Topic: The RAWK Film Thread

[disgraced cake]

Asked it a couple of pages back but didn't get a bastard answer, but is the first Dune worth watching ahead of the second one if I've seen a few of Villenueve's films and not really liked any of them (Passengers, Arrival, Sicario ... Enemy was alright I thought) and I haven't read the books/saw the David Lynch one?

It's on Netflix so might as well give it a go if the denizens of Rawk sway my opinion.

[Draex]

Asked it a couple of pages back but didn't get a bastard answer, but is the first Dune worth watching ahead of the second one if I've seen a few of Villenueve's films and not really liked any of them (Passengers, Arrival, Sicario ... Enemy was alright I thought) and I haven't read the books/saw the David Lynch one?

It's on Netflix so might as well give it a go if the denizens of Rawk sway my opinion.

It's a great film.

[Zlen]

Asked it a couple of pages back but didn't get a bastard answer, but is the first Dune worth watching ahead of the second one if I've seen a few of Villenueve's films and not really liked any of them (Passengers, Arrival, Sicario ... Enemy was alright I thought) and I haven't read the books/saw the David Lynch one? It's on Netflix so might as well give it a go if the denizens of Rawk sway my opinion.

If you plan on watching the second one - yes, obviously.
You'll get the jist of the story, the characters and so on.
You might even like it, who knows.

I don't know what Villeneuve movie it compares to.
Possibly the new Blade Runner in some sense, as that is his most epic movie before Dune.
It's bigger than his previous movies. Still has a lot of that dry, brutalist, show don't tell approach you often see in his films.
Details matter and lot of them are very much hints to those who love the books - like Villeneuve himself.
So some layers of the film will probably go over your head.

[disgraced cake]

Thanks for the replies folks. As for seeing the second film I'll only make plans for it if I like the first which judging by your responses is worth a watch, I wouldn't have watched it without seeing the first as I doubt I'd have a clue what's going on 

Not actually seen the Blade Runner he did, though it's been on my mental watch list for ages. I was surprised I didn't really care for those films of his I mentioned as on the surface they seem like my sort of thing. I'll watch Dune soon.

[meady1981]

I went with All of us Strangers as it was just starting when I got there.
Thought it was ok I guess. The ending was a bit meh. Certainly no Aftersun.
I probably should have gone holocaust.

[IgorBobbins]

After all the hype and all the praise it’s received, Aftersun was a complete letdown for me.  One of the most boring films I’ve seen in a while.

[classycarra]

Asked it a couple of pages back but didn't get a bastard answer, but is the first Dune worth watching ahead of the second one if I've seen a few of Villenueve's films and not really liked any of them (Passengers, Arrival, Sicario ... Enemy was alright I thought) and I haven't read the books/saw the David Lynch one?

It's on Netflix so might as well give it a go if the denizens of Rawk sway my opinion.

personal opinion, yes definitely watch it - whats the harm in watching a genuine blockbuster that's high quality even if you dont love it

but given sicario (and sicario and prisoners - guessing you mean that?) didn't do anything for you, wouldn't expect you to be that into dune either

[disgraced cake]

personal opinion, yes definitely watch it - whats the harm in watching a genuine blockbuster that's high quality even if you dont love it

but given sicario (and sicario and prisoners - guessing you mean that?) didn't do anything for you, wouldn't expect you to be that into dune either

Yes, meant Prisoners 

[classycarra]

Yes, meant Prisoners 

i mucked up Arrival - 'Sicario. and also Sicario'!

[thejbs]

Mostly avoid the cinema due to my shite hearing, but I cannot wait for dune pt2.

[meady1981]

Mostly avoid the cinema due to my shite hearing, but I cannot wait for dune pt2.

Dune 1 in the cinema nearly blew my head off it was so loud

[Peabee]

Have a random day off so going to do a lunchtime film. First cinema trip in 5 years. Trying to decide between horrific holocaust think piece or emotional homosexual love tragedy. No idea what to go for, but I do have a bit of a man crush on Paul Mescal so that’s swinging it slightly.

It's a day off, so obviously the emotional homosexual love tragedy wins.

[TepidT2O]

Just watched the Holdovers… just a lovely film. 

On Dune, I read the book a couple of years ago and found it pompous and long winded (sorry, I know I’ll be in a minority!). But I watched Dune recently and it condenses it down to all the good bits and jettisons the pomposity.  Highly recommend as a visual spectacular even if not that much actually happens

[Zlen]

I think the ‘not much happens’ bit is valid but… It’s a big but. That movie is just half of the story and was always going to struggle to ramp up excitement when most of that part of the book is just scheming, plotting and prepping for the crescendo of Yueh’s betrayal and the aftermath.

[thejbs]

Dune 1 in the cinema nearly blew my head off it was so loud

Loudness is the problem; I can’t make out dialogue as easily in modern films. It’s often just a mush of sound. With the first one I was fine as I know the book so well and it was fairly faithful.

[rafathegaffa83]

Just watched the Holdovers… just a lovely film. 

Wonderful film. Matching the 70's aesthetic was great too

[[new username under construction]]

Loudness is the problem; I can’t make out dialogue as easily in modern films. It’s often just a mush of sound. With the first one I was fine as I know the book so well and it was fairly faithful.

It's surprising how often this is brought up literally everywhere, all over Reddit for example, seems to be a common real thing and no one does anything about it, I assume it's the 5.1 that is the problem or something similar. Are they mixing for it to be perfect in cinemas as not THAT many people actually bother watching stuff at the cinema anymore

[Red Ol]

It's surprising how often this is brought up literally everywhere, all over Reddit for example, seems to be a common real thing and no one does anything about it, I assume it's the 5.1 that is the problem or something similar. Are they mixing for it to be perfect in cinemas as not THAT many people actually bother watching stuff at the cinema anymore

You’re right. Think sound mixing is a real problem nowadays. I struggle to hear dialogue in a lot of films and not just at the cinema. For a lot of films on on tv I often have to skip through various different sounds setting to get to something that’s just about ok. Annoyingly though the opposite is true when watching football. All I can hear is the fucking commentary when I don’t want it!

[Red Viper]

I hate to go all Andy in here but Past Lives... fuck me, if I'm ever struggling with insomnia I'm sticking this on and I'll be off in two minutes. Cannot get my head round the hype for this one at all.

[rafathegaffa83]

It's surprising how often this is brought up literally everywhere, all over Reddit for example, seems to be a common real thing and no one does anything about it, I assume it's the 5.1 that is the problem or something similar. Are they mixing for it to be perfect in cinemas as not THAT many people actually bother watching stuff at the cinema anymore

Pretty sure I read a while ago that another issue is most modern flat screen TVs have the speakers in the back or at the base, so the sound doesn't project as easily as on older TVs. It's typically bouncing off a wall rather than facing the direction of the viewer

[[new username under construction]]

Pretty sure I read a while ago that another issue is most modern flat screen TVs have the speakers in the back or at the base, so the sound doesn't project as easily as on older TVs. It's typically bouncing off a wall rather than facing the direction of the viewer

could be yeah although even with a soundbar you can sometimes miss lots of dialogue

[Lad]

could be yeah although even with a soundbar you can sometimes miss lots of dialogue

Yes I have to agree. We are finding we use subtitles much more than we used to, as particularly in TV dramas we just miss so much dialogue, and we are not especially deaf.

[meady1981]

Thew Captain - German WW2 film on Prime.
I was enjoying it at first, buy then it started to drift into the realms of me thinking 'this is a bit over the top' and going off it a bit towards the end, until I realised its a true story. Great film.

[Scottymuser]

I hate to go all Andy in here but Past Lives... fuck me, if I'm ever struggling with insomnia I'm sticking this on and I'll be off in two minutes. Cannot get my head round the hype for this one at all.

That is ... a take for sure.  Saw it on Saturday on Netflix - and blew me away by how good it was.  Can absolutely see why it was Oscar nominated - brilliant, brilliant film. 

[Trada]

They are saying the budget for Gladiator 2 has hit $310 Million

[Redcap]

Just watched the Holdovers… just a lovely film. 

On Dune, I read the book a couple of years ago and found it pompous and long winded (sorry, I know I’ll be in a minority!). But I watched Dune recently and it condenses it down to all the good bits and jettisons the pomposity.  Highly recommend as a visual spectacular even if not that much actually happens

The movie was far, far better than the book. Villeneuve made some excellent and difficult decisions about discarding or minimising some of the more mystical elements which dragged on for pages and pages and kept it to a fairly simple story about family, betrayal and survival against an epic desert canvas - something he's uniquely good at bringing to life.

[Zlen]

I’m of the opposite view. I mean, I think it really isn’t Dune any longer in many ways. He didn’t cut anything mystical from the book (there is nothing mystical in it) - he mostly cut chemical (spice) and political (Guild and CHOAM). It might have streamlined the story but it is infinitely less interesting, layered and nuanced. He basically reduced a wonderfully balanced game of moving and controlling levers of power - to a brute force war story.

[Red-Soldier]

I’m of the opposite view. I mean, I think it really isn’t Dune any longer in many ways. He didn’t cut anything mystical from the book (there is nothing mystical in it) - he mostly cut chemical (spice) and political (Guild and CHOAM). It might have streamlined the story but it is infinitely less interesting, layered and nuanced. He basically reduced a wonderfully balanced game of moving and controlling levers of power - to a brute force war story.

I understand what you're saying.

The Lynch version mentioned the spice, a lot more.  Although, too short for the whole story, I did enjoy that too.

[Zlen]

I don't really mind Villeneuve's vision. It's probably the best we could expect and hope for in age of increasingly bland and fomulaic movies. It will forever stand as one of technically and visually impressive sci-fi movies. But for a self-confessed fan of Herbert's work - he didn't for me display real understanding of the crucial thread that makes the book so special. There are three currencies of any value in Dune universe, especially in the first book. These are spice, water and information. Entire story spins on tension between abundance and scarcity of these three currencies. He for the most part almost completely ignored showing true value and importance of spice and water, and to a good extent crippled demonstrating the value and lengths factions go to for information. What he did is to make a story focus more on Paul, which in my view is the equivalent of blindfolding yourself before you enter a museum.

[classycarra]

My understanding was that the book itself to a first time reader today would be incredibly dated and bloated, and feel full of sci-fi cliches - possibly unfairly on this last point, as he may have originated some of them before others used his concepts liberally to the point of being overused tropes.

Somewhat provocatively, and in reference to twitter types (noone on RAWK), I'd argue that almost any time there are big book/franchise etc fans who feel gutted and incredulous about 'the lore' (and specifically that word) it almost always tends to be for the best! Save the boring stuff for a 1000 page novel, and film what matters

EDIT: just read Zlen's post above - this is not in response to that!

Also, Zlen, have you played the Dune boardgame? I played it once - we were reluctant, seemed complicated and too long - and it was really fun. Not least cos me and my friend won by screwing over the host who'd worked so hard to convince us to play. The game revolves around those dynamics you mentioned 

[Zlen]

I haven't no.
In my enitre life I've played Monopoly twice and been bored.
Boardgames are not my cup of spice tea.

[classycarra]

I haven't no.
In my enitre life I've played Monopoly twice and been bored.
Boardgames are not my cup of spice tea.

haha then i've pitched to the last person in the world I should have!

it takes a few hours and is weirdly complicated at first. but wouldnt recommend if you don't play others. monopoly is a terrible terrible game though, don't let that cloud your gaming experience!

[AndyMuller]

Enjoyed Saltburn but found the weird scenes became more and more for shock value towards the end. Barry was good though.

[IgorBobbins]

Enjoyed Saltburn but found the weird scenes became more and more for shock value towards the end. Barry was good though.

The film was all style over substance for me.  Like you say, lots of it was “look how CCCRRRAAAAZZZYYY we are as filmmakers”.  Wasn’t a fan.

[Henry Chinaski]

Thoughts on 'Poor Things', Lanthimos' latest, here? Want to take my girlfriend to go see it, but she's not really into experimental stuff (pun intended). I mean: she does not like films like, say, 'Inland Empire'.

[classycarra]

Thoughts on 'Poor Things', Lanthimos' latest, here? Want to take my girlfriend to go see it, but she's not really into experimental stuff (pun intended). I mean: she does not like films like, say, 'Inland Empire'.

Friends of mine who share her trait have said they really enjoyed it.

Easily the most acceptable/accessible of Lanthimos' films aside from The Favourite

[lionel_messias]

Thoughts on 'Poor Things', Lanthimos' latest, here? Want to take my girlfriend to go see it, but she's not really into experimental stuff (pun intended). I mean: she does not like films like, say, 'Inland Empire'.

I really enjoyed it, it is certainly wacky and different but in a really fun way. I'll leave this up to your discretion and kind of tastes but there is loads of sex in it, and it is from the female POV (no bad thing innit). Anything else I say to describe it won't really do it justice. It's a multi-colour, beautifully shot Lanthimos movie, if you like his vibe.

[Hedley Lamarr]

Thoughts on 'Poor Things', Lanthimos' latest, here? Want to take my girlfriend to go see it, but she's not really into experimental stuff (pun intended). I mean: she does not like films like, say, 'Inland Empire'.

It's miles away from Inland Empire,  Lynch's film is one of my favourites but it's impenetrable, a thousand viewers will have a thousand interpretations.  Inland Empire is more akin to something like Last Year At Marienbad while Poor Things is closer to the films of Terry Gilliam and Jean-Pierre Jeunet (with a dose of Shelley's Frankenstein). It's certainly an odd film but it's not really discombobulating like an untethered David Lynch can be.

[AndyMuller]

Booked in for Dune 2 in IMAX tomorrow afternoon.

[Zlen]

Booked in for Dune 2 in IMAX tomorrow afternoon.

Same here.
I've had enough spoilers to know I won't care much for this movie.
Will still enjoy the spectacle.