Rarely do you see a part one that is as clearly half a film, half a story as this one. Despite being more than 2,5 hours long, telling a story that is really not that complicated, not that unique, it only gets halfway. But I really like it, and I have seen it multiple times. This time, I rewatched it the day before I was, finally, going to be able to see part two. And I still liked it.
Denis Villeneuve has made several films that I like a lot, such as Sicario and Arrival, and with both of those he managed to tell compelling stories in only two hours. So what did he do differently here, and why do I like it?
From just watching Dune: Part One, my guess is that with this one Mr. Villeneuve had the confidence to take his time. I'm not mainly talking about his self-confidence, but the confidence of his investors.
The result is a beautiful movie, at times even visually stunning, that is never in any rush. It allows itself to dwell, to linger. Scenes are allowed to play out in full, allowing the viewer to enjoy, even ponder each one, before being flung into the next one.
I'm reminded of a review of the first Star Wars movie that I read many, many years ago, comparing the difference in pace compared to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Well, Dune: Part One is in some ways somewhere in between, with some intense fighting scenes similar to those in the Star Wars franchise, but with most of the film being more similar in pace to that of Kubrick's classic. But while I'm not as huge a fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey as most people, I thoroughly enjoyed Dune: Part One. If you're in the right mood, attentive, but relaxed, I think you will really enjoy it.
Denis Villeneuve has made several films that I like a lot, such as Sicario and Arrival, and with both of those he managed to tell compelling stories in only two hours. So what did he do differently here, and why do I like it?
From just watching Dune: Part One, my guess is that with this one Mr. Villeneuve had the confidence to take his time. I'm not mainly talking about his self-confidence, but the confidence of his investors.
The result is a beautiful movie, at times even visually stunning, that is never in any rush. It allows itself to dwell, to linger. Scenes are allowed to play out in full, allowing the viewer to enjoy, even ponder each one, before being flung into the next one.
I'm reminded of a review of the first Star Wars movie that I read many, many years ago, comparing the difference in pace compared to Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Well, Dune: Part One is in some ways somewhere in between, with some intense fighting scenes similar to those in the Star Wars franchise, but with most of the film being more similar in pace to that of Kubrick's classic. But while I'm not as huge a fan of 2001: A Space Odyssey as most people, I thoroughly enjoyed Dune: Part One. If you're in the right mood, attentive, but relaxed, I think you will really enjoy it.
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