Dune: Part Two (Blu-Ray)
R**H
See Commentary
I've got copies of all the Dune movies released on disc, so far.As a general rule, if you have not read the books (or talked a lot to people, or done other study) the movies are impossible to follow. Or, at the very least, you won't know how what you are seeing fits into a MUCH larger picture.Part of this is due to the general inability of movies to capture the depth, breadth, subtlety, history, context, side elements, etc. of books. Books often have "narration" explaining the situations/context/circumstances, and the internal thoughts and feelings of characters. Movies tend to include only the most superficial plot elements, and over emphasize the parts that include action. I can very easily imagine people liking the movies, and not having a clue how much is glossed over or completely missing. Mentats, for example.There are 30 (or is it 23?) Dune books. The first 6 were written by Frank Herbert. The rest are written by his son Brian with help from Kevin J. Anderson. Almost everyone (to my knowledge) agree the first 6 are "better". The rest purportedly lack the same "creative genius", mostly expanding details of established plot elements, but are considered worth the read.All-in-all, Dune is considered (by many) to be, the best example of "world building" story telling, ever, bar none (Star Trek, Star Wars, etc.; Even Hobbits/Rings), for scale, scope, depth, complexity, subtly, grandeur, vision etc. Volume one is 592 pages.The 1984 Lynch film covers book one. The director took "serious" liberties with a major plot element ("the weirding way", leaving out some things, and inventing others.). I did read numerous commentaries about the the 84 film, before seeing it. I was able to tell where in the narrative the movie was, but that is the most I can say.Much later (after seeing the BBC versions) I became aware of, and watched, the (even less well known) "Spice Driver Fan Edit" version of the (not well known) extended version of the 1984 movie. The Fan Edit rendition is a BIG improvement over the 1984 film. But, to be fair, by this time I knew a lot more about the "big picture" of the story, so I could better "appreciate" what I was seeing.The 2000 BBC mini-series, being longer, did more-and-better justice to the story. (IMHO, BBC consistently does "a good job").The 2003 BBC mini-series, (same cast with one exception) also being longer, also did commendable justice to the story.Together these cover books one and three but still left a lot out. By the time I saw these (years after their release), I knew enough to appreciate this rendition.I get the feeling that the "theme" of book 2 is generally included in both the Lynch and BBC screen renditions.The 2021 and 2024 Villeneuve films together cover book one. These films are more visually striking that earlier efforts. WOW! The scope and scale of things can be incredible. And having 2 movies to work with (more time), they did a better justice to the "entire" story of volume one (but still left a lot out). The anticipated 3rd film is purported to address book 2.Now (Dec 2024) HBO is doing a 6 episode TV series of based on the 17th book, which is set 10,000 years from now and 10,000 years before the story lines of the other movies. Again, monumental scope. When eventually available, I'll get these on disc. But, for me, this is the least "wow" of all the screen renditions.I never actually read the books (reading learning disability). Having done a lot of reading of synopses and commentaries, talked to many other fans, and having seen every screen version more than once, I now have a much better idea of the "bigger picture". And can, therefore, appreciate all the films (needing/making allowance for Lynch's liberties).If I ever become a trillionaire, I'll make the entire story using as many movies/episodes are are required to make the movie-equivalent of an unabridged version of the story.
K**H
The Story of Forces
The future in 'Dune: Part Two' has double gynormous power to overcome solid boundaries. Fear is a navigable moody spectrum to react against in challenge entrepreneurship. Denis Villeneuve's sequel to 2021's 'Dune' is a gathering to the screen event.Paul Atreide's(Timothee Chalamet) initiation to Fedaykin soldiership and Fremen culture on the planet of Arrakis will see Paul, now called Maud'Dib(desert mouse), quell long oppression of the Arrakeen world in a preemptive corralling of doubters and believers. This rite of passage, concerning Paul Atreides inception into Fremen society as Lisan-al Gaib(Arrakeen: 'Tongue Of The Unseen'), and his mother's prophetic ascendancy, and other conflicts are imagined precipitously above regular musings. In this refined state, these human drama adventures have equivalents in the experience of gathered civilizations, and their religious identities.Chani(Zendaya) and Shishakli(Souheila Yacoub) are Fedaykin warriors who are more knowledgeable about the desert of Northern Arrakis than Paul or his mother, Lady Jessica(Rebecca Ferguson). In a conversation between Stilgar(Javier Bardem), a fundamentalist, and Paul Atreides, the importance of Lady Jessica is fraught with tension as specific details are realized about these band of guerilla fighters. They are dependent on Lady Jessica being exhalted as the new Reverend Mother. The stipulations of death in the massive desert plains of vinaigrette sunlight hues charges over Paul's innocuous figure, which remains inquisitive, silent. In colossal sizes, Paul's distant determination divinely links sonorous base melodies over descript corners of a remote society. Chani and Stilgar are fierce, judgemental, and pragmatic journeymen who compose tutorials under hard survival wisdom. Stilgar is hopeful that Paul is the Lisan al-Gaib. The laughter of Chani and Shishakli, in mockery of this religion, like a crack of emotional interjection, reverberate in a tense silence, and break-off into other dialogues around Paul's innocent gaze.Denis Villeneuve is the director of 'Dune:Part Two' , and as a co-writer with Jon Spaiths of the screenplay, the iconanism of supersize orientation provides the movie 'Dune:Part Two' with destiny revelations. Also overreaching is the achievement of stunning visual dioramas of awesome scales noted in finite graphics of small figures in front of grand edifices.'Dune:Part Two' has a Harkonnen rally where one band of a coliseum section represents thousands of black and white articulated dots. Here, the development of story plots is also large. The chants of incorporated, insensitive followers are opulent in a nihilist modern Greek world of precise chromaticism.As a Bene Gesseret, Lady Jessica is able to foresee a future Kwisatz Haderach. The Padishah Emperor(Christopher Walken), of another ruling House, along with Princess Irulan(Florence Pugh), have also, referendums based on mystical interpretations. This inspiration, to embrace a Kwisatz Haderach, or messianic saviour, is fertilized by the Reverend Mother Mohaim(Charlotte Rampling), who like Lady Jessica is from a devout society known as Bene Gesseret. Lady Jessica, as prospective Reverend Mother to Arrakis, wears a religious head ornament. Her shaded face of sharp beauty is scrolled over in black mark runics, evenly margined in straight line over her entire face, like scrolled program data. As an interest note, the large box-like head piece worn by Reverend Mother Mohaim, and later by Lady Jessica is similar to the peinetta(pay-nettah) of Spanish custom, which is a large standing haircomb covered by a mantilla or other secular lace coverings.'Dune: Part Two' profiles states of theatrical humors which, because the plight of Arrakeans and Fremen are studied under macro-cosmic energies, the cause and effect scenario runs microscopically through struggles. Great paces are tweaked subtly, and turn tragedy or victory, or morals decline then triumph again.The casting is terrific.
H**H
The movie is too short at 2hr 45m - needs extended cut disc set
The movie is too short. I need my special edition extended cut with 4 discs of special features. This generation's Lord of the Rings. If Denis Villeneuve can stick the landing with the 3rd movie it may rival The Lord of the Rings as the greatest trilogy and adaptation ever put to screen. Hans Zimmer's score is one of his best if not the best he's composed. When you listen to it alone with headphones in a dark room you are transported to Arrakis as you await the coming of the Lisan al-Gaib to lead you to Paradise as it is written. Most people haven't read Dune and some who have struggle to understand it. They are not prepared for what's coming. I just wish Denis would commit the next 10 years of his life to creating the second dune trilogy based on Children of Dune and God Emperor of Dune. There would be nothing like it on Earth.
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1 month ago
3 weeks ago