Denis Villeneuve’s Dune

alchemist33 · 11-12-2020 10:15pm

Surely if the response to 1 is so good that they think 2 could make a profit, they'll do it?

The White Wolf · 11-12-2020 10:18pm

alchemist33 wrote: »

Surely if the response to 1 is so good that they think 2 could make a profit, they'll do it?

Didn't help Blade Runner.

MJohnston · 11-12-2020 10:54pm

I love Villeneuve but I'm not sure I buy his reasoning about Dune as a franchise being killed by this shift to streaming. Was there really an expectation that Dune was going to be a huge box office hit? I guess it was possible, but surely it was setup with the premise that it wouldn't be a massive thing. It's Dune ffs!

The White Wolf · 11-12-2020 11:09pm

MJohnston wrote: »

I love Villeneuve but I'm not sure I buy his reasoning about Dune as a franchise being killed by this shift to streaming. Was there really an expectation that Dune was going to be a huge box office hit? I guess it was possible, but surely it was setup with the premise that it wouldn't be a massive thing. It's Dune ffs!

Generally accepted the second him and the cast were announced that it was going to be an epic. WB would have been banking on it as a potential franchise for sure.

As you say it could still be, but the cost of producing a film like Dune for cinema only to end up on the in-house streaming service is unlikely to recoup what they're looking for. I think the strategy is by releasing the entire slate for 2021 on HBO MAX they might get massive long term benefits, Dune has become just a chess piece in that hope.

JP Liz V1 · 13-12-2020 3:35am

https://twitter.com/IndieWire/status/1337940304339591176

Full_Circle_81 · 13-12-2020 12:22pm

People are talking about franchise here, but the movie itself was only ever going to be spilt into two, right? Maybe spin-offs for the other books if the reaction is good.

If it's not out till October, I'll definitely be trying to catch this one in cinemas if things have gone back to normal. I've no problem watching most new movies streaming at home, but his are always so epic in size. This and Matrix 4 are my two big hopes for the cinema for next year, if it's safe to do so, even if they arrive on streaming at the same time.

banie01 · 13-12-2020 12:31pm

JP Liz V1 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/IndieWire/status/1337940304339591176

I'm gonna be honest here and say...
Cop the fúck on lads!

My main living room set up blows the local cinema out of the water for everything apart from screen size.
Better sound set up, better screen set up including ISF, far more comfortable.

My local cinemas have big screens that are poorly lit, with bulb issues. Unbalanced sound and there is that persistent problem of other people.

I'd even put my projector setup in my mancave ahead of a few of the local screens.

The WB release model isn't perfect, it has issues but there is an ongoing move to home consumption.
That has been accelerated by Covid and TBH, the spectacle of some movies isn't worth the trip to a mucky cinema.

Unless Villeneuve and Co are inspecting and certifying every cinema showing their print as "Dune-certified" it's a fairly toothless point.

My home setup is good, many here no doubt have far better but the vast majority are much, much worse.
Cinemas are the same, the days of actual projectionists and a sound mix other than a preset are long gone.

Sad Professor · 13-12-2020 12:51pm

From the beginning I wished that they had made this as a single film or committed to producing both films simultaneously and those concerns now seem justified. Even if second film happens Villeneuve probably won't be directing.

MisterAnarchy · 13-12-2020 1:06pm

Sad Professor wrote: »

From the beginning I wished that they had made this as a single film or committed to producing both films simultaneously and those concerns now seem justified. Even if second film happens Villeneuve probably won't be directing.

Oh, I thought that they had filmed both films simultaneously but that doesn't seem to be the case.

Although the sequel has not yet been officially green-lit by Legendary, Villeneuve has stated that the 2021 film will roughly cover the first half of the novel, with a follow up covering the remaining half.

Thats worrying.
Second part might not get made now.
Or worse still get made with a B rate cast, director and budget.

Rob2D · 14-12-2020 5:05pm

banie01 wrote: »

My main living room set up blows the local cinema out of the water

Well bully for you then. Most of us here just have a monitor. And, believe it or not, actually enjoy a trip to the cinema.

MJohnston · 14-12-2020 5:52pm

Rob2D wrote: »

Well bully for you then. Most of us here just have a monitor. And, believe it or not, actually enjoy a trip to the cinema.

You'll still be able to! WB didn't pull Dune from theatres entirely, it's just going to streaming on the same day it releases in theatres.

banie01 · 16-12-2020 8:21pm

Rob2D wrote: »

Well bully for you then. Most of us here just have a monitor. And, believe it or not, actually enjoy a trip to the cinema.

Thanks, I'm happy with it, with both actually.
But.
Just to reiterate the point that seems to have flown over your head.

banie01 wrote: »

Unless Villeneuve and Co are inspecting and certifying every cinema showing their print as "Dune-certified" it's a fairly toothless point.

Vestiapx · 17-12-2020 1:05am

banie01 wrote: »

Just the 1st one is plenty.
The 1st 2 movies will cover the original novel.

The dune books are excellent, buy the first but read the lot.

Vestiapx · 17-12-2020 1:10am

banie01 wrote: »

I'm gonna be honest here and say...
Cop the fúck on lads!

My main living room set up blows the local cinema out of the water for everything apart from screen size.
Better sound set up, better screen set up including ISF, far more comfortable.

My local cinemas have big screens that are poorly lit, with bulb issues. Unbalanced sound and there is that persistent problem of other people.

I'd even put my projector setup in my mancave ahead of a few of the local screens.

The WB release model isn't perfect, it has issues but there is an ongoing move to home consumption.
That has been accelerated by Covid and TBH, the spectacle of some movies isn't worth the trip to a mucky cinema.

Unless Villeneuve and Co are inspecting and certifying every cinema showing their print as "Dune-certified" it's a fairly toothless point.

My home setup is good, many here no doubt have far better but the vast majority are much, much worse.
Cinemas are the same, the days of actual projectionists and a sound mix other than a preset are long gone.

I also have a decent home setup,dedicated room with Sony amp and speakers and benq projector but I still wanted to see tenant in the cinema (I did) and would love to see dune in one . Granted I enjoy my home setup but it's about 1/32 the local max screen and it's pretty good for a home setup.

MJohnston · 17-12-2020 2:49pm

Vestiapx wrote: »

I also have a decent home setup,dedicated room with Sony amp and speakers and benq projector but I still wanted to see tenant in the cinema (I did) and would love to see dune in one . Granted I enjoy my home setup but it's about 1/32 the local max screen and it's pretty good for a home setup.

It's hard to make direct comparisons like that because the equivalent size of each screen is always going to vary depending on where you prefer to sit in a cinema, what size the theatre screen is, what size your TV is, and how far you sit from it at home.

With a 60" 4K TV and you're sitting 2-3m away, you're not really far off from IMAX screen sizes even (depending on where you sit of course!).

This same algebra is also why 4K will be an upper resolution limit for most people's home viewing habits.

EltonJohn69 · 17-12-2020 3:21pm

I wouldn’t have risked seeing it in the cinema and having someone ruin it by talking/checking phone.... I have had to tell people to stop talking so many times and then told I am being rude.... cinema going etiquette in Ireland gets a F- from me.... I will be watching it at home with a whiskey... though a close to empty cinema is the ideal scenario

pixelburp · 17-12-2020 3:38pm

I have a perfectly capable set-up at home to watch movies, doing many a film justice (stopping short of those "wake the neighbours' dog" surround systems beloved of apartment dwellers); however, a Denis Villeneuve film - and especially a rare adaptation of a favourite SciFi book - was always going to make me go to the cinema. There's very little to compare with that darkened environment, short of emptying your bank account for a ludicrous media setup.

I've had my fair share of noisy munchers and smart-phone users, but TBH I find those incidents to form the minority of cinema experiences, possibly overstated as a complaint (I remember a fellow patron once loudly shushing others, for talking ... ... during the advertisements, so I question other people's tolerance for interruption anyway).

So I really hope Dune gets to not only play in the cinema, but also within an environment of broad social comfort for the masses to do so - because assuming this film isn't a complete stinker (and based on prior work, see no reason to believe this), it's the environment most deserving.

banie01 · 17-12-2020 8:56pm

pixelburp wrote: »

I have a perfectly capable set-up at home to watch movies, doing many a film justice (stopping short of those "wake the neighbours' dog" surround systems beloved of apartment dwellers); however, a Denis Villeneuve film - and especially a rare adaptation of a favourite SciFi book - was always going to make me go to the cinema. There's very little to compare with that darkened environment, short of emptying your bank account for a ludicrous media setup.

I've had my fair share of noisy munchers and smart-phone users, but TBH I find those incidents to form the minority of cinema experiences, possibly overstated as a complaint (I remember a fellow patron once loudly shushing others, for talking ... ... during the advertisements, so I question other people's tolerance for interruption anyway).

So I really hope Dune gets to not only play in the cinema, but also within an environment of broad social comfort for the masses to do so - because assuming this film isn't a complete stinker (and based on prior work, see no reason to believe this), it's the environment most deserving.

I'd much prefer to see it in a cinema myself.
The issue I have with Villeneuve's lambasting of the move to HBO-max and cinema simultaneous release is solely the fact that he is making the broad claim that all cinemas are of at least a standard that will best allow his vision be seen on screen.

They aren't, far too many of our cinemas are guilty of poor screen calibration, poor cleanliness and poor sound.

Yes I'd love to see Dune in IMAX!
Yes I'd love to know my doing that will contribute to at least the 2nd half of the proposed arc being finished.

That said, I don't have an IMAX local to me.
My local cinemas, 3 of them so plenty of variety in screen and management are all apart from 2 screens in 1 particular cinema poor at best.
Given those caveats...?

I'm happy to shift the money to WB via HBO Max and watch the movie in a comfortable and well setup home setting.
Than I am to pay to go watch it in a poor cinema.

Villeneuve's stance regarding it demanding the cinema, is unless he is certifying that only top grade Villeneuve approved cinema setups are showing it?
Moot.

Yes of course a good cinema experience is better, but there is dearth of good cinemas and WB need to start generating cashflow.
So it's simultaneous releases.

peteeeed · 18-12-2020 11:18am

would have been at the 10:30 IMAX showing now ............. godamnit

banie01 · 18-12-2020 12:52pm

peteeeed wrote: »

would have been at the 10:30 IMAX showing now ............. godamnit

Today was to be THE day

peteeeed · 23-12-2020 3:52pm

https://twitter.com/JohnnySobczak/status/1341468332097200145?s=20

peteeeed · 18-02-2021 11:36am

https://twitter.com/DuneNews/status/1362151993935077379?s=20

mikhail · 18-02-2021 1:40pm

I've loved Dune since I read it as a teenager, and I have high hopes for Villeneuve's take on it, but what kind of reckless bull**** is that tweet?

pixelburp · 18-02-2021 3:24pm

mikhail wrote: »

I've loved Dune since I read it as a teenager, and I have high hopes for Villeneuve's take on it, but what kind of reckless bull**** is that tweet?

I had to read it a couple of times, to make sure I definitely wasn't getting it wrong. It is indeed a horribly reckless thing to spitball. Then again here we are talking about it, so who knows with marketing?

MJohnston · 18-02-2021 9:31pm

It's just rando Twitter account, peddling some clickbait news site.

The official Dune Twitter has a verified badge (as most legit movie accounts do):
https://twitter.com/dunemovie

.ak · 10-03-2021 6:39pm

I've had the trailer on repeat for a year now. The more I watch it, the more I think Denis is going to nail this. Hearing all the right noises in regards to artistic direction and whatnot. Even Hans Zimmer's excitement over the project is a great indication (and his cover of Eclipse? Unreal!)

Thought I'd be grand waiting almost another year, but then December rolled around and I clearly wasn't :pac: so I picked up the books again and re-read them. They really are fantastic books. There's an odd weird hazy psychedelic depth to them you just don't get with most books. It's almost jarring at first, but after the first few chapters you're sucked into that world. Completely 'out there' but also making sense within it's time setting.

Problem is I flew through them, probably the quickest I've read 3 books before (I'm generally a very slow reader!). So I rewatched the Denis Lynch version the other day...

I wish I hadn't. I had fond memories of that movie. I'm not sure if its the re-reading of the book or what, but it felt like a 'Dune in 60 Seconds' cut a school project would put together, some of the bits incredibly laughable. No wonder Lynch disconnected himself from it! Ouch.

Pretty confident with this one though. Did I hear right that it's split into two movies? i.e Book 1 and half book 2 in the first movie, etc? And has the 2nd movie already been shot?

EltonJohn69 · 10-03-2021 6:45pm

I was hoping for news of it being released this weekend.

.ak · 10-03-2021 6:47pm

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

I was hoping for news of it being released this weekend.

How do you mean? Is the October date not confirmed?

EltonJohn69 · 10-03-2021 7:16pm

.ak wrote: »

How do you mean? Is the October date not confirmed?

Hoping for a leak or a surprise release.

Sad Professor · 10-03-2021 7:41pm

.ak wrote: »

Pretty confident with this one though. Did I hear right that it's split into two movies? i.e Book 1 and half book 2 in the first movie, etc? And has the 2nd movie already been shot?

This film is half of the first book. The haven't shot the second film and possibly never will if this isn't a success.

mikhail · 11-03-2021 12:02am

.ak wrote: »

Problem is I flew through them, probably the quickest I've read 3 books before (I'm generally a very slow reader!). So I rewatched the Denis Lynch version the other day...

I wish I hadn't. I had fond memories of that movie. I'm not sure if its the re-reading of the book or what, but it felt like a 'Dune in 60 Seconds' cut a school project would put together, some of the bits incredibly laughable. No wonder Lynch disconnected himself from it! Ouch.

David Lynch didn't disavow it exactly, but he has admitted that it's the red-headed stepchild of his movies. It does some things very well. The set design, costuming, music and effects are all great, and the actors are generally game, but as an adapted screenplay it's a bit lacking.

Kiith · 11-03-2021 10:03am

Sad Professor wrote: »

This film is half of the first book. The haven't shot the second film and possibly never will if this isn't a success.

How long have they been at this one? Seems strange to not already be working on the 2nd one, given its only half the book. It'll be years before we get a conclusion if thats the case.

Definitely tempers my excitement for this a bit.

joficeduns1 · 11-03-2021 10:12am

I read the first two books after seeing the trailer last year and am unsure of where the half split will be of book one. Anyone hazard a guess maybe? Spoiler marked of course.

banie01 · 11-03-2021 10:17am

joficeduns1 wrote: »

I read the first two books after seeing the trailer last year and am unsure of where the half split will be of book one. Anyone hazard a guess maybe? Spoiler marked of course.

Book 1, Dune itself rather than Dune Messiah.
Is split into 3, Book 1; Dune, Book 2; Muad Dib and Book 3; The Prophet.

As I understand Villeneuve, he has made 1st movie to encompass Book 1 and 2 of the original novel as there is a very natural split point in the novel there.

joficeduns1 · 11-03-2021 10:28am

banie01 wrote: »

Book 1, Dune itself rather than Dune Messiah.
Is split into 3, Book 1; Dune, Book 2; Muad Dib and Book 3; The Prophet.

As I understand Villeneuve, he has made 1st movie to encompass Book 1 and 2 of the original novel as there is a very natural split point in the novel there.

I get you, I'm recalling it now. In my mind that seems like there is a lack of content for a second film (not that the book lacks a sound conclusion). Will probably have another read-through later this year ahead of the (hopefully) theatric release.

banie01 · 11-03-2021 10:33am

joficeduns1 wrote: »

I get you, I'm recalling it now. In my mind that seems like there is a lack of content for a second film (not that the book lacks a sound conclusion). Will probably have another read-through later this year ahead of the (hopefully) theatric release.

If the split is between Muad-dib and The Prophet, it really would work quite well IMO.
1st movie is character and world building with fantastic action sequence potential and a cogent ending.
2nd movie is the payoff.
Huge space opera, rebellion and war and intrigue on a grand scale (not that the 1st book/movie will lack that).

joficeduns1 · 11-03-2021 11:57am

banie01 wrote: »

If the split is between Muad-dib and The Prophet, it really would work quite well IMO.
1st movie is character and world building with fantastic action sequence potential and a cogent ending.
2nd movie is the payoff.
Huge space opera, rebellion and war and intrigue on a grand scale (not that the 1st book/movie will lack that).

Agree, but I can see the commercial concerns from WB. Will people engage with that? If anyone can pull it off it would be Villeneuve, but I'm hoping for a stellar marketing campaign (which started very well with the trailer and Colbert interviews last year).

EltonJohn69 · 11-03-2021 12:33pm

If they release the movie when a lot of people are vaccinated and cinemas are open there could be huge pent up cinema demand and Dune could be massive.

.ak · 12-03-2021 1:43am

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

If they release the movie when a lot of people are vaccinated and cinemas are open there could be huge pent up cinema demand and Dune could be massive.

This. I’ve high hopes it’ll be a massive success, especially if it lands when people are allowed back into cinemas. It’ll fill a massive cinema epic void that people have been starved off for a while now.

.ak · 12-03-2021 1:44am

Ah so it is split between Muad’dib and Prophet that makes total sense. I would consider them the first 3 books, no?

banie01 · 12-03-2021 9:24am

.ak wrote: »

Ah so it is split between Muad’dib and Prophet that makes total sense. I would consider them the first 3 books, no?

I think originally Dune was split that way as it was serialised in a magazine, before being amalgamated into a single volume for publication as "Dune"

I wouldn't consider the splits as the 1st 3 books of the series though.
IMO the 1st 3 are Dune, Dune Messiah and Children of Dune.

titan18 · 12-03-2021 9:42am

I was thinking the split would come after

the fight with Jamis

That part to me would seem like a climax to the film

banie01 · 12-03-2021 11:07am

titan18 wrote: »

I was thinking the split would come after
the fight with Jamis

That part to me would seem like a climax to the film

True, that sequence and a couple of chapter after of world building and tying up are where "Muad-dib Book 2" finishes up.

titan18 · 12-03-2021 3:42pm

banie01 wrote: »

True, that sequence and a couple of chapter after of world building and tying up are where "Muad-dib Book 2" finishes up.

Ya, you can go with that and have maybe 10-15 mins after it to tie up stuff. I'd imagine (especially since he was cast) that it ends there rather than earlier in the book.

speedboatchase · 12-03-2021 4:00pm

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

If they release the movie when a lot of people are vaccinated and cinemas are open there could be huge pent up cinema demand and Dune could be massive.

To an extent. But people will much rather go to the old familiars when cinemas open up - Black Widow, Bond, Top Gun. Dune might actually be better off as a tool to get fanboys to subscribe to HBO Max, rather participating in a worldwide box office model that relies on extremely familiar IP and diluted storytelling for international audiences.

pixelburp · 12-03-2021 4:05pm

Dune was always a risk, even before CoVid and I don't think things will have changed that much either. New IPs are simply the biggest blockbuster risk right now, especially one both relatively unknown nowadays, and more deeply cerebral than other space operas of that ilk. The first book not so much but the series went into really trippy, morally complex area. If WB are expecting or demanding a billion dollars from Dune then the sequel is dead, I'd call it right now. Villeneuve is one my favourite mainstream directors but he simply doesn't aim for the cheap seats, so to speak.

EltonJohn69 · 12-03-2021 5:39pm

speedboatchase wrote: »

To an extent. But people will much rather go to the old familiars when cinemas open up - Black Widow, Bond, Top Gun. Dune might actually be better off as a tool to get fanboys to subscribe to HBO Max, rather participating in a worldwide box office model that relies on extremely familiar IP and diluted storytelling for international audiences.

There will be a massive boost to cinema attendance, I think people are probably sick of watching movies at home. I think this will play in Dunes favour. Combine that with some strong word of mouth and a well known/marketable cast there is a good chance of success.
Blade runner 2097 was kind of an esoteric movie with a blockbuster budget and was unlikely to succeed. I think Dune is both esoteric and full of action. Kind of like the matrix. That was an unknown IP but had good word of mouth and a marketable cast and was also intelligent storytelling.

pixelburp · 12-03-2021 5:54pm

EltonJohn69 wrote: »

There will be a massive boost to cinema attendance, I think people are probably sick of watching movies at home. I think this will play in Dunes favour. Combine that with some strong word of mouth and a well known/marketable cast there is a good chance of success.
Blade runner 2097 was kind of an esoteric movie with a blockbuster budget and was unlikely to succeed. I think Dune is both esoteric and full of action. Kind of like the matrix. That was an unknown IP but had good word of mouth and a marketable cast and was also intelligent storytelling.

We can't know how cinemas will do, there's an argument as powerful towards both audience desperation alongside communal agoraphobia or hypochondria. Can't just turn off 1+ years of isolation, and return to normalcy like nothing happened. Equally, it depends on how many markets open their cinemas: modern Hollywood box office success depends as much on international markets as it does local.

johnny_ultimate · 12-03-2021 6:07pm

I’m confident cinemas will bounce back, much like I’m confident most social activities will bounce back. There’s a huge appetite for a return to normality out there, and assuming the vaccine rollout all but eliminates the virus I think you’ll see people back in cinemas swiftly. That’s not the same as saying Dune in particular will be a big hit or anything, just in general.

Interestingly, at least two films in Japan have broken local box office records over the past year that I’m aware of. This is despite social distancing, capacity restrictions and even a strict curfew at the moment.

https://variety.com/2020/film/news/demon-slayer-record-japan-box-office-1234875410/

EltonJohn69 · 12-03-2021 6:11pm

Dune being a big hit in Asia/China would be a big help in getting a sequel, I’m not sure what appetite there is for a movie like Dune there.

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune

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