Dune, Frank Herbert's six-book, award-winning sci-fi series brought to the big screen by David Lynch at first; this time it is being adapted for the cinema by Denis Villeneuve. The next work of Denis Villeneuve, who is known in the cinema world with films such as Prisoner, Enemy, Sicario and Arrival, and who recently directed Blade Runner 2049. From viewers to readers, including the director himself, there is a widely shared opinion: the screen adaptation of Frank Herbert's long-running novel Dune is a work of uneven inspiration at best, sometimes dazzling, often awkward. So much so that the film is not only disowned by its director, but regularly eluded by the commentators of its filmography. The latter generally refuse to consider Dune other than as an impersonal order which only deserves the modesty of oblivion. We wanted to approach here with honesty the qualities and the defects of a film to which - despite everything - we are personally attached.
Note that before being spectators, we were readers. Knowledge of Herbert's work has become a determining factor in our appreciation of the film. The Dune Cycle remains for us an unforgettable reading experience that its film adaptation allows us to relive. Even though we would subscribe to the principle that an adaptation must have a value, decontextualized, we readily recognize that the pleasure taken in this film depends on prior knowledge of the story and the characters. This makes us able to fill in the gaps in the scenario, to relativize the betrayals. We come then to consider Dune, the film, as the illustration of a monument of literature, with all that that entails of simplification. And we are just delighted to see the Duncan Idaho, Gurney Halleck, Feyd-Rautha or Reverend Mother come alive before our eyes, and to hear them utter Herbert's strange and familiar lexical inventions.
Dune, the first book in a six-book science fiction series, was written by Frank Herbert in 1965. One of the best science fiction novels of the 20th century, Dune won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and the Nebula Award for Best Novel. The titles of the books that make up the series are as follows: Dune, Dune Messiah – Dune Messiah, Children of Dune – Children of Dune, Dune's Emperor God – God Emperor of Dune, Dune Heretics – Heretics of Dune, and Dune Sisterhood – Chapterhouse: Dune.
The film, which will be adapted to the big screen from Herbert's novel, is about the story of Paul Atreides, who takes control of the desert planet Arrakis. Atreides is involved in a struggle to protect his planet against other families who want to take over Arrakis, where the spice is produced. Planets in different parts of the galaxy are ruled by rival feudal families. Control of the desert planet Arrakis, the sole producer of a precious resource, is in high demand among noble families. This source, called "spices", while offering high consciousness and a long-life span, also brings with it very serious side effects. It is also this "spice" that aids in navigating interstellar paths. Paul and his family are ambushed by the Harkonen family, feudal rivals who want to obtain this resource. As a result of this trap, Paul's family is scattered and on the run. As Paul starts a rebellion to regain control of his family on Arrakis, he seizes the possibility that he could change the course of the entire universe.
The current cast of the film are Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, Dave Bautista, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Zendaya, David Dastmalchian, Chang Chen, Sharon Duncan-Brewster, Charlotte Rampling, Jason Momoa, and Javier Bardem.
Ok, What about Dune's Sandworms? What are unknowns about Sandworms?
Sci-fi fans must have heard of these sandworms. These sandworms, one of the protagonists of all Dune movies, have a considerable place in the Dune universe. So, what do these Sandworms do?
They first appeared on the screen in 1965. Sandworms are gigantic. These creatures, which can be noticed even on screens, can vary in length from 400 meters to 2500 meters, and their width starts from 40 meters. They are also very hardy and hard to kill creatures. It is known that they can be killed with water, but SURPRISE. Arrakis is a desert planet and that seems unlikely. It is also known that they can be killed with certain tools but trying them can cost your life.
Another mythological dune element is SPICE. The sandworms' larvae produce a drug called "melange" (known colloquially as "the spice") Spice can be called a source of life produced from the larvae of these worms and found only on the planet Arrakis. The most important feature is that it prolongs life and gives mythological mystical features.
"Dune" directed by Denis Villeneuve will be released on October 22.