The Differences/Similarities between David Lynch's and Denis Villenueve's Dune

-For the Uncensored!

Since Denis Villenueve’s Dune hit theaters October 22nd, 2021, the things I see, from a book fan to a movie fan are somewhat surprising. Enemy, by Jose Saramago, was directed by Denis Villenueve, took major liberties with the plot of the story, adding in a science fiction element to it. The consequence of seeing all patterns of media are realizing that each vision holds its own. Just to be fair, both David Lynch and Denis Villenueve have very different styles, and the consistent charm of both filmmakers is that they have a singular vision for any project.

            Denis Villenueve’s Dune (2021) allows the story to be told in grand epic form. Camera shots that pervade over the planet Arrakis, a brief allusion to the inside voice, and making the Fremen African and Asian centric, are what make Denis’s version truer to Frank Herberts ideas clearer and authentic. The common idea that people can’t hear the movie in the theater is what most complain about, and I think the antidote to that is simple. Watch the film on the big screen and then rush to watch it on HBOMAX. But HBOMAX only allows HBO subscribers to watch it for a month before it leaves the streaming service.[i] I presume that will help people understand the finer details Denis brings with “the whispering” notion. I have another opinion to this whole whispering question: In Terrance Malick’s movies there is someone always whispering. You can’t escape that in a Terrance Malick film. If you have seen Thin Red Line or The New World, you will be right at home with Dune. Suffice to say, everyone gets a moment in Dune whereas the David Lynch’s theatrical version cuts out much of the middle. Which is why Denis was smart to cut the film in half.