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There has been a test screening of 2021's #Dune film by Denis Villeneuve
Two people from that test screening were interviewed and gave their opinions about the movie
All important revelations from this are in the thread below this post. Minor spoilers for the 1st book ahead
Two people from that test screening were interviewed and gave their opinions about the movie
All important revelations from this are in the thread below this post. Minor spoilers for the 1st book ahead
Note beforehand: The Q&A with the people who attended the test screening was uploaded as a 5 page long PDF. As of now, I do not know the source behind this. It all seems very legit, but still, take it with a grain of salt.
Part 1: Basics facts
There's two people who were interviewed after the screening.
Person 1 was completely unfamiliar with the #Dune universe.
Person 2 was unfamiliar as well, but read the first book after the test screening. The interview is from after that person read it.
There's two people who were interviewed after the screening.
Person 1 was completely unfamiliar with the #Dune universe.
Person 2 was unfamiliar as well, but read the first book after the test screening. The interview is from after that person read it.
Part 2: The General Questions Section
When they were asked whether they liked the film or not, Person 1 replied that they loved it and it seemed like a perfect movie. They did not like it equally as much as Blade Runner 2049, but still gave it a very positive score of 9/10.
When they were asked whether they liked the film or not, Person 1 replied that they loved it and it seemed like a perfect movie. They did not like it equally as much as Blade Runner 2049, but still gave it a very positive score of 9/10.
Person 2 went further, comparing it to watching "The Fellowship of the Ring" and calling it "an experience".
They liked it more than Blade Runner 2049, which had previously been their favourite movie and rated it 10/10.
They liked it more than Blade Runner 2049, which had previously been their favourite movie and rated it 10/10.
When asking for complaints about the film, only Person 1 had any, which was that at times there was too much information in scenes, however they reaffirmed that it did not ruin their enjoyment of the film.
It seems like we will evade the expostion dump of Lynch's Dune
It seems like we will evade the expostion dump of Lynch's Dune
Concerning the cinematography, Person 1 was especially positive, saying that the movie is not as dull looking as they expected and the images that have been posted so far "don't do the film justice".
It also really seems to push the PG-13 rating and can be quite brutal at times
It also really seems to push the PG-13 rating and can be quite brutal at times
Next up: The cast.
It's been a long time since there's been a cast full of so many great, well-known actors and actresses in a movie of this scale.
So...how good were their performances?
It's been a long time since there's been a cast full of so many great, well-known actors and actresses in a movie of this scale.
So...how good were their performances?
Person 1 loved David Dastmalchian as Piter DeVries, especially his look throughout the film.
They were also very happy with Jason Momoa's performance as fan-favourite character Duncan Idaho and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto (not a surprise to me, those two are just amazing)
They were also very happy with Jason Momoa's performance as fan-favourite character Duncan Idaho and Oscar Isaac as Duke Leto (not a surprise to me, those two are just amazing)
Stellan Skarsgård is said to be "pretty intimidating" as Baron Harkonnen.
"There's something about the deepness of Stellan Skarsgård's voice that is just frightening, like Snoke, but good tbh" they go on to say
Finally. Dune has found its perfect representation of the Baron
"There's something about the deepness of Stellan Skarsgård's voice that is just frightening, like Snoke, but good tbh" they go on to say
Finally. Dune has found its perfect representation of the Baron
Person 2, familiar with the source material, loved Leto and Jessica and says that Oscar Isaac's acting here will blow many people away, "because it's a first to see him act like this, at least if you only watched Star Wars, he is great and gives Leto a great performance."
We also have confirmation that Leto and Paul will share lots of screentime together, in many scenes that "show why he [Leto] is such a good person".
(So glad to finally see this father-son duo realized on the big screen)
![We also have confirmation that Leto and Paul will share lots of screentime together, in many scenes that "show why he [Leto] is such a good person".(So glad to finally see this father-son duo realized on the big screen)](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ErzfdiAWMAUz0zX.jpg "We also have confirmation that Leto and Paul will share lots of screentime together, in many scenes that \"show why he [Leto] is such a good person\".(So glad to finally see this father-son duo realized on the big screen)")
(So glad to finally see this father-son duo realized on the big screen)
They were also a fan of Paul, The Baron, Duncan and even Thufir, however they were disappointed with Gurney Halleck, who was the weakest character in their opinion
I guess we'll have to wait and see and not worry too much, Josh Brolin still seems like a good casting choice to me
I guess we'll have to wait and see and not worry too much, Josh Brolin still seems like a good casting choice to me
The VFX is simply described as "very cool stuff". I definitely suspect an Oscar nomination here...
The score is also said to to be "Hans Zimmer's A-game" and there was said to be "a lot of chanting and some creepy alien sounds".
Sounds very appropriate to the source material!
The score is also said to to be "Hans Zimmer's A-game" and there was said to be "a lot of chanting and some creepy alien sounds".
Sounds very appropriate to the source material!
The length of the film is at around 2 hours and 15 minutes (together with the credits) and was said to be "surprisingly shorter than expected and incredibly well paced."
Remember, though, that the release of the movie is still 9 months away, so the final length can still change!
Remember, though, that the release of the movie is still 9 months away, so the final length can still change!
Part 3: Story-Related Questions
I tried to dodge spoilers as well as I could for the tweets above, but as we are diving into the story, proceed with caution!
If you have not yet read or finished the first #Dune novel, proceed with caution, there will be spoilers ahead!
I tried to dodge spoilers as well as I could for the tweets above, but as we are diving into the story, proceed with caution!
If you have not yet read or finished the first #Dune novel, proceed with caution, there will be spoilers ahead!
Where does the movie end?
In this section - because the screenings of the interviewed happened at different times - the answer vary substantially.
The movie is definitely still being worked on, in an attempt to reach the perfect way to end the 1st part of this 2 part story.
In this section - because the screenings of the interviewed happened at different times - the answer vary substantially.
The movie is definitely still being worked on, in an attempt to reach the perfect way to end the 1st part of this 2 part story.
For Person 1, the film ended after Paul's duel with the Fremen Jamis.
The PDF tells us who gets to say the last words of the movie, but I do not want to go into detail on that, as I feel it takes away too much from the movie experience.
The PDF tells us who gets to say the last words of the movie, but I do not want to go into detail on that, as I feel it takes away too much from the movie experience.
It is described to be "very much set up for a Sequel" and the possibility remains that "the casual viewer will be underwhelmed" by this ending.
I still think splitting the story is better than cramping such a long book into a single film, like David Lycnh attempted in the 80's.
I still think splitting the story is better than cramping such a long book into a single film, like David Lycnh attempted in the 80's.
For Person 2, the film ended with Jessica's water of life scene, with Duke Leto's death happening around 30 to 40 minutes before that.
The music in the end is simply described to be "magical".
The music in the end is simply described to be "magical".
Neither Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen, nor Emperor Shaddam Corrino will appear in this movie.
This is in line with the casting list we know of.
They are saving these two characters for the Sequel / Second half of the story, which makes sense. They don't want it to be overcrowded.
This is in line with the casting list we know of.
They are saving these two characters for the Sequel / Second half of the story, which makes sense. They don't want it to be overcrowded.
As of now, one of my favourite scenes, the dinner at Arrakeen - which was featured prominently in the book and the mini-series from 2000 - will not be seen in Villeneuve's Dune.
We might get a substitute for it, or it might still be included though. I really hope it is
We might get a substitute for it, or it might still be included though. I really hope it is
Charlotte Rampling's Gaius Helen Mohiam is apparently narrating the intro of the movie and the beginning gives us a look at the Spacing Guild (human navigators and a glimpse at their tanks).
This is in line with the trailer that had many Mohiam lines that weren't in the book.
This is in line with the trailer that had many Mohiam lines that weren't in the book.
Returning to Baron Harkonnen, his design is described to be incredible.
His floating has also been reduced and he is seen walking in some scenes.
It will definitely spare us of something as silly as this scene from David Lynch's Dune.
His floating has also been reduced and he is seen walking in some scenes.
It will definitely spare us of something as silly as this scene from David Lynch's Dune.
Until the Baron's meeting with Leto, Beast Rabban is sort of the main antagonist of the movie, "wrecking shit".
He gets to do more than he did in the book and in Lynch's Dune, and, besides still being a simple-minded beast, his character is said to be a bit stronger.
He gets to do more than he did in the book and in Lynch's Dune, and, besides still being a simple-minded beast, his character is said to be a bit stronger.
It's also said that a relatively minor character, an Atreides soldier, is brought to Giedi Prime as a slave and he had a rather big role for a simple soldier.
This could be set-up for the Sequel, where we might get to see more of the Harkonnen home-world.
This could be set-up for the Sequel, where we might get to see more of the Harkonnen home-world.
That concludes all the information we gained from these interviews & test screenings for now.
Remember to take all of this with a grain of salt, the movie can still change substantially within the next 9 months.
I for one can definitely say it got me even more hyped, though.
Remember to take all of this with a grain of salt, the movie can still change substantially within the next 9 months.
I for one can definitely say it got me even more hyped, though.
For more posts like this one and other Dune related content, consider following this account, @DuneEveryday.
Other great #Dune accounts I can recommend are: @DuneSpanish @dunabrasil @Sietchposting @zsuzsanna_virag @DuneNewsNet @SecretsOfDune @SihayaDunee
Other great #Dune accounts I can recommend are: @DuneSpanish @dunabrasil @Sietchposting @zsuzsanna_virag @DuneNewsNet @SecretsOfDune @SihayaDunee
