Dune

Continuing his string of slow-burn, meditative science fiction films, director Denis Villeneuve’s version of Dune has finally given the epic tale a much-deserved justice. Now…I am not here to drag David Lynch’s Dune (1984) through the dirt with a boat load of low-blow comparisons. (In fact, I think even Lynch would prefer that we forget that his version was even made.)

"this film absolutely rules. The next big film franchise has arrived in a glorious fashion"


But in a time where the success of the original Star Wars trilogy, with all of its ground-breaking special effects, had literally changed the film world with its achievements, it seemed that perhaps the world would embrace a “Star Wars for grownups.” But alas, as we know, that was not the case. So, nearly forty years since Lynch’s attempt with Universal, Villeneuve and Warner Brothers have revitalized the franchise with an overwhelming success.

In the year 10191, the desert planet of Arrakis contains one of the most valuable substances for human vitality and interstellar travel: spice. The mysterious Emperor has set Duke Leto of House Atreides (Oscar Isaac) to take over the rule of Arrakis from Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård) and become allies with the native population, the Fremen. But the political transfer is not all that it seems, when House Atreides is ambushed by House Harkonnen in the night, soon after their arrival on Arrakis.

Caught in the middle of all of this is Leto’s son, Paul (Timothée Chalamet), who is also experiencing ominous and terrifying visions of his family’s future as well as his own, with Fremen native, Chani (Zendaya) ever present in them. With two birthrights, Paul is overwhelmed by the political duties from his father but also from his mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), who has trained him in the Bene Gesserit ways that consist of a type of advanced – and exhausting – mental abilities. Suffice it to say…Paul is going through a lot.Dune

I know…the film sounds overwhelming, but trust me: Villeneuve does an excellent job establishing the world, without creating too much confusion in trying to keep track of all the different houses/communities. In a film that could have easily felt like a convoluted exposition dump, the director is careful to avoid that. Keeping extremely close to Paul Atreides’ perspective on the vast universe, any and all world-building is so naturally and easily introduced. He invites us into a totally epic world and continues to fully immerse us in it. Much to the likes of Christopher Nolan films, along with his own previous projects like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049, the scale of the film is completely mind-blowing. It was absolutely made to be seen on the big screen, and frankly, it should only be watched that way.

A star-studded cast delivering top-tier performances - a Hans Zimmer’s score that is absolutely electrifying - fantastic costumes and production design - all under the excellent leadership and vision of Villeneuve, this film absolutely rules. The next big film franchise has arrived in a glorious fashion.

Dune is now playing in theaters and on HBO Max. (But please see it in a theater).

4/5 stars

Dune

4k details divider

4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray + Digital HD

Home Video Distributor: Warner Bros.
Available on Blu-ray
- January 11, 2022
Screen Formats: 2.39:1
Subtitles
: English SDH, French, German SDH, Italian SDH, Spanish, Cantonese, Danish, Finnish, Greek, Korean, Mandarin (Traditional), Norwegian, Swedish
Audio:
English: Dolby Atmos; English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; English: Dolby Digital 5.1; French (Canada): Dolby Digital 5.1; German: Dolby Atmos; German: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; German: Dolby Digital 5.1; Italian: Dolby Atmos; Italian: Dolby TrueHD 7.1; Italian: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1; Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1; Hindi: Dolby Digital 5.1
Discs: 4K Ultra HD; Blu-ray Disc; Two-disc set
Region Encoding: 4K Blu-ray: Region free; 2K Blu-ray: Region A

Paul Atreides, a brilliant, gifted young man born into a destiny beyond his understanding, must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence, only those who can conquer their fear will survive.

VIDEO

Of course, it is not the same as seeing it in the theater, but the 4K Ultra HD is absolutely the best quality for home viewing of this spectacular epic. The grains of floating sand among Arrakis, Paul’s vivid prophetic dreams, and yes…the giant sand worm can all be seen with the most crystal clearness. And if you are one of the many who skipped the theater and watched on streaming, or maybe you skipped it altogether…either way, do yourself a favor a pick up a copy of this beautiful 4K transfer. You will not regret it.

AUDIO

The THUMPS! The RUMBLES! And Hans Zimmer’s POWERFUL and MONUMENTAL SCORE! All of these will absolutely be shaking the room you watch the film in (or perhaps the whole house if you happen to have a nice surround sound system). Included on the 4K disc is the absolutely immersive Dolby Atmos-TrueHD audio track. Or perhaps you will option for the 5.1 surround sound. Either way, you cannot go wrong here. It’s absolutely earth-shattering sound.

Supplements:

Commentary:

  • None

Special Features:

For those who wants to dig deeper into the world of Dune, included on the Blu-Ray disc are quite a number of featurettes that cover practically all of the departments that helped Dune become a reality. You will be amazed at the hard-work and dedication from everyone involved that went into making the film at such a giant scale.

Special Features:

  • The Royal Houses
  • Inside Dune: The Training Room
  • Building the Ancient Future
  • Designing the Sandworm
  • Wardrobe from Another World
  • A New Soundscape
  • And More!

4k rating divider

  Movie 4/5 stars
  Video  5/5 stars
  Audio 5/5 stars
  Extras 4/5 stars

Composite Blu-ray Grade

4.5/5 stars

Film Details

Dune

MPAA Rating: PG-13 for sequences of strong violence, some disturbing images and suggestive material.
Runtime:
155 mins
Director
: Denis Villeneuve
Writer:
Jon Spaihts; and Denis Villeneuve; and Eric Roth
Cast:
Timothée Chalamet; Rebecca Ferguson; Zendaya
Genre
: Action | Sci-fi
Tagline:
Beyond fear, destiny awaits.
Memorable Movie Quote: "The test is simple. Remove your hand from the box, and you die."
Theatrical Distributor:
Warner Bros.
Official Site: https://www.warnerbros.com/movies/dune
Release Date:
October 22, 2021
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
January 11, 2022
Synopsis: Feature adaptation of Frank Herbert's science fiction novel, about the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy.

Art

Dune