Under the lens takes a deep look at films by focusing in on one or two particular areas of the picture that helped to define it for better or for worse.
DUNE is a 2021 American science fiction epic directed by Denis Villeneuve and stars Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Jason Momoa, and Josh Brolin. The story follows the son of a noble family entrusted with the protection of the most valuable asset and most vital element in the galaxy. He is then thrust into danger when his family is assassinated and he must flee to raise an army to return for what is rightfully his.
UNDER THE LENS: COMBAT & Rebecca Ferguson
Combat: The picture is not action-heavy by any means; however, the combat it does have is intense, and the battles are absolutely wonderful to watch unfold on screen! What I appreciated about DUNE was how they developed a specific kind of combat choreography for the fight scenes that felt at once unique to its world. The film’s combat is heavy with swords, daggers, and the use of personal force fields.
The choreography is fast, brutal, and involves lots of quick stabs and slashes. Couple this with the flashes of the force field, and you get some truly imaginative combat scenes. The picture did not show blood in these fight scenes but came up with a creative way around it, as when a blade penetrates a shield, it glows red, which lets the audience know deadly damage is happening.
The training dual with Paul and Gully was well shot and showed the rules of combat in the world of DUNE; then we got to see DUNES combat in its full glory when Duncan takes out a dozen or more enemies in a brutal hallway fight.
Rebecca Ferguson: Swedish actress Rebecca Ferguson plays “Lady Jessica Atreides,” concubine to Duke Leto and mother of Paul Atreides. She is at once a warm but cold figure, a member of the ultra-secretive Bene Gesserit, and a user of the “Voice” I did not expect much from this character. However, Rebecca Ferguson ended up being one of the picture’s stronger aspects. Her relationship with Paul is very touching. Seeing the duality of a woman who loves her son more than anything while also knowingly breeding him to be a messianic figure and giving him up to a test that could result in his death.
Rebecca Ferguson played this character extremely well, giving it nuance and depth when it could have been a shallow portrayal. Two moments that stood out, was when they were changing clothes and she gave him a long look before turning, and again when Paul joined the fremen and took his mother and the rest into the desert. After he has turned she gives him a fleeting but worried look.
In both of these times, it’s interesting to see that her view and gaze of her son has changed; he is no longer just her son and child. He is a man, and one who likely is turning into the messiah figure she always hoped he would be, yet also perhaps wished he would never accept.
HIGHLIGHTS
The sandworms are teased for most of the picture and when they are revealed it’s majestic rather than horrifying.
The scope of the picture is absolutely massive and it really does a good job of showing how large this world and universe really is.
The script did a good job of showcasing a world, filled with heroes and villains, with the line sometimes blurring between them
QUOTABLE QUOTE
Liet Kynes: I serve only one master. His name is Shai-Hulud.
SOMTHING TO THINK ABOUT
How do you think one would or should handle having a great weight placed on them? How would you handle it, if you found a messiah mantle thrust upon you?
CONCLUSION
Over DUNE is a worthy addition to the pantheon of epic science fiction motion pictures. Denis Villeneuve directs flawlessly, and Greig Fraser brings a good eye to the outstanding cinematography of the world of DUNE. The picture opens up the world and universe of Frank Herbert book, in a way that made me feel as if it was a real place, with living and breathing characters.
Where DUNE falters a bit is in its script; while smartly written, its script seems to assume that viewers are familiar with the book, this can lead to some confusion as to the lore, universe, and characters are dense. Some more light exposition would have been appreciated for those more casual viewers.
Denis Villeneuve manages to elevate DUNE above just a sci-fi picture, much in the same way Zack Snyder made his Justice League more than just a comic-book adaptation. Both felt special and from another plane of filmmaking. DUNE is worth your time if you enjoy grand epics like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, or John Carter, its a long road but one you will be glad you traveled.