Dűne

Az űrhajók hatalmasak, de hogy Norvégiából vizet hozzanak nekik a bolygóra hálából a fűszerért, azt már nem! Mivel nem olvastam a könyvet, a második megtekintést jobban élveztem, legalábbis a fél-film első felét. A második, "sivatagi" rész viszont álmodozásával a színlelt mélységébe jobban vontatott. Kulcskérdés: Ha nem lenne könyv, csak ez a forgatókönyv, lenne-e egyáltalán értelme megfilmesíteni, ráadásul ilyen drága változatban? A menő óriásférgeken kívül milyen újdonságokat hozna a mai filmes sci-fi világába? Ráadásul, ha az érzelmek nélküli, a valós emberi élet filozófiai kérdéseihez nem kapcsolódó mondatokkal operáló vizuális pompa ma művészetnek számít, akkor én vissza akarok menni 2001-2003-ba, amikor a könyveken alapuló fantáziavilágokba vezető látványos filmes expedíciók meg tudtak könnyeztetni, és elérték, hogy beleszeressek a szereplőkbe. A tisztán IMAX-os negyedik csillagot a kiváló szereposztásért adom, amelyre ez a projekt talán legalább annyira várt, mint a képzőművészeti vizionárius Villeneuve-re, a parádés jelmezekért és sminkekért par excellence (Skarsgård!), valamint a lélegzetelállító audiovizuális kolosszalitásért, "súlyosabb" Zimmerrel fokozva. Miután először meghallgattam az autóban, nem hittem, hogy nem ez lesz az utolsó. Nem volt, és már nagyon várom a "Leaving Caladan" című számot a közelgő koncertturnén! (2021.10.20)

I didn't think that I would end up agreeing with the more reserved reviews of Villeneuve's Dune (it was by far the most anticipated film of the year for me too). After all the colourful crappy blockbusters from Disney, Marvel and Netflix, it's really refreshing to see something expensive and adult in the cinema that doesn't try to pander to stupid teenagers. Dune is also definitely well made in terms of craftmanship, visual effects, and production design; there is no question that this is an exceptionally refined work in terms of aesthetics – looking at those paintings is a treat, even if their beauty is quite austere. And yet, I can’t bring myself to be thrilled. The first half still offered hopes of it with the introduction of the space politics, the various secret plans and intrigues, which had me reliably hooked and looking forward to seeing how it all would build up. But in the second half we suddenly end up looking into the desert and the film lost me. And that’s probably due to the fact that it failed to establish any kind of bond with the characters; they are all so cold; I just couldn’t enjoy it, even with Chalamet, whom I otherwise like a lot. The character played by Jason Momoa is apparently supposed to serve as the "heart of the film", but we don't really get to know him at all! His relationship with Chalamet is built purely on the basis of a few friendly hugs, otherwise, we don't get know anything about him because we haven’t gone through anything with them. And that's how it is with everybody, and it's hard to develop an emotional bond with them. The only thing you can potentially grasp in the first Dune are emotions, because the "plot" manages to start but doesn't come to anything ("It begins" is a really fitting slogan for the poster). But action is not one of Villeneuve’s strengths. (2021.10.21)

This was an EXPERIENCE. Once every few years you sit down in a movie theater, and thanks to the subject matter you somehow know what to expect. Yet after a few minutes, all your ideas start to fall apart because everything that happens on the screen inevitably keeps you enthralled for 155 minutes. Not a single part of the film is wasted, the synthesis of image and sound is at its peak, and the gigantic spaceships amaze as much as the intimate story of the young messiah makes you shiver. The people who believed in it at Warner Brothers, and slapped that insane budget on it, are my personal heroes of the capitalist gamble of the movie business. Any objective criticism is beyond me. Along with Interstellar, I place Dune on the pedestal of the best science fiction of the 21st century. (2022.01.11)

It’s not without flaws, but euphoria prevails nonetheless. It’s a soulful epic and a surprisingly moving story about overcoming fear of oneself and the unknown. The distant future could hardly be more realistic and strangely intimate. The figures came out well, and Villeneuve overcomes the hollow mannerisms of Blade Runner and serves up images with sweat and blood. Duncan Idaho has finally replaced Aragorn in my heart. At several moments the film evoked exactly the same intense feelings as the book. However, it stands on its own sturdy legs as a film. I'd watch the sequel immediately... (2021.10.18)

Look, let's say you don't need to see most films today in the cinema. Their visuals aren't interesting or sophisticated enough, they lack something that would give you that pleasant tingle in the back of your neck, they don’t motivate you to see them on the big screen, or it's just a dull colouring book for teenagers (oops, anyone heard of Marvel?), so you can get a big TV at home, or a monitor if you're a really undemanding viewer. But Villeneuve's Dune? My God! That's in a whole different league, that's the kind of film big halls and big screens are built for. There hasn't been a visual epic like this since ...... well, maybe since Nolan's Interstellar, and as for capturing the sheer genius loci of the desert, its magical dunes and scorching sand, there hasn't been anything like it for 60 years, when – as Steven Spielberg declared "the miracle of cinema" – Lean's Lawrence of Arabia premiered. And everything else in Dune is a triumph of cinematic design, a non-tactile architecture of spectacular proportions, an interior design that illustrates the fantastic visual compositions. Add to that the incredibly good cast – I was most excited about Chalamet, which is exactly how I imagined Paul Atreides. Other reasons why this is a film for the cinema: Zimmer's powerful, droning score (a quality audio set is a must) and then the simple fact that Villeneuve likes to shoot in the dark, at night, and much of the film is dark, with Villeneuve playing with light and shadows and ominous gloom. At home on the computer you’ll see fuck all. So I'll conclude with a nice little friendly jab at you – if you are judging a visual epic like this based on the aforementioned fuck all, you are an idiot (no smiley face). (2021.10.21)