Summary
- The sandworm riding scene in 1984's Dune receives positive reviews from VFX artists for its unique approach and creativity.
- David Lynch's version of Dune uses vibrant colors and lavish settings, contrasting with the stark landscape of Villeneuve's adaptation.
- The Corridor Crew analyzes the VFX of the sandworm scene, praising certain aspects while also noting flaws in the filmmaking choices.
1984’s original Dune adaptation. Unlike the stark landscape that populates Villeneuve’s Arrakis, Lynch’s Dune uses bright colors, lavish settings, and costumes that provide a different take compared to the recent Dune duology. While having vastly different approaches, the story elements between the different adaptations are very similar.
Tackling one such familiar element, the Corridor Crew analyzes the VFX of the sandworm riding scene from Lynch's Dune.
The Corridor Crew found the sandworm riding overall impressive, guessing at how the scene would have been created. They called the scene “dope” and “not that bad.” One saying that he doesn’t “have problems with the VFX, it’s the filmmaking choices.” The VFX professionals deemed other moments far less professional, including a goofy shot of a clearly miniature Paul mounting the worm. Check out some quotes from the Corridor Crew below:
- How’d they do that?
- A miniature going up in front of the camera maybe.
- Because he’s pretty well blended in there and then the front of it [the sandworm] comes up and over.
- Is that a puppet?
- That might be a puppet.
- It’s a doll!
-I think you’re looking at a shot that was originally a comp shot with another comp shot being put on top of it with the front of the worm coming up.
- It’s just silly man.
- I would say I don’t have a problem with the VFX, it’s the filmmaking choices that I have problems with.
- It takes a certain kind of filmmaking to do kineticism, and to do action and movement, and to feel like things are fast, just like understanding like ‘oh, our camera should shake at this rate.’ There’s a lot of cool artsy things in this, and I love that, like the wacky sci-fi stuff. I think David Lynch brings a lot of that to the table. He is a fantastic director. But stuff like this, just doesn’t quite hit sometimes.
How The 1984 Dune Sandworm Riding Scene Compares With Now
Both Movie Sandworms Show The Scale Of The Creatures In Different Ways
The principal dividing line between 1984’s Dune and Dune: Part Two is witnessed through the differences in technology. As the sandworm emerges from the sands of Arrakis, its tendril-like teeth look less convincing in the Lynch version. Equipped with better CGI tools, Villeneuve’s sandworm is far more menacing, with a mouth that looks well-armed to swallow up an unsuspecting Fremen.
This technological difference greatly impacts the scale of the sandworm scenes. While miniatures and puppets are used to dwarf Paul in the Lynch Dune, the limitation of what was available at the time is noticeable. The sandworm scenes in both Dune (2021) and Dune: Part Two emphasize the vastness of the monster. It is as if, emerging from the sand, the sandworm is nearly infinite, with just its jarring jowls visible to the audience.
The Corridor Crew also makes a good point in breaking down the difference between a VFX flaw and a filmmaking flaw. While Lynch is an auteur director who is well-versed in portraying the surreal, he does not have nearly the same gravitas as Lynch when it comes to large-scale sci-fi. Even before breaking out with Dune, Villeneuve helmed epic films such as Arrival and Blade Runner: 2049. Projects like these gave rise to the superstar director that Villeneuve is today, leading him to direct the impeccable sandworm scenes in the modern Dune films.
Dune (1984) is available to stream on Max.
Source: Corridor Crew/YouTube
Dune
- Release Date
- December 14, 1984
- Runtime
- 137 minutes
- Director
- David Lynch
Cast
Paul Atreides
sca AnnisLady Jessica
WHERE TO WATCH
Dune, released on December 14, 1984, is a science fiction film directed by David Lynch. Set in a distant future, it follows the journey of Paul Atreides on the desert planet of Arrakis, where the precious spice Melange is found. This substance is pivotal for space travel and consciousness expansion.
- Writers
- David Lynch
- Studio(s)
- Universal Pictures
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