Dune: Part One (2021)
Making Star Wars look like a distant memory, far, far away.
Presentation:
If anyone is to make science fiction cinematic again, it’s Denis Villeneuve. After all, adapting Herbert’s books is his self-proclaimed calling. Dune is an epic franchise, infamous for being untranslatable to the big screen due to its scale. If you watched the original with dodgy visual effects, you might agree. But Villeneuve and Greig Fraser have managed to successfully create the most cinematic experience of our generation with incredible modern sound, direction, location, and cinematography. The performances are fine, but it’s really the presentation that should impress you. Despite so much going on, Villeneuve still manages to squeeze in moments of meaningful dialogue and storytelling considering the runtime and what Hollywood depth allows. What makes this feel like a true space epic is the use of beautiful Arri anamorphics compared to the spherical lenses of the sequel. The lighting, world building, and score from Hans Zimmer are wonderfully immersive, transporting you 8000 years into the future.
Conclusion:
This is the most Hollywood project Villeneuve has made, and unfathomable that it exceeds his other masterpiece Blade Runner 2049. There are only 2 or 3 event filmmakers nowadays worth blindly going to the theater for, and this film explains why he is one of them. Although the second has more action, part one is the best Dune film because of its mystery, intrigue, and tone. After watching this, is it possible not to watch the rest of the trilogy? I never found Star Wars interesting and this film provides proof why. Dune is so cinematic it even makes Star Wars look like a kid’s flick.
Recommendations
Making Star Wars look like a distant memory, far, far away.