Culture news “The most beautiful thing I have ever seen” Steven Spielberg is captivated by this scene from Dune 2 by Denis Villeneuve
Denis Villeneuve has just been accepted at the table of the greatest Hollywood directors and by the master of the 7th Art himself. Before him, Christopher Nolan, crowned with 7 Oscars for Oppenheimer, was full of praise for Dune 2. Steven Spielberg goes even further. He considers a scene from this sci-fi film to be the most beautiful thing he has ever seen.
The “Spielberg” quality label for Dune 2
The meeting between two sacred monsters of Hollywood cinema will have allowed the first to congratulate and welcome the second to the table of the great names of the 7th Art. Steven Spielberg was transported by Dune, Part II and he has made it known every time he speaks since the film was released in theaters. During episode 471 of the podcast “The Director’s Cut”, Denis Villeneuve faced Mr. Spielberg. The latter quickly took the floor and described the Canadian director as a “world builder. And there are not many of them who proudly wear this status.
Let me start by saying that some filmmakers are world builders. The list is not long and we know most of them. Starting with (Georges) Méliès, then Disney, Kubrick and George Lucas. I include Ray Harryhausen in this list. Fellini built his own worlds. Tim Burton. Obviously, Wes Anderson, Peter Jackson, James Cameron, Christopher Nolan, Ridley Scott, Guillermo del Toro. The list is long, but it’s not that long, and I deeply, fervently believe that you are one of the newest members. -Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg continues his momentum, and talks about Dune 2. He is clearly a fan of the adventures of Paul Atréides and the Fremen people, as well as the vision of Denis Villeneuve who managed to adapt a novel deemed “unadaptable” to the big screen. David Lynch knows something about this, he who proposed in 1984 his own version, sometimes adored and sometimes decried by fans of this science fiction saga begun in 1965 by the author Frank Herbert.
You’ve made one of the most brilliant sci-fi films I’ve ever seen. It’s a true visual epic and it’s also populated by deeply, intimately characterized characters. -Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg praises a scene from Dune 2
Dune, Part II has been a sensation at the cinema since its release at the end of February. In France, the film directed by Denis Villeneuve peaked at 3.86 million admissions after 6 weeks of release. Internationally, it has already grossed 666.8 million US dollars for a budget of 190 million. But beyond these financial considerations, Dune 2 is a critical success. On RottenTomatoes, it proudly sits with 93% positive critical reviews. It must be said that this work of SF offers some of the slickest shots of the last decade. One of the scenes is even considered by Steven Spielberg himself to be one of the most beautiful things he has ever seen. (a statement made in episode 471 of “The Director’s Cut” podcast). This has the merit of being clear!
It’s a story that loves the desert, but for a film that loves the desert, there is such a longing for water in this film. Despite all the sand in this film, it’s really about water. The sacred waters that long for green meadows and the blue water of life. You film the desert to make it look like an ocean, like a sea. The sandworms were like sea serpents. And that scene where we’re surfing on the sandworms is one of the most beautiful things that I have never seen. Never ! But you made the desert look like liquid. -Steven Spielberg