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    Home » “Dune” has Screened, Here’s What the Critics are Saying
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    “Dune” has Screened, Here’s What the Critics are Saying

    Mary Anne ButlerBy Mary Anne ButlerSeptember 3, 2021No Comments
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    Today marks a very special day for fans of Frank Herbert‘s seminal work of science fiction, “Dune.” A new adaptation, from an Oscar-nominated filmmaker, with a star-studded cast and major studio behind it, is officially showing at the Venice Film Festival. This will be the world premiere, but the film did screen for members of the press and select persons earlier today.

    To sum up what we’re seeing so far, reviews for Denis Villenueve‘s take on the desert planet of Arrakis and the families who war over it, have been fairly positive. Some, like Variety’s piece, come off as pompous diatribes, and consist solely of comparing “Dune” to “Star Wars.” This is unfair for a number of reasons, the first being that George Lucas borrowed heavily and freely from Herbert’s universe, as well as multiple other sources. Sure, we understand setting audience expectations means sometimes contrasting and pointing out similarities, but to compare the freaking names? The settings? The action? Get over yourself.

    Other first-reaction reviews are more promising, like Erik Davis of Fandango:

    I’ve watched #Dune & it’s among the most immersive moviegoing experiences I’ve ever had w/ a sci-fi film. There is masterful filmmaking on display here. When paired w/ its big, monstrous sound, the film wondrously transports you to a new, exciting, horrific yet beautiful world pic.twitter.com/Z0oNUJbiNE

    — Erik Davis (@ErikDavis) September 3, 2021

    I’ve watched #Dune & it’s among the most immersive moviegoing experiences I’ve ever had w/ a sci-fi film. There is masterful filmmaking on display here. When paired w/ its big, monstrous sound, the film wondrously transports you to a new, exciting, horrific yet beautiful world

    I was absolutely in awe of the craftsmanship on this film. Every little detail is matched w/ this immensely powerful sound. Might be Hans Zimmer’s best work – the sound on this is truly remarkable, as is the effects & makeup work. What they do w/ Stellan Skarsgard is WILD
    #Dune

    Favorite performances go to Stellan Skarsgård, Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem (wish he was in more of the film) & Sharon Duncan-Brewster, the latter of whom has an amazing cinematic moment near the end.
    #Dune

    If WB doesn’t let this entire crew make #Dune Part II, it will be a great mistake. There won’t be a single person who walks out of DUNE without thinking about what comes next. This is a film that needs its counterpart to feel complete. Maybe that’s a negative, but it’s the truth

    ING says it’s imperfect but beautiful:

    Dune is a gorgeous but imperfect epic, a technical wonder that spends too much time setting up a third act that never comes.

    Our review: https://t.co/MVI7xPr2Yw pic.twitter.com/w37sGSV3fw

    — IGN (@IGN) September 3, 2021

    IndieWire calls it a massive disappointment:

    #Dune Review: Denis Villeneuve’s Epic Spice Opera Is a Massive Disappointment https://t.co/6dfNSXMzpT pic.twitter.com/h7CJp47F7T

    — IndieWire (@IndieWire) September 3, 2021

    #Dune is a cinematic thunderclap. Maybe my favorite film of the year.

    Denis Villeneuve & co. created a phenomenal adaptation of Herbert's work. It feels alien in the way the best sci-fi does and balances visceral violence and cruelty with resilience and hope. An absolute banger. pic.twitter.com/TIJ6qHaHWD

    — Dan Casey (@DanCasey) September 3, 2021

    The Spice is flowing. Reviews for @Dunemovie have started to roll in! pic.twitter.com/lp0kZhKx0y

    — Legendary (@Legendary) September 3, 2021

    Dune – !!!! Wow wow wow. Blown away. This is everything I was hoping for. Launching us into a whole new era of spectacular sci-fi taking us to Arrakis & beyond. An exhilarating big screen, pulse pounding, awe-inspiring experience. This is what we go to the movies for. #Venezia78 pic.twitter.com/DoEJTEolBz

    — Alex B. Loves Movies (@firstshowing) September 3, 2021

    I left DUNE shaking. This is how people seeing 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY back in 1968 for the first time must have felt. The grandeur of this thing is off the charts. However blown away you think you’re going to be, multiply it by ten. #Venezia78

    — Joshua Rothkopf (@joshrothkopf) September 3, 2021

    Denis Villeneuve's Dune is the best possible adaptation of one of science fiction's most iconic works. It's the one you've awaited for over five decades. The talented filmmakers and jaw-dropping cast have done it justice.

    Our review: https://t.co/zlo8hjujsm pic.twitter.com/ZxSsiGPWdl

    — GameSpot (@GameSpot) September 3, 2021

    Sometimes you just know when you've seen an all-time great… And #Dune is, to me, an all-time great. Denis Villeneuve's masterpiece is a sweeping symphony of spectacle, sound, and storytelling. A cinematic odyssey that is every bit as visceral as it is epic. #Venezia78 pic.twitter.com/1kkgVPIGw5

    — Awais (@OasisAwais) September 3, 2021

    Here's my full review of Dune: https://t.co/0HLulM99E9

    — Germain Lussier (@GermainLussier) September 3, 2021

    #Dune is unlike most of Denis Villeneuve’s other films, in that it’s heavily action-focused. Despite this, it’s very entertaining and definitely calls for a sequel. Chalamet is great, but it’s Ferguson who shines brightest. It’s certainly a film that audiences will remember. pic.twitter.com/yVafZeWN8h

    — Ben Rolph (@TheDCTVshow) September 3, 2021

    Here's my review of #Dune, what may very well be the next big franchise. I truly loved this movie, its epic scope, it's visuals and its interrogation of the messianic archetype. It may be long, but it flies by. https://t.co/56icryLrGC

    — Rafael Motamayor (@RafaelMotamayor) September 3, 2021

    Not gonna lie, pretty disappointed that the majority of these reviews are from male critics. Hopefully we’ll get more reactions after the premiere, which is happening now.

    Oh good, finally female critics quoted (i.e. retweeted by the official Legendary and film accounts).

    The scale of #Dune is like nothing else.
    It’s engulfing.
    In the best way, it can feel like you’re drowning in the cinematic scope of this & Hans Zimmer’s score is holding you there.

    It was an ambitious task, and Denis Villeneuve along with this all star cast DELIVERED. pic.twitter.com/o6ytytevkd

    — Maude Garrett (@maudegarrett) September 3, 2021

    Dune is stunning but it’s not just about the spectacle – the performances are so heartfelt and urgent. In particular, Timothée Chalamet and Rebecca Ferguson are fantastic.

    — Jenelle Riley (@jenelleriley) September 3, 2021

    “Dune” is set to hit theaters and HBO Max on October 22nd, 2021. You can see the most recent trailer here.

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    Mary Anne Butler
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    Mary Anne Butler (Mab) got her start in album reviews and live concert coverage for a nationally published (print) music magazine as a teenager. She eventually transitioned to online media, writing for such sites as UGO/IGN, ComicsOnline, Geek Magazine, Ace of Geeks, Aggressive Comix (Editor-in-Chief), Bleeding Cool (News Editor), Nerdbot (as Editor-In-Chief), and now [Bad]Influencers, where she is Editor-in-Chief. Over the past 15 years, she’s built a well-known reputation at conventions across the globe as a cosplayer (occasionally), photographer (constantly), panelist and moderator (mostly), and reporter (always). Interviews, reviews, observations, breaking news, and objective reporting are the name of the game for the founder of Harkonnen Knife Fight, a Dune-themed band. She also produces award-winning immersive events, including Wasteland Weekend and Neotropolis.

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