DUNE – A Review by Cynthia Flores
First, let me start off by saying I have not read any of Frank Herberts’s cherished masterpiece novels about Dune. However, I have watched the greatly panned 1984 film Dune, directed by David Lynch and starring Kyle MacLachlan. And I truly enjoyed the 2013 hit documentary Jodorowsky’s Dune. That documentary showed me how great a film this story could be in the right hands.
The plotline circulating for this film oversimplifies the story. “This is a story set in the future of the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.” That kind of description is like saying that Harry Potter is the story about a kid who finds out why he doesn’t fit in with his aunt and uncle’s family. This film, Dune, is the first installation of an epic adventure that has it all. Family honor, betrayal, political rancor, and the systematic slaughter of a people that are one with the deserts of Arrakis. All set in space with a score by Hans Zimmer. I could give you a blow-by-blow description, but I want you to see this film instead.
Dune has an all-star cast that features Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and Zendaya. At the helm is the young Academy Award nominee Timothee Chalamet. His actual age and boyish looks were held against him by the legions of fans of the book when he was cast in the lead of Paul Atreides, the son of the Duke. However, under the direction of Denis Villeneuve, he makes the part his own.
I really liked this film because it didn’t try to cram four or six hours’ worth of storytelling into one movie. Instead, by breaking it up, the director takes his time introducing us to all the players of the story and the fantastic worlds they inhabit. Letting us invest ourselves in their fates. In fact, the two hours and thirty-five minutes of the film are so well crafted that the film seems to just fly by. Leaving the audience wanting more even as the images and sounds echo in your mind days later.
I give Dune a 5-star rating. It’s an excellent start to what I hope will be a new dynasty of films, the likes of franchises such as The Lord of The Rings. See it on the big screen or IMAX if at all possible. This movie was made to envelop you in all its sound and fury.
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
Written by: Jon Spaihts, Denis Villeneuve, Eric Roth, based on the novel by Frank Herbert
Rated: PG-13
Selig Rating: 5 Stars
Running Time: 2hr 35min
Action/ Sci-Fi/ Drama
Wide Theatrical Release: In Theaters and HBO Max October 22nd
Starring: Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, Zendaya
The Selig Rating Scale:
5 Stars – Excellent movie, well worth the price.
4 Stars – Good movie
3 Stars – OK movie
2 Stars – No need to rush. Save it for a rainy day.
1 Star – Good that I saw it on the big screen but wish I hadn’t paid for it.
