Dune: Book vs. Movie
In the wake of Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune by Frank Herbert, we have seen a number of varying opinions on how the movie lived up to its source. Commercially, it has done well, earning enough revenue and positive press for Warner Brothers to greenlight its sequel set to release late 2023. Critically, it has earned an 84% on Rotten Tomatoes and an 8.3 on IMDb, but that all ignores the largest, and potentially most important, question: Does Villeneuve’s vision for the desert planet of Arrakis fit the description in the book? Do the characters act and feel as they should? How did a book known for being difficult to immerse oneself in fit on the big screen? Well, it’s complicated.
First, I should note that I have not read the entirety of Dune, but I have read about half of it. The book is split into three parts, this movie taking on the first part and about half of the second, so my knowledge of the book is pretty much up to speed.
In terms of basic adaptation, Villeneuve was incredibly faithful to the source text. We find the Atreides family cornered into migrating from their home planet of Caladan, where they run their empire off of air and water power, to the massive ball of sand and waste known as Arrakis. Inevitably, this is a massive change, and with the devious Harkonnens breathing down their neck, watching their every move and waiting for a slip up, the intensity only increases.
This beginning and exposition is where Villeneuve really strives in his adaptation. The movie actually gives more background than the book does, relying on the audience’s ability to keep up with the numerous names and places. This is also where the adaptation of such a massive book starts to show its weakness, as there is no index you can flip to in a movie like there is in the book. Regardless, the viewer gets plenty of information in the first part of the movie to be able to go forward into the real meat of it, and those who have read the book already will be more than ready to go into the adaptation.
I’m sure this comparison has been made a million times, but if you are a fan specifically of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, Dune (2021) is for you. Dune is a science fiction story, but not in the same vein as Blade Runner or Tron. It is very specifically epic science fiction, the same way Lord of the Rings is epic fantasy. There are massive worlds, tons of lore, endless characters, and dozens of books to keep you coming back for more.
We mainly follow Paul Atreides, heir to the throne, in his struggle to migrate safely while also being haunted by visions. Timothée Chalamet does the role wonderfully, giving so much emotion and believability to the character while adding in a hint of the angst that Herbert intended the young character to have. The supporting characters, most prominently Jessica Atreides (Rebecca Ferguson), Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), Duncan Idaho (Jason Momoa), and Chani (Zendaya), each do their characters massive amounts of justice. In terms of character, Villeneuve did a spectacular job not only in casting but in writing these dynamic characters into screen-ready form.
And finally, the visuals. Dune, the novel, is not known for its beautiful prose and amazing descriptions of its worlds. I could go as far as to say that Herbert was a minimalist in his writing, but that gave the 2021 adaptation so much room to truly strive. Not only is this probably one of the most beautiful movies of the year, but I would go as far as to say it’s one of the most beautiful movies of all time. That could be due to how much it improves on the groundwork the novel laid out, but seeing the various settings from the oceans of Caladan to the dunes of Arrakis and the massive interior of the Harkonnens lair, Dune (2021) goes above and beyond to make the viewer completely immersed. I think visuals alone make this a movie worth watching, even if you aren’t a big fan of science fiction or fantasy. It’s a marvel to witness.
So that’s Dune (2021) in a spoiler-free capacity. There’s obviously a much larger story set in this beautiful world with these great characters, but I’ll leave that for you to discover. All in all, Dune (2021) left me in awe, marking my calendar for late 2023.
And I think I’ll finish the book, too.