Ephemeris of the Mind (Film Review) Dune
Time to read: 2 min read
Movie Poster
Previous Dune film review:
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
Review
I'm rewatching the latest remakes of the 1965 novel with my partner. The story follows Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the scion of a galactic Great House. Paul's family is ordered by the Emperor to take over the desert planet Arrakis from their rivals the Harkonnens. Arrakis produces spice, one of the most lucrative resources in the galaxy, ensuring the conflict between House Atreides and House Harkonnen.
Unlike Lynch's Dune, Villeneuve's Dune splits the first novel into two films. The slower pacing allows for more immersive world-building; the cinematography and sound design are both fantastic, and Hans Zimmer's score is intense. The set and character design are both amazing as well; Stellan Skarsgård's Baron Harkonnen costume is so grotesque. The downside of having two films, of course, is that the story isn't finished and Dune feels more like a prequel than a complete narrative.
Rebecca Ferguson's subdued yet emotional Lady Jessica is the standout role for me, but I also enjoyed how Chalamet portrays Paul's character development and how Oscar Isaac brings warmth and dignity to Leto Atreides.
Conclusion
A joy to rewatch.