A Successful Trek Through "Dune"

 Hi team,

Today I'll write a quick post about the new "Dune" (2021) movie.

I was incredulous about this new version of the science fiction classic, given that the source material is notoriously difficult to successfully transition into film.  I was also put off by the 2 hours and 35 minutes runtime, not wanting to sink that kind of time into a movie that might not pay off.  However, I heard enough positive responses from multiple people that I ultimately decided to give it a try.

Honestly, this is a pretty great movie!  The performances are great; while everyone is deeply watchable and wields gravitas commensurate with this rich and meaty story, Rebecca Ferguson often holds the emotional heart of the movie as Lady Jessica.  The set design is absolutely arresting and engrossing, including the vast, empty brutalist architecture that houses much of the film complemented by the even more vast and brutal landscape of Arrakis.  Hans Zimmer's (as usual) moody, bleak score is an excellent partner to the scenery.  Most impressively, the pace is neither plodding and overly perseverative nor noisily frenetic in a scrambling attempt to fill the time, which means spending slightly over 2 1/2 hours with this film feels like time completely well-spent.

I gave it a 4.5.

{Heart}