Dune: A Hot Take
On Oct. 22, Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures released the blockbuster science fiction film, “Dune,” in theaters and on Home Box Office (HBO). Directed by Denis Villeneuve, “Dune” is an adaptation of the book, “Dune,” by American author Frank Herbert. The film tells the story of Paul Atreides, a boy sent to the planet Arrakis to manage its resources. However, everything goes awry when a war breaks out between his people and the previous inhabitants of Arrakis known as the House Harkonnen. The war causes many climactic scenes and is the main focus of the movie.
These thrilling scenes are further enhanced by Dune’s soundtrack, which captures scenes effectively and helps set the mood. The score, composed by record producer Hans Zimmer, is a spiritual blend of human voices and remarkable instruments, such as Irish whistles, Indian bamboo flutes and war horns. While still remaining otherworldly and futuristic, these instruments help introduce tension and highlight important scenes. For instance, during the track “Arrakeen”, suspense is built through the growing sound of ornithopters, vibrating drums and screeching metal. Later, in the song “Stillsuits”, a discordant pitch gradually increases, which is followed by faint throat singing and jarring drums. These combinations of sounds seize the viewers’ attention and leave them on the edge of their seat, keeping them engaged. Junior Sasha Pantoja feels that the score was a key element of the movie.
“[The soundtrack] did a great job of grabbing suspense and capturing the unexpected, rhythmic patterns in the desert,” Pantoja said. “It [mimicked] the atmosphere and [helped to] set a subconscious atmosphere for [viewers] to enjoy the movie.”
“Dune” is also full of passionate acting performances that make the film more enjoyable and authentic. Specifically, actor Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Paul Atreides was poignant and touching. In one scene, Atreides is faced with a painful challenge known as the Gom Jabbar, which requires him to place his hand inside a box filled with pain; if he pulls his hand out, he will be poked with a deadly poison-tipped needle and die. The purpose of the challenge is to determine whether an individual’s awareness is stronger than their instincts. In this scene, Chalamet’s intense portrayal of pain and suffering is compelling and realistic, allowing viewers to feel his anguish and torture as he battles his urges in order to save his life. Moreover, Zendaya’s mysterious depiction of Chani adds depth to the movie, despite her minimal screen time of just seven minutes. Jason Momoa provided cheeky comic relief as Duncan Idaho, occasionally cracking jokes with Chalamet’s character smoothly and naturally. Momoa’s portrayal adds a sense of light-heartedness to the film, which is a treat in the midst of the action and fighting scenes. Additionally, Rebecca Ferguson defies the “strong female trope” in her role as the courageous Lady Jessica, making for a more complex performance. Instead of being tenacious throughout the entire movie like most strong female characters are written to be, Ferguson embraces her emotions and plays a character that is just as complex as her male colleagues. Sophomore Jack Fletcher believes that all actors, especially Chalamet, executed their roles well.
“[Timothée Chalamet] embodied Paul’s cold and strategic personality [with] his performance,” Fletcher said. “The interactions [the characters] had [felt] authentic, and it did not seem [like the actors] were playing characters at all.”
Dune’s computer-generated imagery (CGI) and visual aesthetics are also beautiful and captivating. The scenes are striking and full of intensity and depth, as every pixel and tidbit is accounted for. This is illustrated by the sandworms, which are detailed and lifelike. Spanning the entire width of the screen, the sandworms make the characters and audience seem miniscule in comparison. Through the use of scope and visual contrast, viewers are given a taste of what it would be like to encounter otherworldly creatures on Arrakis and experience the ripples of sand in the desert. Villeneuve uses the perfect amount of CGI, neither overdoing it nor using too little.
Due to the film’s stunning visuals and breathtaking audio, the film must be watched in theaters. By watching “Dune” in movie theaters rather than on HBO Max, viewers have the opportunity to experience the full potential that the film has to offer with its impeccable soundtrack and advanced CGI. They can see the thopters soar through the air, hear the massive explosions and watch as the giant sandworms consume the screen. The sound echoes off the walls and the visuals are high quality, creating a euphoric experience that can only be felt in theaters. Viewers can immerse themselves in the world of Arrakis and practically feel scenes as they happen.
“I saw the movie in theaters,” senior Grace Westervelt said. “[The movie] has beautiful special effects, big spaceships, big monsters and big expanses of desert. With the soundtrack swelling around you, you are more involved [in] the world of it [when you watch in theaters] rather than [when you watch it] at home.” Altogether, “Dune” is a beautiful movie that features gorgeous visuals and rich music. The actors are exceptionally talented and perform their roles well. For these reasons, this refreshing adaptation is an enjoyable way to spend two hours.
