fsogfan

Really like this romcom. Lately I've been going back to this movie again and again. I watch Hallmark romcom all the time but with rare exception, after one viewing, I don't go back to them. So I was pondering why this movie is so addictive and I saw some of the interviews by Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

The film is more than just a love story. They wrote original songs and recorded a soundtrack in Sweden featuring August Moon (fictitious boy band) and Galitzine. The film audience and crew loved the music so much, when they shot the concerts, the crew really got into the vibe and covered themselves with glitter and by the last day shooting the concert scenes, the audience knew all the August Moon songs and were singing along and they were not sick of them.

Then there's the lip sync to Dance Hall Days in the hotel room. This might become as famous as Tom Cruise dancing in his underwear in Risky Business especially if Galitzine's career takes off. The chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine is off the charts. Before the movie, Galitzine would text Hathaway with tons of questions to get to know her and Hathaway added Galitzine to her family group chat. He discovered her family are massive supporters of UK Arsenal Football. It's these bonding moments that helped build chemistry and Hathaway was thrilled because it meant Galitzine really cared about his performance in the movie. After they finished filming, Hathaway gave Galitzine a painting of Listerine Breath Strips since they consumed so many in their kissing scenes.

And the gimmick with the Tag Heurer Carrera watch--it's like the watch is a piece of his heart and keeps them connected despite the physical distance.

This movie is definitely a step above regular romcoms. The effort and thought they put into the movie, puts it in a different class. You'll walk away singing an original song by a fictitious boy band and wished they had more material and you'll grin from ear to ear with the hopeful happy ending.

Dune 1 & 2 can be confusing. They spent a lot of time teaching cast members how to speak Fremen (a made up language) and how to walk without rhythm to avoid worms but they totally forgot to provide context or back story for the films.

So before watching DUNE 1 and 2, watch David Lynch's 1984 DUNE Extended version (a little campy but fun) and/or read the book DUNE or at least the Wikipedia page. Also before DUNE 3, watch Children of Dune 2003.

Some factoids from DUNE 1984: In 6041, the universe was ruled by thinking machines and humanity became apathetic and eventually became enslaved to these machines. A religious revolt freed humanity from the machines and forced humans to develop their minds.

As the movie opens, it is the year 10,192 and the known universe is ruled by the Padishah Emperor Shaddam IV. Each major planet is ruled by the great houses of the Landsraad and their members are part of the royal families. They follow an ancient feudal system of government.

Only two mental training programs remain. The Bene Gesserit sisterhood for females with their selective breeding program to produce the Kwisatz Haderach (the Super Being) as foretold in a Fremen prophecy. The other is the Spacing Guild which emphasizes pure math and with the orange spice melange produced on the planet DUNE (aka Arrakis), their space navigators are able to fold space to almost instantly transport objects with their minds which gives them an economic monopoly in the universe. The spice melange extends life, expands consciousness and is vital for space travel and must continue to flow.

Two royal houses have been mortal enemies for centuries--House Atreides on planet Caladan ruled by Duke Leto Atreides and House Harkonnen (a ruthless and sadistic people) on planet Giedi Prime ruled by Baron Vladimir Harkonnen.

The CHOAM company under the Emperor controls mining of the spice melange on DUNE. The Bene Gesserit and the Spacing Guild are silent partners of CHOAM. The Emperor is fearful of Duke Leto's popularity among the Landsraad and has conspired with Baron Harkonnen to eliminate the Duke and his family. The Emperor has transferred the spice mining contract from House Harkonnen to House Atreides forcing the Duke to relocate his household to Arrakis (DUNE) and become more vulnerable.

The Bene Gesserit sisters can read minds, have powers of telepathy and are able to mutate with the water of life. They are trained in a method of hand to hand combat called the WEIRDING WAY and they're able to influence behavior using the VOICE.

DUNE 1 & 2 follow the Fremen prophecy of the Kwisatz Haderach (the Super Being who is the hand of God). He will bring peace to war, love to hatred and will free the Fremens and change the desert climate on Arrakis.