go for the stronger vibration first, so using of them gives people some time to run for safe rocky ground, without having to do the random shuffle walk that does not attract the worms. This is all from the book, so if they left this information out of the movie, instead of having a 30-second explanation on-film for both characters and audience, then that is just another failure.

 

[Jmarso]

Ok i went in to this knowing hardly anything about the previous movie (i tried to watch the original a few years back and its bad)/didnt read books

things i liked
Oscar Isaac was probably the best performer in the movie and the beard works! could totally see him being cast in a medieval movie


things i dont understand
Vladmir- Why does he setup Letos family? Dont want to spoil things but his servant gives a look when the doors close but then all is ok?
the planet itself-Do the people such as Thufir knowingly hide how bad things are from Leto? Are the worms (one in particular judging Paul ? why was it looking at him?)
Was Pauls battle with Stilgars people in the books?
Josh Brolins character. I think i lost track of what happened to him
Who was Momoas character? how was he tied into the chain of command


things i didnt like
it was slow at times. Lots times battles seem over and then new waves just spring up.
shields and darts . battles made no sense
One minute you need a toob in your nose and then sometimes you dont
the thumper? was that supposed to mimic the rabbit? seriously its like a whale chasing an ant to food?
it wasnt really explained why one group was motivated to destroy the other? Theres this false honor where you cant do something but then they break it anyway

I give the movie 4/10. Its not something i would recommend. It is not as good as the first few seasons of GOT. its not a good war movie. I was never on the edge of my seat. i wasnt wowed by any special effects

What Payn said in his post responding to yours- there is a whole political and world-building backdrop that Villeneuve only touched on or flat out ignored when making this version.

The primary reason for the lack of technology (aside from starships and such), is that millenia in the past, mankind fought a war against its own machines and AIs, and they have been banned ever since. (The Butlerian Jihad) This led to a rise of mental disciplines, which are centered primarily around the Bene Gesserit sisterhood, the Spacing Guild (composed solely of males), and things like the Mentats (The human computers). Thufir Howatt and Piter Devries (the latter never even gets mentioned by name, but he is Baron Harkonenn's Mentat) are Mentat Assassins.

The idea of the Kwisatz Haderach (which the Bene Gesserit are trying to breed by crossing centuries of human bloodlines) is basically a prescient 'superbeing' of sorts, a male Bene Gesserit who can bridge the gap between the yin of the Bene Gesserit disciplines and the yang of those abilities open to beings like Guild Navigators (who are all male). Jessica and the Reverend Mother of the Bene Gesserit believe Paul is potentially the Kwisatz Haderach- and that is why Jessica has been training him in the Bene Gesserit disciplines, like the Voice, something which would never normally be done with a male child.

If you enjoyed the movie, you should really tackle the first book at the least. All of this is explained in detail and more. It's truly a magnificent work of sci-fi and social commentary. Also, if the second movie gets made, more will almost certainly be brought to light.

 

[RangerWickett]

The writing quality also dropped grossly. No one was clever. No one schemed.

(I'm talking about Game of Thrones season 8.)

 

[Jmarso]

The writing quality also dropped grossly. No one was clever. No one schemed.

I see plans...within plans...

 

[Janx]

The worms react to, and attack, anything making a regular pattern of vibrations on the surface, like someone walking or running or marching, etc. I think they also go for the stronger vibration first, so using of them gives people some time to run for safe rocky ground, without having to do the random shuffle walk that does not attract the worms. This is all from the book, so if they left this information out of the movie, instead of having a 30-second explanation on-film for both characters and audience, then that is just another failure.

they covered that in several ways in the new movie, I thought it was clear.

It's like Tremors, but with more sand.

 

[theT0rmented]

Still haven't seen it, but at least part 2 is a go!