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The Art and Soul of Dune
Written by Dune executive producer Tanya Lapointe, this visually dazzling exploration of the filmmaking process gives unparalleled insight into the project's genesis—from its striking environmental and creature designs to its intricate costume concepts and landmark digital effects. The Art and Soul of Dune also features exclusive interviews with key members of the cast and crew, including Denis Villeneuve, Timothée Chalamet, Rebecca Ferguson, Oscar Isaac, and many more, delivering a uniquely candid account of the hugely ambitious international shoot.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published December 18, 2020
About the author
Tanya Lapointe
10 books22 followersTanya Lapointe worked for 15 years as a field reporter, interviewer, and TV Host for Radio-Canada/Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, covering international entertainment, news and high-profile events such as the Oscars and the Cannes Film Festival. She is the author of The Art and Soul of Blade Runner 2049. She is also a documentary film writer, director, and producer.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
April 11, 2022
The desert inspires a deep sensation of isolation in one's heart. It provokes inevitable introspection. Like a microscope, the desert magnifies our existential fears. Stripped down from any social construction, and in direct contact with the vertigo of infinite space and time, we are left naked. The desert brings us back hypnotically to our very own human condition. - Denis Villeneuve
Up to the point when I saw David Lynch’s ‘Dune’ (1984) in the cinema, I had been preconditioned to think that SF movies were all like ‘Star Wars’. Lynch blew that notion out of the water – well, buried it in sand and spice and weirdness – and at the same time changed my view of the power and potential of cinema.
It was sometime later that I managed to get hold of a copy of ‘The Making of Dune’ by Ed Naha, which began a lifelong obsession with the minutiae of moviemaking. Perfunctorily written and filled with grainy half-page black-and-white photographs, the book still struck a deep chord with me. Far from dispelling the magic of the movie, it made me appreciate the obsession of the director in getting his singular vision onto the screen, let alone the vast collaboration behind every single frame.
Ed Naha’s book is light years from the lavish ‘making of’ books that accompanied Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, up to then the gold standard. Crucially, there were separate books dedicated to the concept drawings and movie art alone. Somewhere in the middle of these two high points are J.W. Rinzler’s exhaustive accounts of the making of the first ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. And I do mean exhaustive: Every single script variation and spurned idea is accorded the same amount of reverence as any second of screen time of the finished product.
And then you have a genius like Tanya Lapointe, who combines the fixation on detail of Naha and Rinzler with the artistic vision that made the LOTR making-of books so special. It is quite deliberate that this book is called ‘The Art and Soul of Dune’, for it is as much about the creative process of world-building that such an adaptation calls for as much as it is about the filmmaking process itself.
A producer on the movie herself, Lapointe gives an incredibly vivid account of the herculean undertaking this movie was, which saw 45 sets built on five soundstages on Budapest. Even the backlot was put to good use to create the sense of scale that was mandatory. In addition, location work took place in Jordan, Abu Dhabi, Norway, and the Mojave Desert in California.
The contents of the book are quite straightforward: An ‘Introduction’ by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, and an essay entitled ‘This Is Only The Beginning’ by Denis Villeneuve himself, is followed by separate chapters on ‘Caladan’, ‘Giedi Prime’, ‘Salusa Secundus’, ‘Arrakis’, ‘The Attack’, ‘Deep Desert’, ‘Fremen’ and an ‘Epilogue’.
Each chapter recounts how that world or key narrative point was brought to life, including its principal characters. There are tons of behind-the-scenes trivia about the prop making and production design, as well as the costumes and visual effects, but the detail never feels overwhelming or redundant.
Some diehard cineastes may feel cheated in not being told what lenses DP Greig Fraser used, but this is not that kind of book. I must say I am surprised there is nothing about the score or sound editing, but it is entirely possible Lapointe’s 2020 deadline preceded the actual movie even being finished.
A lot of what looks like actual stills from the movie, spread over two glorious pages apiece, are stunning concept art and drawings. Many of these were translated directly into sets, replete with lighting design and camera angles.
There are a number of surprises here in terms of filmed scenes that did not make the final cut. Perhaps the most controversial is Gurney Halleck playing the baliset. Not only is there is a still from the actual filmed scene featuring Josh Brolin, Lapointe goes into some detail about how the instrument was brought to life, with a ballad based on Herbert’s words and a melody by Hans Zimmer.
I am unsure if this was an unintentional outcome of Lapointe’s focus in the text, but I was surprised at how much final say the Herbert Estate, spearheaded by son Brian Herbert, had over the final movie. For example, it is clear that cut scenes like ‘Duncan’s Drop’ were, well, dropped as they did not adhere to ‘canon’.
There are other telling revelations such as the Herbert Estate insisting that Arrakeen look more like a ‘government building’ than a ‘palace’, which is rather odd. What is also clear is that the Herbert Estate were intending a franchise when they initially sold the rights to Legendary Pictures, so it is uncertain how much Villeneuve’s ‘two-movie’ dictum was actually influenced by this requirement.
This is quite a pricey item (not to mention the fantastic signed limited edition), so I opted for the much cheaper ebook. I was a bit nervous before my purchase, as the physical object is a fantastic collectors’ item that will stand proud on any SF fan’s bookshelf.
But I was relieved that the ebook works a treat, allowing for awesome full-screen panoramas of the artwork (without the page binding). Plus, you can zoom in to your heart’s content. This visual treasure trove is highly recommended for all Dune and movie fans in general.
Up to the point when I saw David Lynch’s ‘Dune’ (1984) in the cinema, I had been preconditioned to think that SF movies were all like ‘Star Wars’. Lynch blew that notion out of the water – well, buried it in sand and spice and weirdness – and at the same time changed my view of the power and potential of cinema.
It was sometime later that I managed to get hold of a copy of ‘The Making of Dune’ by Ed Naha, which began a lifelong obsession with the minutiae of moviemaking. Perfunctorily written and filled with grainy half-page black-and-white photographs, the book still struck a deep chord with me. Far from dispelling the magic of the movie, it made me appreciate the obsession of the director in getting his singular vision onto the screen, let alone the vast collaboration behind every single frame.
Ed Naha’s book is light years from the lavish ‘making of’ books that accompanied Peter Jackson’s ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, up to then the gold standard. Crucially, there were separate books dedicated to the concept drawings and movie art alone. Somewhere in the middle of these two high points are J.W. Rinzler’s exhaustive accounts of the making of the first ‘Star Wars’ trilogy. And I do mean exhaustive: Every single script variation and spurned idea is accorded the same amount of reverence as any second of screen time of the finished product.
And then you have a genius like Tanya Lapointe, who combines the fixation on detail of Naha and Rinzler with the artistic vision that made the LOTR making-of books so special. It is quite deliberate that this book is called ‘The Art and Soul of Dune’, for it is as much about the creative process of world-building that such an adaptation calls for as much as it is about the filmmaking process itself.
A producer on the movie herself, Lapointe gives an incredibly vivid account of the herculean undertaking this movie was, which saw 45 sets built on five soundstages on Budapest. Even the backlot was put to good use to create the sense of scale that was mandatory. In addition, location work took place in Jordan, Abu Dhabi, Norway, and the Mojave Desert in California.
The contents of the book are quite straightforward: An ‘Introduction’ by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson, and an essay entitled ‘This Is Only The Beginning’ by Denis Villeneuve himself, is followed by separate chapters on ‘Caladan’, ‘Giedi Prime’, ‘Salusa Secundus’, ‘Arrakis’, ‘The Attack’, ‘Deep Desert’, ‘Fremen’ and an ‘Epilogue’.
Each chapter recounts how that world or key narrative point was brought to life, including its principal characters. There are tons of behind-the-scenes trivia about the prop making and production design, as well as the costumes and visual effects, but the detail never feels overwhelming or redundant.
Some diehard cineastes may feel cheated in not being told what lenses DP Greig Fraser used, but this is not that kind of book. I must say I am surprised there is nothing about the score or sound editing, but it is entirely possible Lapointe’s 2020 deadline preceded the actual movie even being finished.
A lot of what looks like actual stills from the movie, spread over two glorious pages apiece, are stunning concept art and drawings. Many of these were translated directly into sets, replete with lighting design and camera angles.
There are a number of surprises here in terms of filmed scenes that did not make the final cut. Perhaps the most controversial is Gurney Halleck playing the baliset. Not only is there is a still from the actual filmed scene featuring Josh Brolin, Lapointe goes into some detail about how the instrument was brought to life, with a ballad based on Herbert’s words and a melody by Hans Zimmer.
I am unsure if this was an unintentional outcome of Lapointe’s focus in the text, but I was surprised at how much final say the Herbert Estate, spearheaded by son Brian Herbert, had over the final movie. For example, it is clear that cut scenes like ‘Duncan’s Drop’ were, well, dropped as they did not adhere to ‘canon’.
There are other telling revelations such as the Herbert Estate insisting that Arrakeen look more like a ‘government building’ than a ‘palace’, which is rather odd. What is also clear is that the Herbert Estate were intending a franchise when they initially sold the rights to Legendary Pictures, so it is uncertain how much Villeneuve’s ‘two-movie’ dictum was actually influenced by this requirement.
This is quite a pricey item (not to mention the fantastic signed limited edition), so I opted for the much cheaper ebook. I was a bit nervous before my purchase, as the physical object is a fantastic collectors’ item that will stand proud on any SF fan’s bookshelf.
But I was relieved that the ebook works a treat, allowing for awesome full-screen panoramas of the artwork (without the page binding). Plus, you can zoom in to your heart’s content. This visual treasure trove is highly recommended for all Dune and movie fans in general.
January 1, 2022
This book is a look behind the scenes, counting 240 pages in coffee-table format. It has many concept arts spanning double pages which make them all the more immersive. At first glance, they seem to be screen shots from the film, but on closer inspection, they are beautifully drawn works of art, used as a basis for the making of the film.
The book features all the protagonists on several pages, shows their outfits, weapons, and talks about the actors' views on their motivations. The same goes for all the relevant planets and their inhabitants.
Denis Villeneuve has a say in everything, he explains the background and rationalization and tricks for many of the scenes. They don't take away the magic of the film but bring it even more to life.
Why not five stars? There is a lot of text mixed into the pictures, but it is hard to read it. The text is also far too focused on Villeneuve, and often enough it only tells you that he's decided something without bringing forth the artist's own rationalizations. I'd have loved to get more unfiltered background information about challenges and solutions.
The book features all the protagonists on several pages, shows their outfits, weapons, and talks about the actors' views on their motivations. The same goes for all the relevant planets and their inhabitants.
Denis Villeneuve has a say in everything, he explains the background and rationalization and tricks for many of the scenes. They don't take away the magic of the film but bring it even more to life.
Why not five stars? There is a lot of text mixed into the pictures, but it is hard to read it. The text is also far too focused on Villeneuve, and often enough it only tells you that he's decided something without bringing forth the artist's own rationalizations. I'd have loved to get more unfiltered background information about challenges and solutions.
November 22, 2021
How do you review a book based on the design and construction of a film based on one of my favourite books. Well if you followed that sentenced then you will know - with great care and no doubt a lot fo work.
So here is the art and soul (seems to be a growing trend from Titan Publishing) of Dune one of my most anticipated films of recent years (which if you have not guessed already blew me away and I am so glad and impatient to see the second part).
The book traces the ideas and concepts for the film, its sets and devices as well as the characters and locations - from ideas to reality (revealing a few of the film makers tricks and tools along the way).
IF you loved the film or even mildly interested in it for that matter this is a great book to see behind the wizards curtain to see how it was all done. I know some feel these books diminish the spectacle of the film - not me, I see these books of the celebration of ingenuity and creativity - at a level I will never truly understand but more than happy to appreciate.
So here is the art and soul (seems to be a growing trend from Titan Publishing) of Dune one of my most anticipated films of recent years (which if you have not guessed already blew me away and I am so glad and impatient to see the second part).
The book traces the ideas and concepts for the film, its sets and devices as well as the characters and locations - from ideas to reality (revealing a few of the film makers tricks and tools along the way).
IF you loved the film or even mildly interested in it for that matter this is a great book to see behind the wizards curtain to see how it was all done. I know some feel these books diminish the spectacle of the film - not me, I see these books of the celebration of ingenuity and creativity - at a level I will never truly understand but more than happy to appreciate.
October 25, 2021
A beautiful book explaining much of the spectacular new movie
April 6, 2022
"Like a microscope, the desert magnifies our existential fears. Stripped down from any social construction and in direct contact with the infinity of space and time, we are left naked. The desert brings us back hypnotically to our very own human condition. It induces joy, humility, melancholia, and sometimes a barren terror. That exact feeling of isolation is what sparked the inspiration for Dune's production"
-Denis Villeneuve, from the introduction
I really love the aesthetic, music, and tone for this film. It's dream-like and melancholic with a spiritual quest at the heart of the story towards maturity and salvation. It's as-if Denis took the man in Caspar Freidrich's "Wander above the Sea of Fog" and made a space fantasy adventure around that figure under the guise of 'Dune'. I'm looking forward to the sequels. Denis is a master.
-Denis Villeneuve, from the introduction
I really love the aesthetic, music, and tone for this film. It's dream-like and melancholic with a spiritual quest at the heart of the story towards maturity and salvation. It's as-if Denis took the man in Caspar Freidrich's "Wander above the Sea of Fog" and made a space fantasy adventure around that figure under the guise of 'Dune'. I'm looking forward to the sequels. Denis is a master.
January 19, 2022
Okay, so The Art and Soul of Dune is glossy marketing material for obsessive Dune fans, of which I am one. Concept art is interlaced with behind the scene pictures and stills from the movie, along with brief passages describing the production. In an age of access, Art and Soul conceals more than it reveals. But Dune doesn't need help, the movie stands on its own as a masterpiece.
One thing that comes through is Denis Villeneuve's uncompromising production design. Villeneuve loves Dune. He had "Muad'Dib" engraved on the inside of his high school graduation ring. The fact that he's a very talented filmmaker and also the only person on the planet who loves Dune more than me is at the heart of the movie's success. Villeneuve gets great people and brings out their best, from the gaffer's assistant up to the stars. That obsession, to get the big picture right and to get all the details right, is the soul of the movie.
So what did I learn? Well, the ornithopter was an actual physical prop so large it had to be shipped around the world by An-124, the world's second largest cargo plane. A 300 ton crane operated by a Jordanian man who didn't share a language with the production made it fly in the desert. A film studio in Budapest was taken over to create the massive brutalist sets that Villeneuve loves.
Some of the roads not taken are interesting. Apparently there's another few hours of footage floating around, including the Arrakeen dinner scene (and by the way, I would do a lot to see those deleted scenes), though a fair number are introductions not used. An early version of the Atreides castle on Caladan is almost like a cross between a D-Day bunker and Falling Water. Some preliminary sandworm designs look unfortunately like leeches or uncircumcised penises, so I'm glad we got the version we did.
It's interesting reading this book against Naha's The Making of Dune , about the 1984 Lynch film. We know the ending, but the sense that comes out of Naha's book is how amateurish Lynch's film was. Not that it didn't have talented people involved, but many of them had never made a scifi epic of this scale. And while Dune is bigger than Villeneuve's previous films, it's a step in a progress that includes Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival by someone who's been thinking about how to make this exact film since he was 12.
One thing that comes through is Denis Villeneuve's uncompromising production design. Villeneuve loves Dune. He had "Muad'Dib" engraved on the inside of his high school graduation ring. The fact that he's a very talented filmmaker and also the only person on the planet who loves Dune more than me is at the heart of the movie's success. Villeneuve gets great people and brings out their best, from the gaffer's assistant up to the stars. That obsession, to get the big picture right and to get all the details right, is the soul of the movie.
So what did I learn? Well, the ornithopter was an actual physical prop so large it had to be shipped around the world by An-124, the world's second largest cargo plane. A 300 ton crane operated by a Jordanian man who didn't share a language with the production made it fly in the desert. A film studio in Budapest was taken over to create the massive brutalist sets that Villeneuve loves.
Some of the roads not taken are interesting. Apparently there's another few hours of footage floating around, including the Arrakeen dinner scene (and by the way, I would do a lot to see those deleted scenes), though a fair number are introductions not used. An early version of the Atreides castle on Caladan is almost like a cross between a D-Day bunker and Falling Water. Some preliminary sandworm designs look unfortunately like leeches or uncircumcised penises, so I'm glad we got the version we did.
It's interesting reading this book against Naha's The Making of Dune , about the 1984 Lynch film. We know the ending, but the sense that comes out of Naha's book is how amateurish Lynch's film was. Not that it didn't have talented people involved, but many of them had never made a scifi epic of this scale. And while Dune is bigger than Villeneuve's previous films, it's a step in a progress that includes Blade Runner 2049 and Arrival by someone who's been thinking about how to make this exact film since he was 12.
Read
October 22, 2021transporting and evocative medieval-fantasy, and the filmmakers and creators were clearly intentional about the optics, and narrative, of a foreign, more technologically advanced 'savior' coming to the desert filled with riches of a mono-resource (spices) and becoming the liberator and leader of the 'people of the desert'-- an allegorical take that sets up the pieces for the ultimate future tragedy of the character and indicates we are not seeing a simple, auspicious coming-of-age fantasy
April 23, 2023
The desert inspires a deep sensation of isolation in one's heart. It provokes inevitable introspection. Like a microscope, the desert magnifies our existential fears. Stripped down from any social construction, and in direct contact with the vertigo of infinite space and time, we are left naked. The desert brings us back hypnotically to our very own human condition.
6 раз в кинотеатре и более 30-ти раз дома на диване - столько раз я смотрела "Дюну" Дени Вильнёва; и с тех пор, как прошёл прокат первой части я активно коплю на многократный поход на вторую часть, ибо моё желание всеми доступными средствами (в том числе пропагандой Дюнаверса в сети) помочь предстоящему фильму не описать словами.
Собственно, ��е трудно после вышеизложенного догадаться, что я большой фанат фильма 2021 года, а также амбассадор первоисточника, поэтому пройти мимо "The Art and Soul of Dune", само собой, не могла.
Пишу сразу - книга эта для коллекционеров и поклонников, а не для случайно проходящего читателя (хотя, кто его знает? Возможно, именно эта книга зацепит человека своим видом, и под��олкнёт к знакомству с фильмом и книгой?), и это не есть минус, как я считаю, ибо она именно для коллекции и существует в первую очередь.
Моя оценка субъективная, НО я считаю, что при любом раскладе эта книжка её заслуживает: иллюстрации, скетчи, та доля информации (есть даже некоторые новые подробности + вырезанные сцены) и краткие комментарии съёмочной группы - все это выполнено да высказано мастерски, и что самое главное - с любовью к гербертовским истокам.
Каждый раз, когда я читаю или смотрю интервью Вильнёва об Дюнаверсе, я поражаюсь его мировоззрению, пониманию и глубокому восхищению касаемо всех тех тем и идей, заложенных Гербертом; поражаюсь тому, как он уловил всё тонкости да сложил в всё это в свою картину. Дени и Тимоти были моим путём к Дюне, без этих двоих я бы ещё не скоро подошла бы к этой истории, если бы подошла когда-нибудь вообще; смешно, наверное, прозвучит, но мне страшно осознавать, что я могла бы не быть частью Дюны.
March 30, 2024
After seeing both of the movies in IMAX a few times and absolutely loving them, I ordered these two volumes because I just needed more. I have never wanted to get into a directors head as much as Denis Villeneuve after he realized his vision of the sci-fi classic that other directors have tried and failed to adapt (David Lynch sends his regards). This was Denis' favorite book of all time as it is for countless others and he stated he has been story boarding this movie since he was 13. Not only was this some of Denis' best work but also Hans Zimmer, and Greig Fraser, on the Soundtrack and Cinematography respectively. The love and care that the three of them, as well as all of the actors and crew, have put into this project is palpable in every single minute of these movies.
April 12, 2022
Feels like a wonderful cash grab. Altough the drawings and pictures ooze the same beauty as the movie, the book itself feel unfinished and not really knowing what it wants to be: a making of (too shallow), an art exposition (again too shallow), or a movie summary in pictures (it includes scenes that were cut out in the final release and now feel out of place). Upon further inspection I noticed the book came out in 2020, that's a year before the movie came out, which explains a lot and why, for me, the book doesn't deliver what I thought it promised (an indepth look into how the visuals and art were created). Than again, there's some very nice pictures in it 😏
March 1, 2024
Назва цього артбука невипадкова — в ньому дійсно є мистецтво та душа. За 240 сторінок автори змогли передати повну картину того, як знімали першу частину "Дюни", розповісти про:
— те, як і де будували масштабні декорації, фони та навіть установки, які трусили пісок під ногами
— спецефекти, світло та хитрощі, до яких вдавалися, щоб отримати реалістичні кадри, не застосовуючи графіку
— деталізовані грим та костюми, кожен з яких має своє власне значення
— джерела натхнення для сцен, образів персонажів, зброї та локацій
— космічні кораблі, що створили з нуля; велетенські макети, які тягли через пів світу, аби засняти кілька сцен
І ще багато-багато іншого, не менш цікавого та захоплюючого уяву. В книзі гарно витриманий баланс між ілюстраціями та текстом, є що почитати і що порозглядати. І описи не становлять собою "ось, це рандомний об'єкт один, дивіться", а повноцінно розповідають усе, що могли б захотіти дізнатися: від початкової ідеї до втілення, від використаних матеріалів до закладеного прихованого сенсу.
Після артбуку варто передивитися "Дюну", ви зовсім по-іншому побачите деякі сцени, а також будете розуміти, що і як працює в цьому всесвіті, бо в кіно іноді доводилося здогадуватися самому, як, наприклад, про ті ж повільні бомби, що пробивали щити кораблів.
Цю екранізацію дійсно робили з величезною любов'ю до першоджерела, з прискіпливістю фанатів, не шкодуючи ані ресурсів, ані фантазії. І що цінне — багато що знімалося з декораціями та бутафорією, а не графікою. Її там взагалі використовували по мінімуму — більше в сценах битв та для масштабних пейзажів.
Тож книгу однозначно раджу, навіть якщо ви, як і я, не фанат всесвіту Дюни, а просто вподобали фільм.
— те, як і де будували масштабні декорації, фони та навіть установки, які трусили пісок під ногами
— спецефекти, світло та хитрощі, до яких вдавалися, щоб отримати реалістичні кадри, не застосовуючи графіку
— деталізовані грим та костюми, кожен з яких має своє власне значення
— джерела натхнення для сцен, образів персонажів, зброї та локацій
— космічні кораблі, що створили з нуля; велетенські макети, які тягли через пів світу, аби засняти кілька сцен
І ще багато-багато іншого, не менш цікавого та захоплюючого уяву. В книзі гарно витриманий баланс між ілюстраціями та текстом, є що почитати і що порозглядати. І описи не становлять собою "ось, це рандомний об'єкт один, дивіться", а повноцінно розповідають усе, що могли б захотіти дізнатися: від початкової ідеї до втілення, від використаних матеріалів до закладеного прихованого сенсу.
Після артбуку варто передивитися "Дюну", ви зовсім по-іншому побачите деякі сцени, а також будете розуміти, що і як працює в цьому всесвіті, бо в кіно іноді доводилося здогадуватися самому, як, наприклад, про ті ж повільні бомби, що пробивали щити кораблів.
Цю екранізацію дійсно робили з величезною любов'ю до першоджерела, з прискіпливістю фанатів, не шкодуючи ані ресурсів, ані фантазії. І що цінне — багато що знімалося з декораціями та бутафорією, а не графікою. Її там взагалі використовували по мінімуму — більше в сценах битв та для масштабних пейзажів.
Тож книгу однозначно раджу, навіть якщо ви, як і я, не фанат всесвіту Дюни, а просто вподобали фільм.
March 27, 2023
Complètement émerveillé, pour ne presque pas dire ému, de ce livre illustré de l’exploration visuel du film Dune de Denis Villeneuve. On rentre ici dans l’élaboration du film dans ses moindres détails, avec un travail documentaire impeccable par Tanya Lapointe. On sent vraiment que toute l’équipe s’est surpassé pour offrir un film très ambitieux qui selon moi, est largement un point de référence pour le cinéma de science-fiction d’aujourd’hui. Denis Villeneuve, aidé par Patrice Vermette et son équipe, nous plonge directement dans les moindres détails du processus créatif de ce grand classique la de science-fiction, qui s’avère une réussite artistique sur toute la ligne. Si vous aimez les making-of, des plans architecturaux et bien évidemment Dune, The Art and Soul of Dune est un must absolu.
June 18, 2023
Amazing
December 8, 2021
A beautiful companion to a superb movie.
Maybe what I missed was some in-depth explanation for some choices in the script. I'm hoping to get more on that in the Bluray with commentary or making-of documentary.
I wonder if I got the only copy in Estonia, because it definitely was the only copy in the bookshop.
Maybe what I missed was some in-depth explanation for some choices in the script. I'm hoping to get more on that in the Bluray with commentary or making-of documentary.
I wonder if I got the only copy in Estonia, because it definitely was the only copy in the bookshop.
December 10, 2021
Amo los libros de arte conceptual de las películas. Pero cuando la película específica de la que trata el libro es tan querida como esta, el caso adopta otro nivel de interés completamente. Este libro es una evidencia de la cantidad de trabajo y creatividad de un gran número de personas.
April 8, 2024
This reading experience felt similar to watching the DVD appendices of “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy back in the early 2000s.
A love letter to the process of making an epic piece of cinema where everyone seemed hellbent on giving their all.
Beautiful book.
P.S. Hans Zimmer actually wrote almost 2 hours of music specifically as a listening companion to this book. WHAT??!
A love letter to the process of making an epic piece of cinema where everyone seemed hellbent on giving their all.
Beautiful book.
P.S. Hans Zimmer actually wrote almost 2 hours of music specifically as a listening companion to this book. WHAT??!
June 5, 2023
The volume is self-congratulatory and pretentious, it is as if it was written for worshippers. This is a book about the making of and production of Denis Villeneuve's "Dune". The volume consists of numerous production still photos, set photos, concept art, interviews with the actors and more. It is written is a very reverential tone, akin to worship. The key word which Villeneuve had set for this movie is "melancholy" and this was conveyed to the concept artists and production designers. In his previous movie, "Blade Runner 2049", the key word was "brutality". In any case, the keywords for both movies should have been "bland minimalism". This is reflected in the design of the movie where everything is like that of a dimly-lit Apple store, albeit with harsh textures. The colours and light are desaturated oddly, in a desert no less. The large vessels in Dune are reminiscent of that in Arrival, just large shapes, the small ships are metal dragonflies essentially, while the armour is just plastic (as stated in the volume) and all the combatants looked alike. The design work is mostly unmemorable, the world-building is disappointing and there is little sense of place. All in all, a rather turgid affair.
February 16, 2022
The big standout from this book is that it's written by Tanya Lapointe, one of the executive producers of the film so she had unfettered access to many of those involved. This allows her to interview most of the big names in the crew and cast, which is often lacking in "The Art of..." books.
Structurally it follows the story of the film, starting with a brief history of "Dune" on screen, Denis Villenueve's attachment before covering each section of the film, "Caladan", "Giedi Prime", "Arakis" etc. As we begin each chapter it covers off the design of the planet, the creatures, costumes, weapons and vehicles as well as the casting process for characters who appear in the section before moving onto the next section.
I'm quite fond of this format as it allows the reader to experience the film all over again.
The art is obviousy fantastic, and it thankfully has a fairly in depth discussion on why they went with certain designs. Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words, but honestly I just want to hear the creatives discuss these things that spend so long building.
Needed more pictures of Timothée Chalamet though.
Structurally it follows the story of the film, starting with a brief history of "Dune" on screen, Denis Villenueve's attachment before covering each section of the film, "Caladan", "Giedi Prime", "Arakis" etc. As we begin each chapter it covers off the design of the planet, the creatures, costumes, weapons and vehicles as well as the casting process for characters who appear in the section before moving onto the next section.
I'm quite fond of this format as it allows the reader to experience the film all over again.
The art is obviousy fantastic, and it thankfully has a fairly in depth discussion on why they went with certain designs. Sometimes a picture speaks a thousand words, but honestly I just want to hear the creatives discuss these things that spend so long building.
Needed more pictures of Timothée Chalamet though.
January 18, 2022
It does not cost $165m to write a book, or adapt a book into a script. Building a fictional world with art in such a way that it is believable is an epic endeavour, and the Art and Soul of Dune does a decent job casting a light on the intentionality behind designs that sometimes get only seconds of screen time.
Dune Pt I is a movie conveyed visually. Likewise, you won't be reading this book for it's prose, however the sketchbooks provide a feast for the eyes and an understanding behind the art of the universe that is just what I was hoping for and a great companion to watching the movie.
Dune Pt I is a movie conveyed visually. Likewise, you won't be reading this book for it's prose, however the sketchbooks provide a feast for the eyes and an understanding behind the art of the universe that is just what I was hoping for and a great companion to watching the movie.
March 20, 2024
What a beautiful nerdy book. I would've liked a little more photography/stills from the films (not sure it has anything from Part Two), but it did have some cool facts I didn't know (after having read and watched a bunch of interviews and other Dune books and articles) and a lot of concept art. Definitely worth the money for me!
January 6, 2024
“Lady Jessica is a young mother who makes mistakes…audiences will be more forgiving of her for that reason. She is a pillar in the story…”
I loved the thought process behind every character Denis brings to life. The concept art was even more chefs kiss. 🤌
I loved the thought process behind every character Denis brings to life. The concept art was even more chefs kiss. 🤌
April 16, 2024
geweldig kijkje behind the scenes van de ontwikkeling en productie van Dune Part I
November 19, 2021
An amazing book featuring original artwork, stills, and background information on the Dune Part One movie. Clearly this was a labour of love for all involved, especially director, Denis Villeneuve. The designs are wonderful, almost transcendent, taking you into a world that feels real and important. Reading this makes me want to see the film again, if only to experience better the relationship between people, nature and environment that is at the core of the story.
February 5, 2022
I loved Dune, the 2021 movie. And I loved reading how the director Denis Villeneuve and screenwriter Eric Roth allowed their passion they both had since reading Dune as kids to drive how they created this movie.
I always like "behind the scenes" tales of how something was made and the recollections in this book show that almost every little detail in this movie had a reason and a story behind it.
I always like "behind the scenes" tales of how something was made and the recollections in this book show that almost every little detail in this movie had a reason and a story behind it.
October 28, 2021
A beautiful book and an excellent complement to the movie The Art and Soul of Dune belongs on every fan's bookshelf. I knocked a star off because the text could be a little meatier, but the illustrations are gorgeous, and this is a book where the slipcase adds to the overall package.
Highly recommended for fans of the movie, nice visuals even if you've only read the book.
Highly recommended for fans of the movie, nice visuals even if you've only read the book.
January 10, 2022
Did you like the recent Dune movie? If yes, get this book - it's beautiful, has some really good art, opens useful insight behind the decisions made about the movie, and is a lovely treat.
I just wished they've talked about the Atreidean salute; it was such a *good* addition to the overall mood of the story. :)
I just wished they've talked about the Atreidean salute; it was such a *good* addition to the overall mood of the story. :)
December 8, 2021
It took two months to get this book back from out-of-stock preorder, and it was worth every bit of the wait. This is as stunning and gorgeous as the film, highlighting so much of the love that has gone into this whole production.
December 30, 2021
An absolute treat of a coffee-table book for fans of the novel and the Villeneuve film(s). Beautifully textured and bound, with hundreds of concept art pieces and on-set photographs set to a backdrop of detailed descriptions of the film’s creative process. A must-have.
September 24, 2023
DUNE! I meant to get to “Dune Messiah” at some point, and yet I haven’t quite gotten there. I *did* find this book in the library catalog, though, and because I love concept art books, I thought I’d try it out.
The book is split into sections based on the sequences from the movie. It is incredibly interesting (to me, at least) to see what influences artists, designers, and directors take for creating worlds we’ve never seen before. A lot of thought went into all of this! And getting bits and pieces of those thought processes is really cool.
It was a bit annoying that when the book referred to famous pieces of art that inspired certain looks, there isn’t a supplied picture for comparison? At least they’re named pieces of art, so you can look them up, but I would have liked to have seen references/comparisons on a lot of that work.
Still! Very cool! If you’re curious about the design, or the casting process, or any of the behind-the-scenes stuff for “Dune: Part One,” you should check out this book when you have the time.
The book is split into sections based on the sequences from the movie. It is incredibly interesting (to me, at least) to see what influences artists, designers, and directors take for creating worlds we’ve never seen before. A lot of thought went into all of this! And getting bits and pieces of those thought processes is really cool.
It was a bit annoying that when the book referred to famous pieces of art that inspired certain looks, there isn’t a supplied picture for comparison? At least they’re named pieces of art, so you can look them up, but I would have liked to have seen references/comparisons on a lot of that work.
Still! Very cool! If you’re curious about the design, or the casting process, or any of the behind-the-scenes stuff for “Dune: Part One,” you should check out this book when you have the time.
November 17, 2021
Un libro hermoso !!!, que nos muestra la concepción de la pelicula de DUNE, de la mano de Denis Villeneuve , que te cuenta porque tomo tales y cuales decisiones en la creación de esta obra maestra.
LO BUENO: Un camino organizado de la pelicula, desde los planetas, las armas, hasta la maldita aguja que casi se mete en el cuello de Paul, un montón de fotos de altisimo detalle , e ilustraciones que te roban el aliento, como los mundos, LA COFRADIA y sus naves que te matan, el Barón y mas, ah, y un arte precioso de Crlos Huante, que lastima que todo el libro no sea solo de el.
LO MALO: Te cuentan que todo fue hermoso, todo fue lindo, una travesia hermosa y no lo creo lo mas minimo, ¿en serio ?, no te lo crees, y hubiera agradecido algo mas de chicha y chismes, que querian a tal actor y no se pudo, pero todo es muy cuento de hadas y si, el desierto es espectacular pero te muestran eso a pagina completa muchas veces.
LO BUENO: Un camino organizado de la pelicula, desde los planetas, las armas, hasta la maldita aguja que casi se mete en el cuello de Paul, un montón de fotos de altisimo detalle , e ilustraciones que te roban el aliento, como los mundos, LA COFRADIA y sus naves que te matan, el Barón y mas, ah, y un arte precioso de Crlos Huante, que lastima que todo el libro no sea solo de el.
LO MALO: Te cuentan que todo fue hermoso, todo fue lindo, una travesia hermosa y no lo creo lo mas minimo, ¿en serio ?, no te lo crees, y hubiera agradecido algo mas de chicha y chismes, que querian a tal actor y no se pudo, pero todo es muy cuento de hadas y si, el desierto es espectacular pero te muestran eso a pagina completa muchas veces.
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