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Dune (2021)

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Dune (2021)

Laura’s Rating: 3.5/5 Stars


Based on the groundbreaking science fiction novel by Frank Herbert, Dune covers the first half of the book in its 2.5 hour run time. Be sure to check out my review of the book and the reading guide! (I seriously used my own reading guide to refresh my memory of characters before watching the movie).


The Analysis:


Paul Atreides, son of Duke Leto, is heir to one of the high houses of the universe. The emperor of the imperium asks House Atreides to move to the dangerous planet of Arrakis, where spice, the most valuable resource in the universe, is harvested. Paul and his family must face an unfamiliar planet, a new way of life, and resentment from the powerful Harkonnens, who used to rule Arrakis. When conflict arises, Paul is forced to embrace his destiny in order to survive.


Despite the long run time, Dune didn’t feel too drawn out and the time went by fast. The cinematography of the film is absolutely beautiful and the breathtaking shots of various landscapes bring the world of Dune to life. Especially when contrasted with the poorly received 1984 film version, this movie feels polished and well-executed. Legendary Pictures and Warner Brothers clearly spent both time and money on production, set design, costuming, etc. Although I had mixed feelings about a few of the casting choices, the acting was good and Timothée Chalamet especially nailed his role.


I’d love to hear the perspective of someone who has not read the book, because I think the movie would be difficult to follow without any previous exposure to the many characters and concepts that are entirely unique to the Dune universe. I was excited for the movie to come out because my biggest issue with the book was that it was too long and too detailed, so I assumed they would have to condense the material to fit it all into a feature length film. Much to my disappointment, Dune is just the first half of the story covered in the book. Rather than condensing the material, they give it a proportional amount of time as compared to how Herbert wrote the story. For many people, the loyalty to the book’s pacing and length is likely a positive, it’s just not what I was looking for. I didn’t love the book so it makes sense that I didn’t love the movie, but I do think the film does a good job of bringing Frank Herbert’s vision to life. Fans of science fiction will likely enjoy the vast universe established in the film and Dune perfectly sets up the events that are to follow in the next installment.

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