Dune
Dune is a cinematic masterpiece. I loved it so much that we watched Dennis Villeneuve’s adaptation of the Frank Herbert classic twice—once in theaters and once at home a couple days later.
I won’t go into great detail on what I loved (and what I didn’t like) about Dune. I’ve already penned an in-depth review of the film which you can read right here.
Before you go see the film—Warner Bros.’ biggest box-office hit since the pandemic started—I have three warnings for you, though these are more like helpful bits of advice than anything truly dire.
Here’s what you should know before heading to the movies, or firing this up on your TV via HBO Max.
1. This Is Just Part One Of Two
This took me by surprise, though I read about it just before we went to the movie. I’m glad I had my expectations in check. There’s a ton of the story and characters from the novel missing thanks to the movie being chopped into two parts, with just the first half or so (a little more than half, really) present in Part I.
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This means there are also a lot of major characters and events that don’t make the cut at all, and Zendaya’s character Chani has a very small—but important—role. Don’t be upset, she’ll get more screen-time in the sequel, which has finally been greenlit by Warner Bros.
2. See It On The Biggest, Best Screen You Can Find
This is important. Even though you can watch Dune at home with your HBO Max subscription, avoid the temptation. Take the risk, spend the money and go to the theaters to see this on the biggest, most high-quality screen you can find, preferably with Dolby Atmos or some other really good sound system.
Trust me, I have a very nice home theater setup with an expensive OLED screen and a really nice surround sound setup. I’m happy with most everything I watch or play with my setup, but it just paled in comparison to the theater version.
3. You Don’t Need To Read The Book First, But It Helps
Dune is enjoyable just as an epic, visually stunning space opera. Even if you can’t follow the plot (which is dense and complex and often somewhat confusing) you can still enjoy the lavish world-building, fascinating characters and the feel and mood that make the film come to life.
You don’t need to have read Frank Herbert’s novel(s) to enjoy this movie, but it definitely helps. The story is hard to follow. There’s lots of weird lore and plenty of strange words and phrases like “gom jabbar” and “Bene Gesserit” to confuse you. The politics and scheming is a little tricky to navigate as well, especially since the movie skips ahead a little too quickly during some very important moments.
But you don’t need to read the book first. Dune is still a great movie even for the uninitiated.
Now, head to the theater and immerse yourself in Dennis Villeneuve’s space opera masterpiece. To Arrakis, the desert planet, Dune! Better to catch it in theaters than to miss it while you slog through the book!
P.S. In case you were wondering, Dune does not have a secret post-credits scene. Thank Shai-Hulud!
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