If you Don’t Know Herbert’s Masterpiece Like the Bible, Denis Villeneuve's exclusive Dune Party is not for You

Dune is out, and it is more than a movie. The work is a long history of people’s personal experience with the story. So I’m going to provide mine to review the new film by Denis Villeneuve.

When Dune came out in 1984, I never heard of Frank Herbert or his book. But I quickly learned that it is was generally believed to be the greatest science fiction novel ever written. So I was pretty intrigued, and the trailers looked compelling.

Nonetheless, the reviews labeled it a bomb, and this story would have to be saved for another day. The reintroduction came about 15 years ago. I read the novel and agreed that Herbert’s masterpiece deserved all the accolades. So watching the David Lynch disaster was now a requirement.

But I digress first. A professional script analyst once told me that an adaptation can’t simply lift the storyline from the novel and drop it onto final draft. You have to add you own spin or the translation won’t work. I don’t know why, but I just took her word for it.

I mention, because those were exactly my thoughts after seeing Lynch’s film. The horrible acting and B-movie feel aside, the movie was an exact copy of the book. Again, I have no idea why this matters. But for me, the cinematic imagining was terrible. So you can do with that what you like.

Moving on, another Dune gave me hope that someone would do justice and add their own twist to the effort. Still, the day arriving on Sunday, I had mixed feelings. I had doubts about an epic blockbuster that had such a cerebral baseline. So you can also do with that as you like.

Either way, the book is not as fresh in my head as it was 15 years ago. So from comments I’m reading on Facebook, I’ve been led to believe that “fresh” is imperative. Thus in retrospect, Villeneuve Dune is like being invited to themed party, and only some people are privy to the underlying current. Everybody else simply has a lousy time.

That said, I certainly remember the allegory Herbert was after, but I’m not so up on the specifics. So sitting there, I was reminded that the House of Atreides is being tasked with continuing the production of spice on Arrakis. Then why is this great family of wealth and power having doubts and taking up the cause of the Fremen. Did the 1% suddenly grow a conscience, and if so, what is their grander vision for the universe.

Of course, the idealism all filters down to Paul. How quaint, I have no idea why he cares and is so passionate. I guess, he’s the messiah. How did the filmmaker reinforce this crucial information. Paul put his hand in a box?

No matter, I know why I care and why Herbert cares about the Fremen. We hate imperialism. This could vaguely surmised on screen. But all you’re really getting is the general story that Herbert once told instead of actual storytelling. As a result, I had no idea what the stakes were for the parties involved.

Unlike the movie many say is stolen from Dune, Star Wars lets me know exactly why Luke Skywalker fought the the empire. Darth Vader blew up a God damn planet, and while the Baron is pretty gangsta, his presence does not pervade into this mish-mash like the above Sith and his ilk. As a result, it’s not clear what his aims are - other than he’s really evil.

This was actually left to the score. The best part of movie, it’s the only thing that made me feel like there was an evil that enveloped this exploited planet.

The exclusive filmmaking also left me in a fog because the whole thing felt like 2.5 hours of a one act play. I really had to struggle to figure out where the plot first changed direction. I believe the moment took place when the empire struck back, and the Baron decided to retake the planet

Among a listless string of events, the moment is not quite so profound as Vito Corleone been shot down in the street or the slaughter of Luke’s uncle and aunt. And I have no idea when the third act begin.

Now, I could have missed the exposition. But some how you’re supposed to glean all this from the dream like imagery. Sorry, I don’t have powers like that - even if I go on a serious acid trip with the spice everyone desires.

No such need to figure all this out in the the book, because Herbert gave me what I needed to understand, and again, the film didn’t give me the invitation I was looking for.

I guess it’s the filmmakers his right, and if there’s enough of a Dune base to sustain a following, you can rejoice the coming franchise. But just don’t expect me to participate, and more importantly, the next generations are going to say the same thing. Then where is your Dune Denis.

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