A new top-grossing film that has gained worldwide recognition for its cinematic prowess is now being graced by the century’s most successful director.
Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg recently declared Dune: Part Two a “visual epic” in a new interview, calling it “one of the most brilliant science fiction films I’ve ever seen.”
Spielberg said his favorite scene in the Blockbuster was watching Timothée Chalamet – who plays Paul Atreides – riding a sandworm.
Spielberg has also heaped praise on Denis Villeneuve, who directed both Dune films, and said Villeneuve’s name will be added to the list of science fiction filmmakers who have built incredible and unique worlds.
Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg praised Dune: Part Two for its cinematic prowess
Spielberg praised the sandworm scene as one of his favorites in Dune: Part Two
“You have created one of the most brilliant science fiction films I have ever seen,” adding that it is “truly a visual epic and also filled with deeply, deeply drawn characters,” Spielberg told Villeneuve in the film. Director’s Cut podcast:
Dune: Part Two earned $82.5 million in its opening weekend, surpassing Oppenheimer, which grossed $82.4 million.
Since its release, the film has grossed nearly $240 million at the domestic box office and $570 million worldwide.
“This is a desert-loving story, but for such a desert-loving movie, there is such a longing for water in this movie,” Spielberg told Villeneuve.
“Despite all the sand you have in this film, it’s really about water. The sacred waters that long for green pastures and the blue waters of life.”
Of the sandworm scene, Spielberg said, “(it) is one of the greatest things I have ever seen. Ever!’ and added, “You have made the desert look like a liquid.”
Spielberg also said that the Dune director should now consider himself a member of a select group of directors who impressed viewers with their futuristic, dystopian and science fiction films, including James Cameron, Peter Jackson, Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan, among others.
“It’s an honor for me to sit here and talk to you,” Spielberg told Villeneuve, adding, “Let me start by saying that there are filmmakers who are the builders of worlds.
“…It’s not that long of a list, and I believe deeply and fervently that you are one of the newest members.”
Timothée Chalamet tames the sandworm in the second film to prove he is one of the Fremen people
Dune: Part Two has grossed $240 million at the box office worldwide
Dune: Part Two picks up where the first film, released in 2021, left off as Paul wages war against House Harkonnen alongside the Fremen people.
House Harkonnen has long oppressed the Fremen people by allowing the group to mine a valuable resource called Spice, which has hallucinogenic properties and can only be found on the desert planet Arrakis – the homeworld of the Fremen.
At that point in the story, Paul has made his home among the Fremen, and riding the giant sandworm is his final step in becoming one of them.
Dune: Part Two earned $82.5 million in its opening weekend, beating Oppenheimer’s record of $82.4 million
Steven Spielberg said that Denis Villeneuve has added his name to the list of the best science fiction filmmakers
Riding a sandworm is a coming-of-age ritual for the Fremen and when Paul sees someone riding one at the end of the first film, it sets the stage for him to attempt this feat.
During Spielberg’s favorite scene, Paul uses the pestle to get the sandworm out.
The sandworms, which the Fremen call Shai-Hulud, are central to their culture.
When Paul, an outworlder, rode on Shai-Hulud, he fulfilled a Fremen prophecy about a leader who would come to free them and turn the desert planet into a paradise again.
“It is where Paul’s supposed prophecy would fail, and it would mean his death if he did not rise to the occasion,” Chalamet shared. Screenrant.
“So the stakes of that moment are huge, and it was exciting to do it. They were industrial fans that blew sand and a piece of worm was built. It was a great experience.’
Filming of the sandworm scene took 44 days after an extensive methodology meeting in which Villeneuve, the production designer and the cinematographer discussed how to do the scene justice.
“I read that and thought, ‘How the hell are we going to do that?’ In the book, Paul rides a sandworm, and if we’re not careful it could be a strange concept,” said cinematographer Greig Fraser. Variety.
“So we made sure we were careful that the audience never got a concept that suspended their disbelief.”
In the end, the filmmakers really succeeded in suspending viewers’ disbelief, according to Spielberg, who said: ‘You film the desert as if it were an ocean, a sea. The sandworms looked like sea snakes.”
Dune: Part Two made waves before it was even formally released, kicking Shawshank Redemption from the number one spot on IMDB.
Days before the film’s release, early viewers called Villeneuve’s sci-fi vision the film Hollywood needed and the “Sci-Fi/Fantasy epic of our generation.”