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alobearSo, last night, we went to see Dune: Part Two - and, this morning, I watched Wonka!
So it was kind of the Barbenheimer of recent Timothee Chalamet movies. And I've never really got the hype before - but now I am firmly on the Timothee Chalamet bandwagon...!
Wonka is easier to review, so I'll do that one first - fun, adorable, good singing, great cast (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith!!! And Olivia Colman!!), downright entertaining (apart from some unfortunate fat-shaming). And Chalamet made for a wildly engaging, wholly appealing protagonist, holding everything together with charm and panache, as well as bringing the emotion when needed.
Dune, on the other hand - hoo, boy! I have thoughts...
Overall, I thought it was spectacular - gorgeous visuals and effects, great acting, epic storytelling - everything I wanted from a three-hour sci-fi extravaganza and more. I could have watched it for another three hours (with a bathroom break) and wouldn't have been bored in the slightest.
I let it carry me away and it exceeded my wildest expectations.
And yet...
Part of my brain managed to stay analytical and I did have some issues by the end.
It was deliciously insidious that the bene gesserit *wrote* the prophecy and then brought it about, thus basically manipulating the Fremen into starting the Holy War by twisting the religion to their own ends.
But, in the process, after orchestrating the whole of human affairs for 90 generations via an awesome all-female sect, they created a *male* seer and Voice-user to spearhead their war... Sigh...
Also, it was all very well for Paul and Chani to talk about how they didn't believe in the prophecy and how important it was for the Fremen to be led by one of their own - but then the white saviour thing totally happened anyway... Sigh...
And Paul's 180 was egregious on so many levels. I refuse to go south! Okay, I'm going south... I refuse to live up to the prophecy! Okay, I'm drinking the poison and coming back from the dead and living up to the prophecy... I refuse to take Stilgar's place as leader! Okay, I'm taking over as leader of the whole Fremen populace... The Atreides oppose everything about how the Harkonnen do things! Okay, it turns out my grandfater was a Harkonnen so now I'm just going to kill loads of people and rule through fear like they do... Big sigh...
Ah well - I was a bit annoyed with myself for enjoying it so much - but hey, it was three hours long, so it was kind of a survival tactic as much as anything!
So it was kind of the Barbenheimer of recent Timothee Chalamet movies. And I've never really got the hype before - but now I am firmly on the Timothee Chalamet bandwagon...!
Wonka is easier to review, so I'll do that one first - fun, adorable, good singing, great cast (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith!!! And Olivia Colman!!), downright entertaining (apart from some unfortunate fat-shaming). And Chalamet made for a wildly engaging, wholly appealing protagonist, holding everything together with charm and panache, as well as bringing the emotion when needed.
Dune, on the other hand - hoo, boy! I have thoughts...
Overall, I thought it was spectacular - gorgeous visuals and effects, great acting, epic storytelling - everything I wanted from a three-hour sci-fi extravaganza and more. I could have watched it for another three hours (with a bathroom break) and wouldn't have been bored in the slightest.
I let it carry me away and it exceeded my wildest expectations.
And yet...
Part of my brain managed to stay analytical and I did have some issues by the end.
It was deliciously insidious that the bene gesserit *wrote* the prophecy and then brought it about, thus basically manipulating the Fremen into starting the Holy War by twisting the religion to their own ends.
But, in the process, after orchestrating the whole of human affairs for 90 generations via an awesome all-female sect, they created a *male* seer and Voice-user to spearhead their war... Sigh...
Also, it was all very well for Paul and Chani to talk about how they didn't believe in the prophecy and how important it was for the Fremen to be led by one of their own - but then the white saviour thing totally happened anyway... Sigh...
And Paul's 180 was egregious on so many levels. I refuse to go south! Okay, I'm going south... I refuse to live up to the prophecy! Okay, I'm drinking the poison and coming back from the dead and living up to the prophecy... I refuse to take Stilgar's place as leader! Okay, I'm taking over as leader of the whole Fremen populace... The Atreides oppose everything about how the Harkonnen do things! Okay, it turns out my grandfater was a Harkonnen so now I'm just going to kill loads of people and rule through fear like they do... Big sigh...
Ah well - I was a bit annoyed with myself for enjoying it so much - but hey, it was three hours long, so it was kind of a survival tactic as much as anything!
