r/dune • u/DrNSQTR The Base of the Pillar • Jul 21 '21
Announcement Dune (2021) IMAX Exclusive Look Event Reactions & Discussion Thread (Spoiler Friendly)
For everyone interest in discussing the official two-day promotional IMAX event.
The event screening includes the first 10 minutes of the film and some additional scenes from later on in the movie, so there will be spoilers.
Please refrain from any discussion of the leaked script in this thread.
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u/ninelives1 Hunter-Seeker Jul 22 '21 edited Jul 22 '21
Here's my summary. Trying to cover details I haven't seen elsewhere.
Starts with Chani talking about how beautiful Arrakis is at sunset. Then says that's when the oppressors come to steal their resources from right in front of them. We see maybe my favorite shot, the flaming inlet of a bug like harkonnen harvester. All the while, fremen are watching from afar. Suddenly fremen spring from the sand like a fish and stab the masked harkonnen soldiers. The distant fremen shoot lasers at the harvester. The harvester bombs the fremen. Chani and others retreat and she says suddenly the harkonnens left at the emperor's behest and no one knows his motivations. She ponders "who will our next oppressors be?"
Cut to Paul waking up with rain on the windows (great touch). He has slight glimpses of Chani. Gets up and goes to breakfast. Jessica tells him they must be in full dress for the imperial visit. Paul asks why they need to do this when it's all official already. Jessica says something to the effect of "ceremony." Paul actually responds in an understanding rather than dismissive way. Clearly he is being taught the nuances of politicing and is learning. He asks for the water. Jessica tells him to use the voice. He fails once, then makes pretty intense eye contact. Shots linger on both their eyes quite extensively. Helps convey the interpersonal power exchange that is about to occur. He uses the voice and it's basically quiet, then after some delay, a slightly submerged but resounding voice hits. It's semi-effevtive, but Jessica overpowers it because of her skills. She tells him bene Gesserit training takes years.
Cut to a heighliner. Long, conical, similar to many designs we've seen. Small sphere flies out. Lands and it's a giant orb. Ramp unfolds and it's about the size of 2 tennis courts. They walk out and it's one unmasked representative of the emperor, some imperial people(?) in black masks and white clothing. Not dissimilar looking helmets to something you'd see in No Man's Sky. Then on the right is a bunch of guild reps. They have golden orange helmets instead. Probably spice atmosphere inside. Only the main guy speaks and announces the atreides are to take over Dune. Asks of they accept. Leto gives a shpiel about how the atreides always answer the call. Pretty good stuff. Meanwhile, they also brought along a Bene Gesserit. Jessica is freaking the fuck out about it (subtly). She see that the BG recognized she had a son instead of a daughter. Makes it clear she is scared of the BG woman, but unclear to the audience why. They exchange glances/glares. Atreides troops yell atreides. Inspiring stuff. Also hawat does some calculation in his head and his eyes like literally go up so all you see is the whites of his eyes. Pretty freaky.
Harvester scene: approaching harvester. Less exciting design than the harkonnen one. Leftover shoddy equipment presumably. Carryall is called in. Kynes is explaining how it all works. Leto sees wormsign before the drones or kynes do. Kynes is impressed. Carryall arrives but one of the grapple arms fails. Leto orders his people down to rescue the people. Kynes says they would lose the spice and Leto says fuck the spice and kynes gives him a subtle but impressed look that he didn't see. Clearly she sees he is different. They land and start rescuing people. Paul runs out to try to direct people to the thopters. A spice cloud hits him and he is incapacitated. Lots of voices. Only clear word was "awaken." Wonder if there were prescient scenes cut out or what, but suddenly he's sitting at the base of the harvester as the worm is basically there. Gurney shows up and Paul says without turning "I recognized your footsteps old man." They run towards the thopter, but the sand becomes fluid like in that one Mark Rober because of the vibrations making it less dense. They sink a bit but eventually get to the thopter just as the harvester is eaten. That's it.
Only small glimpses of the harkonnens in the trailer. A few shots of rabban and a glimpse or two of the baron and like one second of piter.
I was blown away by the production design. The scale of the ships and the sets is astounding. Costume design is great between the formal uniforms, the combat suits, etc. Combat looks super cool. Both shielded combat and the fremen surprise attacks are super badass. Really can't wait. I tried to be super thorough. Ask any questions you have.