Villeneuve's Dune: Part One (2019)

Al Jackson

Al Jackson

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This has kind of gotten by me. Looks like Denis Villeneuve is casting Dune and I saw somewhere mention of production start date of March.
Now not surprised , Dune , should have more buzz appeal than Blade Runner 2049* did. (Tho Villeneuve says in interviews that Alcon did marketing surveys for that film and they were positive). Even tho Blade Runner 2049 slumped at the box office, I can see Legendary funding him, studios like directors who have been able to bring off a difficult big budget film (no matter the box office).
Am a bit surprised because this is going to be a Big Budget film , in fact, supposed to be two films. Welp Villeneuve has shown that he is serious about film narrative and production values. It will be very interesting since Dune is a good high level Space Opera ( I am not taken by any of the sequels either by Herbert or his Son).

*Nearing the anniversary of Blade Runner 2049, it is the only film from 2017 that sticks in my mind , and that was among some very good films.)
 
I think Villeneuve could do a very good job as long as he ignores the blunder twins. Brian Herbert has been given producer credits and he has been fairly vocal on twitter about the progress of the project and how he has been giving notes. Now on the surface, this makes me very uneasy, but Villeneuve is a Dune fan and I think he would have hired someone to look at the notes and then ignore them.

Villeneuve has proven that he can cope with serious films and Dune will be taken very seriously by its fanbase. At this point, I'm more interested in what sort of look the films will have. As what you will about the film, but Lynch's version was gorgeous and is still the benchmark in my mind.
 
I'd love to think that Villeneuve will do a great job, and stick to the story Frank Herbert told. The blunder twins (great description...) should be led by the nose that their input is really appreciated, and then the final cut shows that it's been completely ignored. Fingers crossed, here.
 
I’m a big fan of David Lynch’s interpretation of Dune and still rate it after all of this time. After seeing and really enjoying Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 I think he will do a great job. It’ll be visual and I suspect that he’ll try and do the book justice.

That said, has any preproduction artwork been released? I’d love a sneak peak.
 
I like the first movie. It probably works better if you are familiar with the story. I remember it as a series of fantastic snapshots, each one accompanied by dialog that explained that scene but didn't lead you to the next scene, a style I like.

Graphic highlights of a reading experience. I looked to see what online content was out about the new movie and found the funniest review of the opening efforts of the remaking of Dune in ars Techinca. The article starts out with a picture from the sci fi channel series that looks like it was made from a crowd of hand painted mini gi joe figures. I know because I tried it once digitally to make a book cover. Thought the hand painting with a mouse would make a difference, it didn't.

Strange omen. Reading on I see that Brian Herbert is contributing with Kevin Anderson joining in. He is definitely able to get stuff out into the market place. Maybe there will be more coming, the remaking of the Dune series. Two movies planned, each half the story, but if the movies contain extraneous material that cuts the story short it then ends up the same as Lynch's movie, more like an overview but with a very long intermission.
 
Rodders said:
I’m a big fan of David Lynch’s interpretation of Dune
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I could never get past the sonic weapons. Parts were well done but that decision changed the very nature of the Fremen and what they became. That puts the TV version ahead in my opinion.

Maybe this guy can do a better job. Maybe he's the Peter Jackson of Dune.
 
Anthoney said:
I could never get past the sonic weapons. Parts were well done but that decision changed the very nature of the Fremen and what they became. That puts the TV version ahead in my opinion.

Maybe this guy can do a better job. Maybe he's the Peter Jackson of Dune.
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I also did not like the comic book broad comedy interpretation of the Harkonnen in Lynch's dune.
And they did not come over very well in the TV version. The mini series had some good cast members but was hurt by some lackluster actors in secondary roles and some bad eastern European actors in other roles.
I also found John Harrison defeated by the narrative in a different way than Lynch was. Even tho some of the VFX were better Lynch sure out classed Harrison in production design. Some of the costume design in that mini series were so bad they should have been burned on the spot and not used!!!
 
Vince W said:
I think Villeneuve could do a very good job as long as he ignores the blunder twins. Brian Herbert has been given producer credits and he has been fairly vocal on twitter about the progress of the project and how he has been giving notes. Now on the surface, this makes me very uneasy, but Villeneuve is a Dune fan and I think he would have hired someone to look at the notes and then ignore them.

Villeneuve has proven that he can cope with serious films and Dune will be taken very seriously by its fanbase. At this point, I'm more interested in what sort of look the films will have. As what you will about the film, but Lynch's version was gorgeous and is still the benchmark in my mind.
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You are talking about Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson ? Does Brian do any of the writing? I read two of those and thought they were going to be ok, but narrative goes off the rails eventually so could not read any more. Also, I was very impressed with Dune in the 1960s, but was totally underwhelmed by Herbert's sequels. I found Dune Messiah dull, Children of Dune a little more interesting, but premise of God Emperor of Dune silly, I could not finish it!

One thing about Villeneuve he sure showed a great eye for production design in Blade Runner 2049. Also that was a good cast. Lynch's long suit with his Dune was not only the excellent production design but also the cast, he must have been a long time fan of some of the finest actors in the world who appear in the film.
I don't know a better casting for Lady Jessica than Francesca Annis … Brad Dourif would go on to win an Oscar, Virginia Madsen an Oscar nomination, Alicia Witt a successful adult actress , I thought Kyle MacLachlan was ok but a bit wooden and still is.... funny see that 1984 film and Patrick Stewart these days ….
 
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I also wonder what the budget will be? Legendary Pictures sure has the money and an odd collection of past films , from 300 to Sucker Punch to Dark Knight to Godzilla to Jurassic World …. it is a strange mix. Looks like it will be shot in Budapest. Blade Runner 2049 was shot there for north of 150 million which seemed like a lot for a country that gives you a break. You know the 1984 Dune was considered a box office disappointment. I wonder if the same may be in order here? There is a rabid fan base for the novel but is there one for a film?
I figured that . Blade Runner 2049 would make back is costs , on release, and it did not, which still surprises me. We shall see.
 
I did enjoy the cinematography in Bladerunner 2049 - I just thought it was lacking in story. The slow pace and huge visuals were immensely atmospheric. If he can do something similar with Dune then that would certainly be welcome - though it remains to be seen what he can salvage from the sequels to Dune, if he's able to get that far, as really there's not much plot to them!
 
Rodders said:
I’m a big fan of David Lynch’s interpretation of Dune and still rate it after all of this time. After seeing and really enjoying Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 I think he will do a great job. It’ll be visual and I suspect that he’ll try and do the book justice.
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It's much under-rated imo. (the original Dune, that is.)
For visuals alone, it's fantastic. And I think it does the bones of the story pretty good justice.
 
Cathbad said:
I don't understand the praise for that first Dune movie. It was painful to watch.
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It's because Lynch got a lot right. Unfortunately, he got more wrong. But that isn't entirely his fault. The studio interfered more than needed, and trying to fit the entire story in less than 2 1/2 hours is frankly impossible. Alterations were inevitable. They were just the wrong alterations.
 
Brian G Turner said:
I did enjoy the cinematography in Bladerunner 2049 - I just thought it was lacking in story. The slow pace and huge visuals were immensely atmospheric. If he can do something similar with Dune then that would certainly be welcome - though it remains to be seen what he can salvage from the sequels to Dune, if he's able to get that far, as really there's not much plot to them!
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I felt the charm of Blade Runner 2049 is how it improved the story of Blade Runner (1984) , it made Deckard and Rachael's story have more meaning , clever hooks back into the original. I also like the elaboration and very interesting characters.

As to Dune, there is a Blivit problem (too much prose narrative to pound into even two 2 hour movies, even two three hour movies!). The TV series did a better job at this except that , to me, it felt uninspired. For all it's faults the Lynch version was epic I can't say that for the Harrison version.
 
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