Denis Villeneuve's new adaptation of Dune (based on the 1965 novel by Frank Herbert) has officially been released, and its been a smash hit - both at the box office and with film critics. The movie grossed over two hundred million dollars in its first week alone, and its huge success gave the studio confidence to announce Dune: Part Two, which can be expected in October 2023.
The movie chronicles the coming of age of nobleman Paul Atreides as his family take over the planet of Arakis, which is the sole source of the valuable substance melange, or 'spice' - a substance which is vital to interplanetary space travel. The film stars Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, and Jason Momoa, and has generally been regarded as a triumph by critics - successfully bringing to lfe a novel which had long been thought 'unfilmable.'
Critics are certainly impressed by Villeneuve's sci-fi offering, but what do fans think about the movie? Read on to find out.
6 Many Just Enjoyed It As A Vehicle For Chalamet
For Chalamet fans, the movie offered - if nothing else - a golden opportunity to see their favourite leading man on the big screen for over two and a half hours. The beautiful scenery, stunning camera work and special effects, and flattering futuristic costumes only seemed to enhance Chalamet's beguiling beauty to his fans, who took to Twitter to express their delight. One fan wrote: 'Every shot of #TimothéeChalamet in #Dune should be framed and hung in a museum.'
Others expressed their adoration over the famously handsome actor's locks, and gave their praise to the talented make-up and hair department on set: 'I'm never going to stop talking about Timothée Chalamet's hair in Dune' wrote one admiring user on Twitter.
For many, it seems, the biggest draw for them was its star actor, and the storyline and everything else was just secondary.
5 Anther Director Highly Praised The Movie
Amongst its many fans, Dune can also count seasoned sci-fi director Christopher Nolan. The director wrote in praise of the picture, saying “It’s one of the most seamless marriages of live action photography and computer generated visual effects that I’ve seen." He went on to praise, "the way in which it’s made is for the big screen. It’s a real pleasure and a real gift to film fans everywhere.”
4 It Got Lots Of Fans Hyped For 'Dune: Part Two'
Dune was such a hit with fans, that it left many extremely excited for part two of the movie, which has just been officially announced. In fact, many took to social media to express their intense desire to see the cast return, and some even joked that they were prepared to riot of the sequel wasn't delivered.
'If Warner Bros. doesn’t announce this on Monday we riot' announced one user on Twitter.
3 Many Thought It Was A Perfect Adaptation
The consensus was obvious that many felt it to be a near-perfection adaptation of the first half of the novel and undoubtedly, as one fan put it, 'one of, if not the best, movies this year.' Dune was a 'near perfect recreation of the first half of maybe the most famous sci-if novel of all time,' another said, claiming 'Villeneuve is really a master of scale, scope, and sound.'
The visuals in particuar stunned fans, managing to recreate the futuristic worlds with stylistic flair. So appealing was the movie to the eyes that many called it believed it was made to be viewed in IMAX. Many credited the film's director for its success: 'When Denis Villeneuve is coming to the party, you know you're getting some stunning visuals' said another. Its faithfulness to the original text impressed many diehard fans of the novels, who appreciated the dedication to Frank Herbert's vision.
Hans Zimmer's emotive score also received plenty of praise.
2 And A Lot Of People Were Just Obsessed With The Space Mouse
One of the most surprising online trends in reaction to Dune has been the obsession with the large-eared mouse which features prominently in the film - and will be crucial to the storyline in future movies.
The adorable mouse, which is featured running across the desert and also caring for its young inside a self-fashioned tent. Fans were delighted by the CGI creation, and shared screenshots of the rodent online, cooing over its cuteness and even calling it the 'real' star of the movie. Move over, Chalamet.
1 ...And The Bagpipes
The random bagpipe playing in the movie also had moviegoers talking. The inclusion of the traditional scottish instrument both amused and entertained watchers, and some even joked that they were rooting for the bagpipe player who appeared during the ceremonial scene.
One fan created a meme which implied they were left haunted by the bagpipe playing, also wondering whether the instrument player made it through the movie alive.