Dune 2 (Doont in my house) Discussion - What Did Everyone Think?

submitted by UncleWillard56 from self.Movies

Overall, I enjoyed it as a sci-fi movie and as an adaptation, for the most part. Understandably, it's almost impossible to be 100% faithful to the book (even LOTR wasn't and I love those movies), but they got the big milestones correct. Seems like they rushed those in favor of the added narratives, especially Chani. I get the studio is paying Zendaya dollars and wants as much Zendaya as they can get, but the changes in the plot to put her in it more fell flat for me. I don't see a desert tribe of zealots conducting holy jihad would put up with some chick calling out their religion. The comparisons to Hamas or any other Muslim terrorist group can't be helped. Chani would have died a long time ago for even questioning the religion at the heart of their war against the Harkonnens. Also, no Guild Navigators?! That's a crime.

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[–]Jiminy 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Kinda off topic but I think the spice is symbolism for circumcision, that frank herbert found out Jews use the fore skin for life extending properties. I know it seems like an allegory for oil in Arab countries. But it comes from a worm? I guess that's why some thought it represented psychedelic mushrooms. It's similar to Allegro thinking Jesus represented a mushroom.

[–]YoMamma 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I think it's very well produced, designed, shot, cast, acted, (screen)written, and directed. For me, it had to better than Lynch's 'Dune' (1984), and much better than Alejandro Jodorowsky's approaches. There were problems with both of those earlier approaches, but their inventive, surreal approaches are much better than the problems. Villeneuve's 'Dune' is much more attractive, rich in effects, but also less surreal. Villeneuve's worlds are somewhat realistic and without mystery. The wierdness is gone in the new version. The enormous sets and massive budget created an entirely new universe that's almost impossible to compare with the earlier versions. Both Lynch's and Villeneuve's versions are re-watchable and interesting, though for different reasons.

[–]UncleWillard56[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I absolutely appreciated it, and Villeneuve is phenomenal at bring scale into the film. I do still enjoy the 1984 version for its style choices and I love me some Lynch body horror, but the Weirding Module stuff was kinda silly. The TV Dune was great because it really aligned with the book, but the production values were so corny. I'm interested to see how Villeneuve handles Messiah. That is a tougher sell and I hope they don't just keep Chani alive so we see more Zendaya over telling that story.

[–]package 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Zendaya stuff was just boring and she gave the worst performance of anyone in the film. The film itself was great but at times it definitely felt like it was blasting through the plot and should have been part 2 of a trilogy.

[–]UncleWillard56[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Agreed. Disappointing they felt the need to add that stuff just to give her more screen time.

[–]WoodyWoodPecker 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

They paid Zendaya for her vagina. /s

[–]Musky 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I haven't seen it. Although it seems like something I normally would like, I was never able to finish even the first book, and the movies have never held my attention.

[–]Dune1032 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I liked it. Saw it on IMAX. I think it was very smart for Villeneuve to have Chani leave Paul. In present times, it wouldn't sit well with women for Chani to stay with Paul although he planned to marry Princess Irulan as the book portrays. In Messiah, Paul becomes a villain. Villeneuve shouldn't follow the book. Villeneuve in Dune Part 3 should have Paul remain a hero. He should have Paul realize that Chani is the love of his life and wants to go back to be the Paul Chani loved. Messiah was not as popular as Dune. Hebert wrote Messiah to correct people's interpretation that Paul was a hero. Did it ever occur to Hebert that that's want people like, a hero? In Messiah, Hebert wanted to show the result of people following someone fanatically. But people already learn that lesson in Adolf Hitler. People want to feel the romantic love between Paul and Chani not the sadness in someone embracing darkness. We have already seen this in Anakin Skywalker.