Dune: Part Two 2023 (Denis Villeneuve)

I am probably one of the biggest Lynch fans on the site, but I will disagree here; even Lynch thinks his Dune isn't good. While he nailed the atmosphere and tone, his version is a total mess and doesn't capture the source material anywhere near as well as the far superior Villeneuve version. The idiotic weirding module stuff is a real head scratcher and the effects, which were rough then, look downright awful these days.

I still watch it now and then, as I like some aspects of it, and when I do, I make sure to watch the Spicediver edit, which is the best version of this flawed film.

The new version is head and shoulders better than anything else put to screen, and taking both films as the intended whole, one of the best pieces of science fiction cinema ever made.

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Agree 100% with you.

I don't consider stuff like Star Wars to be bonafide science fiction, and I fit it more into the genre of space fantasy or sci-fi fantasy - those are kids adventure flicks, really. If I had to put a short list together. it would have Blade Runnerat the top - see my Top 10 favorite films on my profile and you will understand why. You will note Arrival on that same list, so it would probably fall at #2 for me in the genre overall. 2001 would be on the shortlist, and I recognize it for its obviously quality, influence and its place as a seminal film, but it's not one I return to over and over.

I like Contact, but I also think it is flawed in its third act. Great stuff and is clearly true sci-fi, but wouldn't make my Top 5.

Here is where you hit the MoFo eject button as far as my taste is confirmed, but I would probably put Interstellar at least in my Top 10 overall science fiction. Yes, it also has problems with its third act with its tesseract nonsense, but the daddy/daughter stuff far outweighs it for me, so I will shamelessly die on a hill for this film. I do return to the this one frequently, and I love every second of it.

Is Gravity true sci-fi, or more of a personal journey adventure centered around grappling with grief and loss? If it qualifies, it is certainly Top 5 for me.

That last slot would be filled by something Children of Men, Solaris, Stalker, Gattaca, 12 Monkeys and obviously I need to consider the recent two film Dune saga...stuff like that, and all depending on how recently I had seen them. My favorites move around a lot the farther away you get from the top couple of slots. Dune (2021-2024) is most certainly in contention, and me having watched both films again so recently puts some favorable bias on their chances. They certainly raised the bar as far as scale, and I think Villeneuve handled all the political intrigue in the best way possible considering how difficult the source is to adapt to screen. Zendaya is the weak link here.

Paul Atreides is Dennis from It's Always Sunny

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[Paul] Look how your Bene Gesserit propaganda has taken root. Some of them already think I’m their messiah. Others… false prophet. I must sway the non-believers. If they follow me, we can disrupt spice production. That’s the only way I can get to the Emperor.

[Jessica] Your father didn’t believe in revenge.

[Paul] Yeah, well, I do.
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[Shishakli speaking Chakobsa] The Mahdi must be Fremen!

[Stilgar speaking Chakobsa]

[Chani speaking Chakobsa] Arrakis must be freed by its own people!

[Paul] She’s right. She’s right! It’s no miracle. My mother was trained to do that. Poison transmutation is something advanced Bene Gesserit can do. I’m not the Mahdi. I’m not here to lead.

[Paul speaking Chakobsa] I’m here to learn your ways.

[Paul] Let me fight beside you. That’s all I’m asking.

[Stilgar speaking Chakobsa] The Mahdi is too humble to say He is the Mahdi. Even more reason to know He is! As written!
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[Stilgar] [deeply inhales] What would you have us do? Huh?

[Paul] What would you do, Stilgar?

[Stilgar] I? I would… [sighs] would strike even further north.

[Paul] Then I will go further north.

[Shishakli] And the further north you go, the more likely it is you die.

[Paul speaking Chakobsa] Then I’ll die, maybe you will too. But the others will keep going. And they won’t stop until the Fremen are free.
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[Paul] Usul. What’s your secret name?

[Chani] Sihaya.

[Paul] Sihaya.

[Chani] Hmm.

[Paul] What does that mean?

[Chani] Means Desert Spring.

[Paul] “Desert Spring.” I love it.

[Chani] I hate it. It’s from some stupid prophecy. I prefer Chani.

[Paul] I prefer Chani, too, then.
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[Chani] By name, not by blood. Your blood comes from Dukes and Great Houses. We don’t have that here. Here, we’re equal, men and women alike. What we do, we do for the benefit of all.

[Paul] Well, I’d very much like to be equal to you.

[Chani] Paul Muad’Dib Usul… maybe you could be Fremen. Maybe I’ll show you the way.

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And after Paul reclaims his nukes, captures the throne, and takes Irulan for his bride...

Welcome back Corax! Glad to see you back around.