Dune

Before I start, I am not very knowledgeable of Herbert's saga, having read only the first DUNE book when I was a kid.

Denis Villeneuve has really delivered an interesting, character building, and visually spectacular sci fi opus. While he had already proven himself in handling delicate material with Blade Runner 2049, I think Dune strikes an even better balance, partly due to the phenomenal source material, which however poses more challenging tasks to the writers and director due to the inherent political backdrop of the storyline.

Even the stellar cast, which are all very recognizable faces and could take away from the world building of the movie deliver excellent performances, and Timothee Chalamet (of whom I am not always the biggest fan) seems born to play the role of Paul Atreides.

DO NOT listen to predominantly American professional reviewers who accuse the movie to be a slow burner and a slog towards the end: in the last few years the "Marvel pocorn" movies have dominated the big budget landscape and the reviewers are just not used to immersing themselves anymore in an actual story.

I'm a long time fan of the dune universe. Have read all the books multiple times and of course I've seen Lynch's version. This version is a lot better. Excellent world building, visually stunning and full of star power. It moves slow, which on the plus side gives it the chance to go into detail, but on the negative side means by the end it's not even at the halfway point of the first book. So it ends at the moment the mythology is just picking up. Which made me leave the cinema wishing to see part two, which unfortunately they haven't even started filming.

So IMHO the reviews giving this movie a 10 or calling it the movie of the year are overly positive. It's a visually stunning start to a potentially mind blowing universe, but mainly an introduction to that universe. Maybe when the story is finished (wouldn't surprise me if they need three movies for the first book) it will be mind blowing and perfect, but for now this movie is a great introduction to the duneverse. Good, but not great. Yet.

I must admit, I still believe "Frank Herbert's Dune" to be unfilmable. I realised that, watching Dune: Part One in my local movie theater today. That's why people who have read the book should see this movie adaptation as a single piece of art.

Forget the book while watching this movie. Dune, the book drives on the thoughts and inner emotions of the characters - the things that are left unsaid. Visually, that can only be adapted to a certain extent.

Villeneuve has done a better job than anyone could ask for. I think he had to compromise on not bringing even more details to the movie, considering that the majority of the people will not have read the book. The information overload would have been difficult to follow for most.

This movie is definitely slow, so if you are accustomed to constant dopamine stimulation then you might find it boring.

The visuals in combination with the sound/music are hauntingly beautiful and will stick in your mind for a long time. I got goosebumps almost throughout the entire movie.

Dune: Part One definitely serves as a stepping stone for Dune: Part Two, and more to come... If you are looking for action, Dune: Part Two is definitely the movie to be waiting for. So grab some friends and go watch this movie.

Make "Dune: Part Two" happen.

This is only the beginning.

The cinematography and Hans Zimmer music. An experience that should be obtained by all. Those spaceships accompanied with the music will remain for long time in my mind.

Yes books are read but this movie gives a good impression of the worlds created in our minds.

I love the David Lynch movie and did see it a lot of time, because of the atmosphere and the epic story. The intro with the female voice gave me goosebumps. The new adaption by Villeneuve takes the visual impressing part a bit further and makes you "feel" the scale of the unsiverse, the political connections and the story itself.

This movie visually is a masterpiece and you can sit, watch and be amazed, how they made it feel so incredibly real - even for the 155 minutes it runs. I only missed a bit of the "darkness" i felt in the Lynch-movie and they seemingly moved away from explicitly showing violence and gore overly. Baron Harkonnen e. G. feels more like a greedy, intelligent gangster boss then the schizophrenic sadist i remebered from the first movie. Anyways - the movie is actually the most interesting sci-fi flick i've seen in the last few years. With an incredible score, an immersive story, most impressive views of landscapes, mass battles and not to forget: the Shai-Hulud.

If you get the time: Go, see it - and share your own impressions. I'm definitely up to see the second movie, if it comes. Plus i will finally buy the original books to dive deeper into the dune universe.

Have fun!