Page 42 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 110

42 Issue #110 March 2022 www.sportsenergynews.com

In Reel Time

Sand Lot

By Nikolai Adams

here is a real sense that the four classical
Telements – fire, water, earth, and air – play a
subtle but pivotal role in Denis Villeneuve’s 2021
remake of Frank Herbert’s iconic science fiction
novel Dune.

Entrenched within the universal visuals, waves
gently lap upon the tranquil shore, scorched earth
suggests the utter inhospitality of a new planetary
home, wind brings the seemingly endless sand
dunes to moving life, fire violently lights up the
pitch black night’s sky, and, despite the endless
clash of good versus evil, a certain mystical
harmony arises through Villeneuve and his
team’s stunning use of cinematography, camera
placement/movement, editing, and the like.

Combined with an otherworldly score by Hans
Zimmer, these audiovisual elements provide
the backdrop for Herbert’s dense operatic space
saga (adapted by Villeneuve, Jon Spaihts, and
Photo Submitted
Eric Roth). Centered on the influential family
Atreides: Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), Lady Jessica Duncan (Jason Momoa), trusted medical specialist, in 2023. With an ending that can only be deemed
(Rebecca Ferguson), and their son Paul (Timothée Dr. Wellington Yueh (Chang Chen), and a number open, Dune sets the stage for what will truly
Chalamet), they have been commanded by the of military units, the large group arriving and make or break this feature. . . the closest recent
Emperor to replace the House Harkonnen as fief attempting to quickly adapt to this scorchingly comparison being It (It’s sequel slightly maiming
rulers of the spice planet Arrakis – as the all- hot, inhospitable desert planet that will be their the overall product with an overlong and less
important spice is the number one commodity new home. focused conclusion).
of the empire. Needless to say, all of this is very
Inhabited by numerous tribes of blue eyed, While audiences wait, there is no denying the
much to the chagrin of Harkonnen’s leader, Baron
Vlademir (Stellan Skarsgård – clearly inspired by desert dwellers (called Fremen), Paul is frequented visual craftsmanship of this epic motion picture
by a number of visionary dreams revolving around (once again, Villeneuve has done it. . . much like
Marlon Brando’s Colonel Kurtz in Francis Ford these people. . . especially the mysterious Chani
Coppola’s 1979 classic Apocalypse Now) and his the cinematic splendor found in Blade Runner
warlord nephew Glossu (Dave Bautista). (Zendaya). Paul holds a telekinetic style power 2049) – the recent announcement of ten Academy
passed down along his mother’s bloodline, while Award nominations for Dune further cements this
Honorably accepting the challenging request, many whisper that he might be the chosen one – a viewpoint (including Best Picture). Paired with
before leaving, Paul receives a visit in the middle long foretold legend of a man who will have the an impressive cast, the only negatives it might
of the night from his mother’s mentor, Gaius Helen ability to unite past, present, and future. It is also hold for some are its thick subject (though not
Mohiam (Charlotte Rampling) – a Truthsayer who worth noting that the first Fremen leader to make too complex in story, its dense world building
tests him in regards to his present and future path contact with the Atreides family upon their arrival might be a lot for some to absorb without multiple
– leading to further intriguing questions. is the rather blunt Stilgar (Javier Bardem). viewings) and its confidently meandering two

The next day, the Atreides family makes the Weaving together a story of interstellar loyalty, hour and thirty-five minute pacing (which might
space trek along with their trusted military advisor, honor, treachery, tragedy, revenge, as well as be a tad slow for some modern viewers). So, feel
Thufir (Stephen McKinley Henderson), weapons finding one’s own path, so much of this film really free to travel to this far off world, just remember,
master, Gurney (Josh Brolin), swordmaster, hinges on its sequel. . . projected to be released “this is only the beginning”.