Douglas Watt

Watched “Dune” last night and loved it! The cinematography and visual effects were outstanding, deserving a standing ovation. However, I’m giving it four stars due to the lack of story clarity. Friends who hadn’t read the book were confused by the end. Chani’s opening monologue, questioning which oppressive house would replace the Harkonnens, left my partner unsure if House Atreides was good or bad. This ambiguity persisted until Duke Leto met Stilgar, leader of the Fremen, yet even then, the positive nature of House Atreides wasn’t fully clear. Additionally, Paul’s name wasn’t mentioned prominently until about thirty minutes into the film, leaving viewers unsure about his importance. The Emperor’s fear of Duke Leto, a critical element in the book, wasn’t conveyed well in the film. In the book, the Emperor is threatened by Duke Leto’s growing influence and popularity, leading him to conspire with House Harkonnen to destroy House Atreides. The film’s omission of this detail leaves viewers confused about the Emperor’s role and motivations. Furthermore, the Sardaukar soldiers, who should have been disguised in Harkonnen uniforms to hide the Emperor’s involvement, were easily identifiable. This removed the subtlety of the political conspiracy. Gurney Halleck’s direct statement that the Emperor wants to destroy House Atreides oversimplified the complex political intrigue. The film missed a pivotal scene where Lady Jessica uses the Voice, a form of mind control, on Thufir Hawat to prove she wasn’t conspiring against the Duke and Paul. This scene is crucial in the book to show the internal suspicion within House Atreides and Jessica’s precarious position. Its omission could create plot holes in the sequel, as it diminishes the development of Jessica’s character and the internal conflicts. Additionally, Dr. Yueh’s betrayal was not well explained. In the book, Dr. Yueh is coerced into betraying the Duke due to the Baron Harkonnen’s promise to release his captive wife. The film’s lack of this backstory leaves his motivations unclear. The concept of “Desert Power,” a strategic advantage emphasized by Duke Leto due to the harsh conditions of Arrakis that shape the Fremen into formidable fighters, was underdeveloped. This theme is vital in the book for understanding the importance of allying with the Fremen. The film’s sequence, where Duncan Idaho stays with the Fremen before Duke Leto’s meeting with Stilgar, created inconsistencies. In the book, Duke Leto’s plan to ally with the Fremen is crucial, and Duncan’s prior integration with them is part of this strategy. The film, however, showed Stilgar’s initial reluctance to form an alliance without clearly explaining the Fremen’s significance. The film’s artistic choices, such as extended slow-motion shots, prioritized visual beauty over storytelling. This could lead to significant issues in the second part. Friends unfamiliar with the book were often lost and missed key plot points. It’s a visual masterpiece with fantastic music, but it needs an extended edition to fill in the story gaps. As a book reader, I loved it, but it leaves others behind.

So I’ve been reading a lot of negative criticism of this movie, so I want to set the record straight. Lightyears is a masterpiece when it comes to story telling. The plot being Buzz has ptsd, is needing a companion pet, because he can’t cope with the trauma of his job, thus missing out on life because he continues to run/fly from his trauma. This story is one of someone finding help in a companion pet and a group of misfits that help him discover he doesn’t want to fly away but wants to connect and love again with the people around him. Besides having a great story, it had me rolling on the floor laughing, and all of the subtle 90’s references made me feel seen (as I was a 90’s kid). Thanks Pixar for such an amazing film. Most likely 5 years from now the internet will realize how great this film real is. PS Seeing the ratings on here as 5 or 1 stars really says to me that Pixar is doing something right, because the homophobes are getting frustrated.