There's an start of Season 2 here in Norway at NRK1 tonight, in about 5 minutes now!
[NRK] Get the perfect balance between family drama and the chronicle of the enrichment of a small country like Norway thanks to the discovery of oil. Endowed with a great production design, focused more on indoor settings, it exposes on screen its status as the most expensive series in the history of Norwegian television. And draws political, religious and family scenarios with equal interest.
I don’t think I’ve ever literally been on the edge of my seat for like 3/4 of a movie before. I may have lost about 20% of my hearing-
but it was totally worth it
This is a tone-perfect adaptation of Herbert's novel, but even if it weren't, I could watch brutalist architecture take off and land all day. An absolute visual triumph.
Love the books, so was worried about another attempt to convert into a movie. But this was so much better than I thought it would be. Looking forward to part 2.
Brillant brilliant brilliant. This is truly a cinematic masterpiece that demands to be seen on the big screen. I have not read the book and didn‘t know anything about the story. Still I was immediately drawn into this beautiful and vast universe that Frank Herbert created and Dennis Villeneuve brought to life in this breathtaking film adaption. The acting is superb and the cinematography is top-notch. The soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is so otherworldly which fits the movie perfectly. As this was only Part 1 of the story I really hope we‘ll see Part 2 in the near future. I‘m definitely hooked on this franchise now. Next stop will be reading the book.
Unless this is successful in the box office, we won't get a part two from this director. Please, even if you don't go into the theater, buy a ticket.
To say this was an emotionally rewarding experience, I have to also state when I was a teenager I read the trilogy four times, and the following Herbert Sr. books twice each...forty years ago. I've been waiting a long time. Yes, this was an emotionally satisfying experience. That's on me. I know the story, and....
SPOILER ALERT
...That was before I understood the, "white savior," trope. I mean, I understood Frank Herbert said he wanted to explore what it would take to set-up a messiah...make People believe in one and follow one. But, I did not understand it is a warning. I did not understand that what happens to the Fremen is not a good thing -- what happens to EVERYONE as a result of Leto the Second following, "The Golden Path," is not a good thing. It's the ultimate warning... "Beware of someone coming in from outside promising to fix everything, and lead you to paradise," because you'll prolly just get bent over. And, even if it saves you from The Great Pause, you'll be bored for a very long time.
As a teen, and, even now, I'm enchanted by the secret powers of the Bene Geserit, the Bashar Teg, the Axolotle Tanks (female Tleilaxu) and the final Ghola of Idaho.
I'm a video addicted ADHD mo'fo, and I want very much for there to be a part two AND a part six...!!! I'm gonna buy a ticket. I hope you'll join me.
A religious experience.
This movie brings story telling and action sequences at the right pace.
I've just seen it in cinema. Very powerful movie combined with a better soundtrack.
Can't wait for the second part!
When you watch a movie and wish that it went for another 2 hours - fantastic.
Everything I wanted it to be, blew my mind. I think this has the potential to become a saga as popular as Star Wars (but potentially for an broader audience) and such. I've got my fingers crossed for the potential of a second movie.
Everything I wanted it to be and more. Perfectly cast and excellent soundtrack by Hans Zimmer. Epic Sci-Fi at its best.
Denis Villeneuve is the man!
There’s only one word that came into my mind after watching it: finally.
Finally, a blockbuster that isn’t afraid to be primarily driven by drama and tension, and doesn’t undercut its own tone by throwing in a joke every 30 seconds.
Finally, a blockbuster that puts actual effort in its cinematography, and doesn’t have a bland or calculated colour palette.
Finally, a blockbuster with a story that has actual substance and themes, and doesn’t rely on intertextual references or nostalgia to create a fake sheen of depth.
Finally, a blockbuster that doesn’t pander to China by having big, loud and overblown action sequences, but relies on practical and grounded spectacle instead (it has big sand worms, you really don’t need to throw anything at the screen besides that).
Finally, a blockbuster that actually feels big, because it isn’t primarily shot in close ups, or on a sound stage.
And of course: finally, a blockbuster that isn’t a fucking prequel, sequel, or connected to an already established IP somehow.
(Yeah, I know Tenet did those things as well, but I couldn’t get into that because the characters were so flat and uninteresting).
This just checks all the boxes. An engaging story with subtext, very well set up characters, great acting (like James Gunn, Villeneuve's great at accentuating the strengths of limited actors like Dave Bautista and Jason Momoa), spectecular visuals and art design (desaturated but not in an ugly washed out way), pacing (slow but it never drags), directing, one of Hans Zimmer’s best scores: it’s all here.
I only have one real criticism: there’s too much exposition, especially in the first half.
It can occasionally hold your hand by referencing things that have already been established previously, and some scenes of characters explaining stuff to each other could’ve been conveyed more visually.
Other than that, it’s easily one of the best films of the year.
I’ve seen some people critiquing it for being incomplete, which is true, but this isn’t just a set up for a future film.
It feels like a whole meal, there are pay offs in this, and the characters progress (even if, yes, their arcs are still incomplete).
8.5/10
Don't listen to the critics - this was a really enjoyable movie to me. If you enjoy a little fun and an unpretentious movie then you'll like this. To me it's in the same category as Wild Wild West and Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow.
It's a nice, easy watch without all the pretention, a lot of Steampunk association and almost nostalgic in its disregard for cultural film critics' opinions.
Perfect for a Wednesday or Friday evening alone with something to drink as company.