Dune: the sci-fi hot topic of the year
Odhrán Johnson
Dune, or Dune: Part One, as it’s titled onscreen, is the sci-fi hot topic of the year and it’s no surprise as to why. Inspired by the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert, Dune is the third adaptation of the source material following the release of David Lynch’s 1984 film and John Harrison’s 2000 TV series, both of the same name. It is directed by Denis Villeneuve, previously known for Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049. While Dune features sporadic scenes of action and giant battles, it primarily focuses on expanding and setting up the universe and opts to forgo the constant action that’s usually associated with popular sci-fi media. Instead, Dune aims to introduce the audience to the many factions and characters present within the film.
Pros:
Dune is filled with a star-studded cast of recognisable names. With such recognition, the entire film is superbly acted and written. Despite the film being the first part of the series, the writing and acting successfully ground the universe and make the huge chunks of information extremely easy to understand. Stand out performances came from Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides, Rebecca Ferguson as Lady Jessica, and Sharon Duncan-Brewster as Dr. Liet-Kynes.
The visuals are phenomenal, with a distinct and well put-together variation in colour throughout the entire film. This creativity is no surprise to anyone who’s seen a sci-fi epic, let alone one with a budget of $165m. From the green plant life of Caladan to the sandy deserts of Arrakis, every scene is beautifully shot and presented with each and every world feeling fully developed. Along with this, the SFX is among some of the best in cinema at the moment.
Fans of the composer Hans Zimmer will be delighted to hear that he’s created yet another fantastic score to accompany Dune. The score plays a crucial role in the film, adding a lot to the sound of the established universe. Each world and faction are filled with varying musical styles, but all feel part of one big story. Along with this, Zimmer has done a fantastic job in making the music feel futuristic, as all of the instruments used and computer sounds incorporated into the score feel wholly unique and fresh.
Cons:
Despite this, there are times throughout the film’s runtime where the score can become overbearing, with certain scenes choosing to emphasise the music over dialogue, which left me thinking “What did they say?” on more than one occasion.
As this is only part one of a two-part series, the ending of Dune acts as a midpoint in the story. Knowing this allowed me to enjoy the build-up to the end, so that when credits came, I was even more excited to see the next part. However, this structure definitely has the potential to leave the audience feeling dissatisfied.
Although Dune was able to present the story narrative in a digestible way, the complexity has the potential to leave the audience confused, with certain aspects being hard to follow, such as the in-universe lore that the film drops on you.
Overall, Villeneuve created a sci-fi marvel that should be experienced in a theatre environment. Dune has an impressive score coupled with amazing performances and special effects which left me excited to see more in the sequel.
Odhrán Johnson is the Broadcast Editor of The Scoop and is studying Media and Broadcast Production at Queen’s University Belfast.