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ALMOST ACTUALITY – blog

Speaking of Weird … Dune Movie Review

by | Oct 29, 2021 | movie reviews | 2 comments

Our local theatre has an amazing new movie going experience called GPX. Wall to wall screen, glorious 4K projection, Dolby Atmos surround sound, plush leather chairs – Amazing! A couple weeks ago I went to watch the new Bond 007 – No Time To Die in GPX and was blown away. I walked out the theatre itching for another opportunity to have my senses titillated to the same degree. Dune immediately came to mind. I had a seen the trailer a few times, on my phone, on Youtube on my tv, and right before the very Bond movie I just mentioned. It looked amazing! 

Last week, my mom and dad, plus my sister-in-law and two of her kids came to visit. We had a little down time one evening, so I loaded up my sons and their 18 year old cousin in my black Ford Explorer and traveled back to my beloved local GPX theatre. (Seriously if you are in Lafayette, LA you have to check it out!) We got there way too early – 20 minutes before, even after getting confessions. Who cares! I was excited to be alive and to get to introduce my nephew to a life changing experience. And boy did it ever.
The lights dimmed and that wonder feeling of awe and wonder descended like it alway does. Two and half hours later, that feeling was long gone.

According to IMDB, Dune is the feature adaption 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. (The most vital element in the galaxy is ‘the spice’, a hallucinogenic drug that turns people’s eyes blue from extended exposure.)

Warner Brothers describes the movie as, ‘a mystical and emotional hero’s journey, Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence – a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential – only those who conquer their fear will survive.’

I literally had to look up these synopsis online, because I had no idea how to describe what I watched.

Here’s what I took away for this extravaganza – Paul Atreides gets some spice on him early on during a battle he was not ready or suppose to be in… and it unlocks some mystical powers? But he already had some of these abilities before getting exposed to spice? He was undisciplined, but a great fighter. His dad was constantly hard on him, but he loved him unconditionally? The people that Paul Atreides’ dad represents hate the people on the spice planet. They were harvesting the spice, but the spice planet people didn’t like it? Paul had unexplainable feelings about the spice planet people, but completely trusted them even though he hadn’t met any of them and knew nothing about them? He also had dreams of the future, of a beautiful girl with a straw coming out of her nose? His prophetic dreams never seem to come to pass but guide every decision that Paul makes? And there was an emperor who was extremely powerful, but was easily defeated, but not killed? Oh and Paul’s mom… took him to a witch, but the witch was not happy with the mom teaching him their ways or something?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

A few days later, I actually purchased the Dune movie from 1984 on Amazon Prime for a whopping 24 cents to try to fill in some of the gaping holes in the story plot. (Ok, it actually didn’t cost anything because we had a digital credit for 75 cents.) And it did! The 1984 version went the complete opposite direction and seemed to read passages straight from the book before each scene to help educate the viewer before the actions played out.

In both movies, characters randomly appeared and started fighting. Why? Who knows. Stuff just happens.

Sure the visuals were astonishing. Star studded cast – check! The sound was spectacular – although extremely loud. But above all else, Dune is without a doubt, the most confusing movie I have ever seen. Hopefully part 2 will explain what the heck is going on!

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