Science fiction novels written in the middle of the last century were often really, really weird, and Frank Herbert's classic 1965 novel Dune is no exception. The novel is a gem, though, but there is no getting around the fact that it's also quite weird, and previous attempts to adapt it to the screen emphasize strange spectacle over story. I know David Lynch's 1984 version has its fans, so it feels a little transgressive to say that it was clownish and poorly cast. I never watched more than the first episode of the 2000 miniseries (it was boring, and didn't manage to leave the ridiculousness behind).
Denis Villenueve's two Dune movies are both finely crafted storytelling, and he managed to translate the sometimes bizarre elements from the novel into something badass, and well, cool. It was also perfectly cast and wonderfully acted, and the cinematography, special effects, sound, costumes, and makeup all perfectly support the storytelling. In short, both movies were pretty excellent.
The second movie in particular, isn't perfect, though. Part two ends before the novel does (I believe he's planning another movie, and I'm guessing he'll include the missing material then), and the movie feels like it is setting up a sequel rather than giving the movie the resolution it deserves.
He also fundamentally changed the character of Chani. In the books, she is nothing but supportive, which left the character far less interesting than she could have been, so I'm in no way opposed to giving her some ideas and motivations of her own. But, in order to give Chani a reason to disagree with Paul, the director emphasized the North/South religious split (the "fundamentalist" aspects of the movie were not really a big part of the original story) in order to make Chani into non-believer.
But the unintended consequence was that it made her look like a rigid idiot who cannot believe the evidence sitting right in front of her that Paul is indeed the Kwisatz Haderach. She knows him in a way that the other northerners don't, and he has never been anything but a good leader and person who cares about the Fremen, yet she thinks he's just using the Fremen for personal gain.
She also never disrespected Stilgar (he was both her uncle and her trainer) or his beliefs, which she pretty much shared in the novel. So, in the end, I approve of giving Chani more of a backbone, and giving her more to do than the novel did, but I do wish Villeneuve had done it differently.
(Pithy Reviews; and Rankings* out of 10 nominees):
- Conclave (Absorbing conspiracy at the Vatican; Cathy: 1, Chris: 1)
- Emilia Pérez (Stereotypes, redemption, and transition; Cathy: 2, Chris: 2)
- Dune: Part Two (Best rendition of a classic SF novel: Cathy: 3, Chris: 3)
- The Substance (Excellent horror movie ruined by ending; Cathy: 4, Chris: 4)
- Wicked (Beautiful, yet boring; Cathy: 5, Chris: 5)
- Anora (Steaming pile of говно; Cathy: 6, Chris: 6)
* Rankings can change.
Unranked/yet-to-be-seen:
- Unwatched - The Brutalist (Jewish architect rebuilds his life in America after the Holocaust)
- Unwatched - A Complete Unknown (A biopic about the early days of Bob Dylan's career)
- Unwatched - I'm Still Here/Ainda Estou Aqui (A Brazilian politician's wife makes a new life after her husband is disappeared in 1971)
- Unwatched - Nickel Boys (1960s-era reform school survival story)
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