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The next time you watch it, listen for the whispers and woman chorus showing up in other scenes. Even when the witches aren't present, their presence is still felt.
God, I watched it in just standard 2D and the attack on Arrakeen was the most memorable and exhilarating scene I have ever seen in a movie. I legitimately cannot imagine how intense that would have been at higher levels.
It's really interesting how Zimmer made something that was memorable without being hum-able. It does lend itself to the exotic nature of the film and Villeneuve's directorial style as a whole.
The fact this movie exists, as it really is, with more than 300M worldwide, going into the pop culture as it should, is by itself a monumental achievement.
You are so right. I was afraid it would flop but it has genuinely entered the public consciousness. I'm delighted to see it happen both for the dune series and especially for Denis
I went to watch Dune with no previous knowledge of it. I knew basically nothing, just that it was a Sci-Fi movie. And, up to this day, I think that it was one of the best cinematic experiences I've ever had before. I remember being over the edge of my seat as the movie finished and, just as the credits started to roll in, I found myself amazed with he score and cinematography. I cannot wait to watch the sequel!
I am a substance-over-style guy, but nonetheless the movie was such a delight to watch, and the slow pacing never felt boring, but the movie is captivating. Maybe also because it gives the audience time to 'take it all in'. It benefits from the crap contrast of modern Hollywood garbage by showing how mastery does things, with fanlike love and devotion.
The 'Leaving Caladan' track, that if I remember correctly, starts as the ship breaches the water and ends as Paul looks off at the Caladan sunset - to me that crescendo of bagpipe-like sounds and pounding drums really sold the score to me early on. I thought that was an incredibly powerful moment that would've felt MUCH different without such a dynamic musical backdrop.
I was going to comment about the same thing, that track plus that scene was truly awesome, like you were really there watching these gargantuan ships rise up in person.
That music immediately gave me goosebumps, I think I could hear symphonies/hurdy-gurdies instead of bagpipes there but the sounds are surprisingly similar for such different instruments.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention anything about the Harkonnen motif being a tritone! THE most sinister interval. Not only that, but the Arrakis motifs frequently use semitones. This gives the impression of the Harkonnen motif as an inversion, using the tones in the “wrong” direction. They took Arrakis and twisted it for their own needs, and their motif is similarly twisted.
The score was just so amazing. I felt sucked into the world, and because it was constantly playing, it seemed like I was in a trance after an hour or so. The themes were so subtle and yet so effective. They felt very intuitive and my brain could understand the meaning without having to study motifs and such. Which I think is the perfect way for a score to work.
I'd have to agree, watching (and listening to) this film really does put me in a trance, and everyone I know feels the same. I've watched it 5 times now, I can't get enough of it. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie 5 times in two weeks, I think this is a first for me, not even Avatar back when it came out garnered such attention from me, I only saw that three times.
@@wurskind lol it's a term used in the music industry, it's usually referring to the written sheet of the music itself, with no lyrical elements, just instrumental. In this instance score is the proper term for the music in dune, music these days almost always has lyrics/singing which makes it song, while a purely Instrumental piece would be a musical score. I think the term originates from the score-like marks on the music sheets if I'm not mistaken...
This was such a fascinating analysis. I did not notice the mixing of motifs/themes like in the example w/ the Atreides and Bene Gesserit tracks you pointed out. That detail of Paul's theme slowly changing from the "Atreides" sounds to the "Fremen" sounds blew me away. One of my favorite things about the score and sound design is that while they made an effort to make the film sound like something "out of this world", it also uses a lot of traditional/folk music elements - choirs, throat singing, bagpipes - which all evoke the old Earth. IMO this is perfect for Dune, a story set so far into the future yet so deeply tied to humanity's past and present. I am a bit disappointed we didn't get any super-memorable melodies like in some of Zimmer's other works but I can live with it. That could always change in the next film. God am I enamored by this film. I need to see it again. And again.
I would argue Paul's theme is a memorable melody, and it's introduced several times in really stripped-down ways at the beginning (6:11) before coming back with incredible intensity in Leaving Caladan (7:03). While I remember most of the soundtrack as textures and interwoven layers, this one is a really clear motif that stayed with me.
Also when DUNE part 2 comes out you might get some sweet Zimmer themes. I loved Batman Begins but The Dark Knight was a more memorable offering score wise.
@@davidshaban8554 Apparently, Zimmer came up with so much material for Part One that he already has lots of things to work with for Part Two. There's bound to be great continuity in the style, but as we get more action (as stated by Villeneuve) we can expect a broader range.
DUNE and its score is a masterpiece, but you’re point on how the music takes away space to breathe is 100% accurate. I as an audience member felt quite literally as if I couldn’t fully breath in, with all those low frequencies pressing onto my ears. Would have loved to just hear the wind in the desert and enjoy some authentic sound design in the more quiet moments.
I feel like the feeling of "rushing through setup" (from the video) or not being able to "fully breath in" is intentional. The fate of the Atreides was already sealed so every moment was in some way their last together.
@@Supadupanerd First viewing was in IMAX, and the only thing I could say by the end was "I can't even breathe", in the best possible way. Truly immersive and visceral.
I honestly feel the score didn't succeed in the truest measure of any score: how well it blends with what's on screen. A good film's score will feel completely organic to the scene, and not distracting. Dune's score feels like it's SHOUTING at you in nearly every scene. There's no subtlety or memorable motifs outside of a few vocal cues.
Credit to Lisa Gerrard needs to be recognized. Some music fans might have thought "wow he's getting into Dead Can Dance territory here," especially on pieces like "Paul's Dream" and "Gom Jabbar" that feature mystical belt-it-out chants and wails. There's a reason for that: it actually is Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard on the soundtrack. “There was an amazing commitment from vocalist Lisa Gerrard, who was in Australia, and I kept torturing her and she came up with this language that is all her own," Zimmer told Indiewire. "It could be from the future, it could be from a different world. And there was this linguist [David Peterson from ‘Game of Thrones’] on the movie, who invented a language, and I picked things that would sing well.” Gerrard, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Suzanne Waters, and others were part of a choir of singers led by Loire Cotler.
This breakdown is incredible, when you showed me the link between the themes of leaving Caladan and arriving at Dune I was blown away, truly incredible, Thank you for this video!!
Highly creative people coming together creating something mesmerising is such a crazy thing to witness. I'm simultaneously in awe and annoyed I wasn't part of it
This movie literally gave me chills and I’m sure the score had much to do with it. The throat singing, the gom jabbar scene when Paul starts to become defiant, all of it gave me goosebumps. For anyone on the fence you definitely need to see this movie in a theatre where the sound is all around you. Unless you have a great home theatre set up you won’t get the same affect in my opinion. I’ve gone back to the theatre 4 times just because I love the feeling the movie gives me!
Coming out of the cinema after watching Dune, I was left a bit "disappointed" that I wasn't humming to myself the main theme, as has happened to, I think, everybody after watching LotR or Harry Potter. Now, thanks to this video, I understand why and can appreciate the complexity behind this choice
watching the movie in an imax theater, the sheer volume was unsettling. After the sandstorm scene we felt like we'd been in a tumble-drier full of sand. I do agree that the use of sound would have been more effective if there had been a few more moments of quiet and respite for contrast.
Yeah the volume in Imax was painfully loud, I had to plug my ears at certain points. Otherwise a great movie, but the sound turned up to 11 left me feeling annoyed.
@@szinyk I left with jaded hearing that lasted about a day. The soundmix seems to have been poorly done in pursuit of impactful audio (i.e. very low dialogue and very loud during action scenes).
Agreed. I found the constant music annoying and distracting, and often too loud to hear the dialogue. I hope they address this in a director/extended cut.
@@MajorMalfunction Sadly, Denis said that the film in theatres is the director's cut, and not to expect an expanded one. (Which sucks because I'd love to see MORE). But yes, I hope against hope that they master the sound for normal TVs for the home release.
I already adored everything about this film, but this video really did give me a much greater appreciation for all the subtleties used throughout the score and quite how complex and well thought out it was. I loved it for the mood it created throughout the film, but this really made me appreciate WHY it was so effective.
As soon as I heard the score in the beginning of Dune, I was convinced it would win the Oscar. I had the same expectation with Lord of the Rings. These were sounds I had never heard. It was the same feeling when I first heard 13th-century music: immediately waking to a new voice. Life would never be the same.
Well, I think that's too much, hehe. The Lord of the Rings soundtrack is one thing; and the soundtrack of Dune is another one. Different levels. The scale and beauty of TLOTR soundtrack is still unmatched.
@@r.c.c.10 If you are looking for beauty in music, yes, you are right. There are other types of music, however, where emotional context is more important than beauty. We’ll have to wait for Dune II to discuss scale. The emotions in Dune are often not beautiful. Consider “Pictures at an Exhibition.“ A stunning work of art, not always beautiful.
@@Hobgoblin4447 True words. But what I meant is that the beuaty (not just as happiness) of TLOTR soundtrack as cinema music is the most perfect thing I've ever heard for the screen. It's like a list of great things, no matter if it's beauty, epicness, sadness, suspense, etc. I was't comparig beauty with beauty, but characteristics overall. And I think that the beauty, richness and scale of the soundtrack of TLOTR is the best thing to have ever been composed for cinema. It's a bit tough to explain.
Heard an interview with Villeneuve, where he likened the score during the “pain box” scene as reminiscent to the grinding of a dentist drill. Brilliant!
Another great analysis, the only thing I disagree with is when you talk about how there are parts that would benefit from the score being taken out, to give the characters room to breathe and slow the scenes down, as you said. I feel what you are saying and agree that it would have that effect, but I also feel it was intentional to never give the audience that feeling of slowing down. In a certain way the film benefits from its mad pacing, pushed along by the intensity of the score. Watching it in theatres I felt like I never had a chance to breathe and that enhanced rather than took away from the experience. Someone else in the comments described it as being put in a trance. I subscribed to your channel because of this video and the vfx analysis of Dune video you posted. Hope to see more expert analysis from you.
Completely agree. One of the important elements in the story is that from the moment they embark on the voyage to Arakis, the Atreides are on this proverbial runaway train to unavoidable prophecy. So it is critical to feel this tightness of pacing and lack of room to breathe. It took me days to come down from the high of seeing this movie and all i could think of once i did, was of my next opportunity to see it again.
i remember when i went to watch dune (i'm from italy, hence i watched the movie some time ago), I watched it with a couple of my friends and my sister, and since i'm a cinema junkie, as soon as i sat on the chair, i was ready to watch while the others were still making themselves comfortable, and when that sound arrived instantly, the sardaukar deep throat singing, i melted on my seat and i instantly knew that i was going to hear something i never or rarely heard in my life. that introduction hit me deeply and I already felt immerged in that world, while the others were just startled from that sound and felt the urgency to sit down and just watch the movie. In both cases, that sound takes your attention immediately and makes you focus on the movie and the movie alone. at least, that's what happened in the cinema that i went to.
This movie is a masterpiece on all technical levels. I hope Villeneuve, Zimmer and all the artisans that worked on this movie are recognized on the awards circuit.
One of the reasons for the score carpeting the entire film was probably the sparsity of the score in his previous films. He seems to have taken Bladerunner 2049's box office failure to heart. He's brought it up often in his interviews, including the DGA interview with Christopher Nolan. So this time he's used as much of the blockbuster bombastic tropes as he was comfortable with. An observation based on what he's said and how he's been promoting the film as well.
While i don't agree that this is the reason why he put more score, I think it had more to do with the script (and exposure mechanisms) as he said himself and the collaboration with Hans + the attempt Denis was making to increasingly mix score and sound design. But i agree that he took the Blade Runner box-office failure at heart and seems like he blames himself more than promotion (Which was sh**) or anything else, and It's sad because Blade Runner is an amazing movie.
Interesting observation. I’ve listened to both OSTs frequently the last few weeks, and I can understand that position.. BR seems to be comprised of held synth pads. Pretty, but really not much going on. Dune, on the other hand, feels more epic and grand in scale and approach.
What a terrible take. Sparsity of his score in blade runner? Also you think Hans had that kind of negative impact on 2049's box office? where would you have added a score in 2049 where there wasnt any music? 2049 was a far more philosophical piece than Dune (calm down people, im referring to the MOVIE dune, not the book).
The score is a huge reason why I loved the film so much. I love how the main theme is basically 2 chords, but the way it waxes and wanes in intensity is so satisfying. Combined with the amazing visuals, it’s intoxicating. Going to see part 2 in 2 hours and I can’t wait. I’ve heard it’s far better than part 1 and I loved part one although it’s clearly mostly exposition. 2 is gonna get meaty.
as an aspiring composer, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. as a film fan, the music is definitely overused in the edit. this is one of, if not THE, greatest score I have ever heard. I have rewatched the movie multiple times just for the feelings of the planets and groups with the music. wonderful video as always Thomas, great breakdown!!!
One thing that stood out to me when I was walking out of the movie was the feeling that the score was missing consistent percussion. I felt it weird because I would expected the Fremen to have drums that ground them to rhythm because they are in tune with the planet. I shared this with my brother and he believes this was done on purpose to emulate the planet of Arrakis. The loud score emulates the hot blistering sun, and the missing percussion fits the missing flora of the planet.
Coming back to this after seeing part 2, the absence of score during the final duel feels very powerful. Like, I think it's one of the few unscored moments in both films, it's great.
What a difference it would've been without music in the Duke's bedroom with Jessica. It would've also given me a chance to *think* and put all these world-building pieces together. Great video
The score was the thing that really blew my mind with this movie, aside from the obvious cinematic extremism is that the score was completely integral to the film from start to finish. Its not an accompaniment, it is an inseparable part of the narrative.
One section I think that would have been more powerful with no score would be the talk with Paul and his dad at the graveyard. The score is nice but kind of distracts from what they're saying imo
Nailed it. That was the point where a great score became only a stupid nuisance and its prevalence from there made the entire film feel like watching an extended trailer.
When I first watched this in IMAX and saw that Navigator ship for the first time, followed by scenes with the Imperial ship descending and standing tall among the mountains, I was in such spellbound awe that I actually got moved to tears. And that's entirely because of the music. It's designed in such a way that it feels so grand and so much bigger than you that you have no choice but to be lost in it
A thoroughly intelligent breakdown of one of Zimmer’s best soundtracks. I didn’t care for the soundtrack at first because there ws nothing that stood out for me. I fet that in parts Zimmer’s characteristic accoustic bombast was competing with the scene and soundffects for centerstage. Upon my second viewing without being visually overwhelmed by the visuals, I could better appreciate the soundtrack. It’s brilliant and this video illustrates that brilliance. Thank you.
Just the chord progression of the main theme is so cool. That major chord inching up recontextualizing the melody from the root to the major7. And then that minor-M7 chord omg
Yeah, I didn't know Zimmer did the score before seeing the movie. As I sat through the movie (which I loved) I really wanted the score to back off many scenes. The Dune score reminded me of Interstellar and how much the music kept taking me out of the movie because of how loud and overbearing it was.
I saw the film in theater and the sound was a visceral part of the experience...it was another character in a way I hadn't experienced in a movie. It was so moving to me.
I have never watched a movie where the score and sounds fused together with cinematography so much that they created their own magical vibe that wouldn't be possible with only the (albeit amazing) score and cinematography by themselves.
This music, more than any other aspect of the film, reflected what I felt while reading the books. In my head, I always envisioned a little more...color? And more trippy surreal imagery that I felt the Lynch version captured fairly well. But I totally understand why Villeneuve approached the look of his version the way he did. Zimmer captured the surreal, the epic, the terrifying and the power of the desert as well as the loneliness of Paul's journey of self-discovery. I think the sequel (or second part) is gonna be INSANE.
This movie had so much impact on me. The visuals were just so beautiful, the acting was on point and the score by Hans Zimmer was outstanding yet haunting at the same time, especially the Sardauker chant and Harkonnen theme. And that's why Dune is one of my favourite movies of all time, and why Denis Villenueve is one of my top favourite filmmakers.
I agree with the critique you had about the score being overused. I absolutely loved all the sound design and score, but by the end of the movie I started getting 'lamenting woman singing' fatigue. Using it more sparingly would have really elevated the movie.
yeah, I was loving the depth of the score until he did the stereotypical wailing woman, which modern cinema just LOvEs to attach to arabian desert scenes. I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard the first wail--like seriously? It was very cliché.
“Lamenting woman singing fatigue”. Absolutely laughed out loud at that one. Because that’s exactly how I described Zack Snyder’s Justice League whenever Wonder Woman came into frame
I definitely recommend listening to the sketchbook album as it basically explains what the various musical cues mean, like this video does but obviously in more detail.
Tons of amazing scenes, but my favourite was when the emperors herald arrived, gives me literal chills no matter how many times I hear and see the grandiose arrival
I don't disagree with the conclusion that using less score might have been more impactful, but it'd be a brave member of the crew who says _Hans Zimmer, one of if not the best film composers of all time, wrote one of the best scores of his life and we're going to use less of it_
Zimmer has been making the same score for almost a decade. ticking clocks, ascending scales, horns. Think about it, you can take any dunkirk piece and recycle it, it's basically due to any nolan movie.
@@jsalinasbarros That's like saying all classical music sounds the same because they use horns and strings and similar melodic structures It's also weird because, isn't Hans Zimmer famous for using unique instruments and sounds in his scores? It's strange to point to specific recurring sounds to say his scores are homogeneous, when many of his most well known scores are largely popular due to specifically their unique sounds
@@yuyutubee8435 I mean yeah and such a claim is obviously subjective, but if you take average quality of score and multiply it by the number films he's scored he's got to be up there.
Best doesn’t equal most popular, he’s fine and effective and I did enjoy the sheer tactility of the Dune score, but there are many other composers who do things very differently that should be praised too.
I agree that the score does seem to be a 2.5 hour affair as long as the film and you are right some scenes without seem more intense, urgent and pace better without the score - i.e. when Leto asks Jessica/BG to protect Paul. It was a pretty much a score-driven film and Villeneuve is known to not over-use score in his films. Perhaps at most an artistic decision designed to expand the feeling and setting of Dune, world building through sound and voices.
Dude, you absolutely nailed what I've been trying to figure out since I saw this movie. I loved it when I saw it but something felt, off. I read the book and knew all the background info but it felt like most of it was rushed through, even though everything (besides Liet Kynes' backstory) was pretty much covered. I never considered the score's effect on the perceived pacing could play that big of a role. Even though the score was possibly my favorite part of the film, I never considered it could contribute to what I had not enjoyed as much. Brilliantly done, how you make these observations for these video topics I'll never be smart enough to understand
Nah, the score did not effect the pacing at all. Its your preconcieved notions of what the movie was supposed to be. The demise of the Artreides plays a different role and is executed far more swiftly for narrative reasons. The book lets you know in andvace and keeps you on your toes as to when its all going to happen. And even then it is pretty fast paced and rushed. They cut surprisingly little out from the books (plotwise). I felt the same way the first time I saw the film. Watch it again - it is paced perfectly. Nothing is missing, not 1 beat of the story. Its just different, but keeps the exact same spirit as that part of the book. Its a 2 and a half hour long movie that gives you everything you need, but also keeps you wanting more, has a small 3 act structure but is ultimately act 1.5 of a 3 act epic. It is perfect in every way, as perfect as a Dune movie can and should get.
Wow what a great analysis you've done here. I'm a long time Dune nerd, and a professional musician and composer. I think what they've accomplished via sound design and score is something really astounding and probably so unusual that I don't think any of us have fully appreciated it yet. Gonna take some time to sink in to the cultural consciousness.
One of the best film scores of all time was Elmer Bernstein's "The Great Escape". Watch the movie a few times, then just listen to the score, and the scene from the movie will appear in your imagination. And the score for "Dune"? Like the movie itself, masterful. I am already awaiting Part 2.
I knew I loved Dune after watching it, yet at the same time I felt like it being structured as an entry point to the universe made the story off in some way. Now I know why I loved it instantly - it's an experience that is not a traditional cinema one specifically, rather one more akin to taking in a painting
And that being said, if the the world building doesn't hook you enough then its definitely not gonna be a pleasant 2 hr 30 min. I feel like that's what happened to a lot of people who didn't enjoy the movie.
@@REChronic54 Yeah i think that was my problem, the World didnt grab due to the choices. Its a fine made film, that just didnt rub me the way it wanted
I feel like I'm out of place with the fact that I loved that the music was almost constant. I love the feeling of being crushed by the music and having it drive into my head. Might also be why I'm a fan of Monolord for a similar experience of being wrapped in a cloak of sound.
Glad I'm not alone thinking like that! I love music being used as a tool to get you lost and immersed in the film's world, sometimes whether you like it or not 😂
My favorite way 2 themes are mixed together in a movie is in lord of the ring, when they are huntuing the uruk-hai, you get served a mashup of the fellowship theme and the 5/4 theme of isengard
For real, great work man. As I learn more of the movie, I still can believe how much craft and dedication went into it. For example, if you look at 7:41, the color grading is reminding us of both world: Caladan (greenish) and Arrakis (tan) that you can see at 7:30. Man, I can't wait for Part 2.
How incredible the score was, was the second thing out of my mouth as the credits rolled. I do agree that having some scenes include a bit less of a score would have helped the audience identify more with the characters. Overall I found the film very impressionistic though, and that's certainly not a bad choice. Every minute thrilled me and at the end, it left me breathless.
I've been advocating music/score for so long....it's literally half the movie for me, can change a movie from mediocre to incredible. Dune happens to be an incredible movie with an incredible score...so it's a masterpiece lol
Zimmer's unique use of score and sound to support story telling in Dune is related to the Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit use phonetic and tonal elements in speech to command and affect people with a message. Zimmer uses music like the Bene Gesserit use language; as a way of delivering messages and affecting others. The music also embodies the metaphysical and mystical elements of the Bene Gesserit, just like you said. Zimmer's careful use of sounds also emphasizes language as an important plot device in the Dune story. By speaking and commanding others, the Bene Gesserit affect the consequences in the Dune universe. Herbert focused on this importance of language to the story by adding a glossary to the original novel. Zimmer also reflects on the importance of speech, by incorporating cries and whispers in his score. Herbert also used borrowed terms from different cultures! Like "kwisatz haderach", literally "a leap forward" in Hebrew. Zimmer focused on the primal and vocal elements of cultures (Instruments, singing) rather than language, of course. I love how both of these creative people found ways to use their craft to deliver similar messages, however differently.
I like that first clip without the score better than with it. There's just something about hearing only Paul's breathing and the wind. I totally agree that those scenes you showed work really well with no score.
I just got CuriosityStream + Nebula with your code just so I could watch your video on the sound design of Dune - and boy was I not disappointed. I just might go watch the movie again with that knowledge in mind.
Great video, as I haven't thought about Dune's soundtrack before. But I think it kind of is what Hans Zimmer has done many times before, using minimalistic themes (that are so minimalistic that you basically couldn't call them themes in a musical way if it wasn't film music) to let the audience remember stuff. What you explain in the video are the basics of leitmotif usage in film music and musical drama. And using leitmotifs is not a sign of quality in of itself I think. How the themes are used in Dune seems a little on the nose to me, but still effective enough to work. "If Zimmer had been relying on a melody to communicate these ideas this would have been a lot more difficult..." is very true, doing that would be indeed more difficult. It is what every soundtrack with leitmotifs does though, even more effectively. What Zimmer does in the scene you described is more like letting the audience remember that the Bene Gesserit and House Atreides exist, while other composers would have made that connection way more subtle and way more complex at the same time (for example in Lord of the Rings most themes are related to each other, originating in one tiny idea, which allows the soundtrack to make connections between various ideas to make statements about the film's themes by simply existing). What makes the Dune soundtrack stand out though is the sounddesign itself, which is not Zimmer's work alone, but instead the work of him and his whole team if I'm not wrong. Most of the sounds are pretty awesome and give the film a really dense atmosphere. I think Zimmer definitely knows how to produce a soundtrack, while I never loved or hated the music itself - it is okay. The music does what it has to do for the film to work, which is the least it could do. I would agree that they could have had more scenes without soundtrack. The effect of the silence in the scenes you showcased was incredible. On the other hand, it was remarkable how fast the film felt eventhough it was in fact a long film.
The sound design is more Denis team tho, great team because is also one of my favorite parts of Blade Runner. (Btw I totally recommend you see their interview, Denis, Mark and the team on UA-cam, really good) And i agree that we could have more scenes without soundtrack, because the acting alone was SO GOOD that sometimes the soundtrack just got in the way 🤷🏻♀️
@@jessica5497 wow, thanks! Now I know what felt so off about parts of the Dune soundtrack. I did like the BR2049 score much better. I literally was anticipating a moment of quietness in Dune. In my head I was like “Zimmer, don’t tell me how to feel RN, please, just for a sec” ;)
I agree, the combination of themes etc is really standard film score stuff. I hate to say it, but I think the score made the film worse. It's just too loud too much of the time! (This is true of the mixing in general which drowned out quiet dialogue, and also frankly it's unethical of IMAX to make movies so loud they damage people's hearing.)
Yup, leitmotif has been done and overdone ever since John Williams started using it in scores, and even back then the idea was taken from Richard Wagners operas from 100 years prior. The sound design in Dune is great, sure, but the use of the Maqam scale, throat singing and flute sounds for the Fremen theme was so on the nose and borderline problematic that it really killed the buzz for me 🤷🏼♀️
This movie is a masterpiece and I hope the next one is just as amazing. It makes me want to read the books... But, seeing the movies are my first experience with this series, I'd like to finish the movies first then read the books.
I can't criticise Zimmer too much for this, but the OST was overused in the edit. It would be interesting to find out what percentage of the film had either OST or significant soundscape. It must be around 90%. Edit: You mentioned this! Completely agree.
Nice to hear someone else point this out. It's a major criticism for me actually. There was so much score in the film at times I felt like I was never really in it. Whole film was washing over me, just out of reach and I couldn't get a foothold. There was the moment with Paul and his Mum in the crashed gyrocopter when it all the sound was diegetic (rustling of the tent, scraping the sand) and I was like 'Whoah! I'm there!', pretty much the first time. Shame it was about 2 hours in. Glad the film's doing well though.
I think it has got to do with this beeing part 1 of the movie and beeing threated like setup, mainly. It's also book accurate, whether it's on accident or not, since the book treats the plot the same way, even telling us the outcome in advance. But I think the score beeing there at all times, like in the scenes you showed of leto and jessica, also helps illustrate the story as well as their particular relationship - perfectly. For example, the fact that their relationship is in their way (the birth of paul and their defiance of the bene gesserit) and is the cause of most of their problems. In those 2 scenes, where you noticed a narrative shift when removing the score, their relationship is supposed to be fleeting and distracting - consuming them. The score beeing present supports that. Especially for jessica who is the viewpoint character in both scenes (and for a big chunk of the movie as well). It shows us how inevitable and quick their demise was destined to be. There was no time for their individual stories, they were given none - in universe.
@@jukaa1012 I guess I'd have been pulled into the world even more with less OST. The film suddenly felt so real when the score did drop out and if they'd mixed it up a bit more soundwise, I think I'd have been able to better appreciate all the points your making about the Jessice and Paul's arcs.
Wow, can’t believe I’m just finding this video years later. Very well done, friend. Glad this score had such an impact on you - That goes much appreciated, you have no idea! Hope you’re ready for Part II next year!
I'm glad you pointed out at the end that the sound editing needed some work. I completely agree. It was an amazing score but honestly it emotionally overloaded me throughout the movie to where I didn't feel as much in those important moments as I should have, I think because big score moments usually accompany big emotion moments and having the score so present throughout the whole film made it feel like everything was supposed to be important making nothing important.
I saw Dune in cinema and it had some sort of cool new sound system with speakers all around the place. Including sealing and underneath the seats. In the beginning there was this advert to demonstrate the system and it played the sound of a bird flying around the room. It was amazing as you could clearly hear the bird doing laps around you. I had to take a look behind me to see if I could see the bird, such was the realism I felt. Made the movie feel even more incredible.
except for his movie "Sicario", I just saw it and it is horrible, probably one of the worst movies I have ever watched, and Dune is in my top 5 of all time
This is the best video on the Dune score I've seen - bravo! Love the analysis, really makes the genius in a film I loved so much more accessible. Thank you Thomas!!
I agree so completely. It’s a wonderful score. Amazing. Brilliant. Hans Zimmer is truly one of the greats. At the same time, it eventually becomes too much. Too clever. Inserts itself inside the action. Nice analysis 🧐
I didn't see old movie. I did not see a single trailer of new Dune . Then I sat down in the theatre , all i could hear is amazing music and this insane movie ❤️
Wow, what a great video! I feel like scores are often overlooked when analysing movies and especially with Zimmer scores it often adds layers to the movies. I feel sorry for everybody who hasn´t seen this movie with massive speakers in a cinema. And it`s crazy that Zimmer only has 1 Oscar to date, hope that will change next year.
Zimmer only has one Oscar? 😮 But he's considered one of (if not the) best composers of the last 20-30 years. Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Carribean...
I feel movies / scenes more reliant on visuals or with minimal dialogue rely more heavily on score otherwise it gets boring One example that comes to mind is when the beacons are lit in return of the king
What I noticed is that Duncan Idaho is one of the only characters in the movie who has his own, almost, 'theme song' that plays during several of his scenes. It's heroic and uplifting, but what truly makes it interesting is the fact that there are quite a few people who consider Duncan Idaho to be the true protagonist of the Dune series.
You know I never get tired of videos like these, people analyzing great pieces of film and music. It really inspires me to dive into the acting world again.
Here's some irony..I was wondering just yesterday (before noticing your video) what would it be like to see the entire film sans score...just the environment, as if I was there. Then I ran into this excellent exploration of yours today. Granted, I've only seen the film once (so far), so I don't know the score and its thematic elements at all. That will change over time for I'm certain to watch this film at least as many times as I have read this book...which is a lot. And I don't know that I was disappointed with the score itself, but the manner by which it was presented in my local theater. The music was so on top of everything else (obviously the theater wanted to emphasize the drama with extreme volume) there were times when it was overbearing and even clipping. I'll need to see it again under more appropriate conditions to get a better grip on the material. Still I wish I could see the whole film unadorned with music. I understand where many, being acclimated to how innate music accompanies story these days, might find watching a film this way would find it unbearable. I think I would be fascinating. Thanks for giving me an unexpected, but welcomed shot at it.
Yeah the sound mix is a bit rough in places unfortunately. I consider that to be a different technical element than the score, which itself I thought was great.
I too faced the problem with sound at my local theatre. I just went to experience the big screen. But sound mixing was too loud sometimes. Later I watched the movie on my laptop with my headphones, found no such problem with sound and it felt so much better. So in this case maybe I have to blame the local theatre sound system.
@@snakelord8316 The theater was most definitely the problem for audio during my screening. Like cafeteria food, someone should taste it before laying it out for the general public. There's a very general metaphor there somewhere.
Damn, I need to watch it again ! Such complexity. Because it's used a lot in the movie like you said, I don't remembered that much the subtility on each sounds/themes. It could have be more impactful for sure to use the score at key moments only. But in the other hand, using it so ofter really make the atmosphere of the movie.
Wow. Great to finally see a thoughtful spotlight... on the brilliant yet overlooked score for Dune... by Hans Zimmer. This music is fundamentally vital... yet skillfully transparent. Thanks.
Hey folks, right now there's a limited time CuriosityStream Sale that's even better than the one in mentioned in the video. You can get CuriosityStream and Nebula for 42% off unil December 24th. (Only $11.59!) Sign up now and watch my companion video about Dune's Sound Design: CuriosityStream.com/ThomasFlight
Watch bahuballi and bajirao mastani indian movie soundtracks
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UDTJ-6LTC
What I personally would change is the bagpipe Player he should play longer solo then the Orchester
its not Hans Simmer, its Zimmer
The scene with the Bene Gesseret ship landing and taking off was SUPER impactful due to the music, the whispering voices and made my heart beat crazy.
Really sold the idea that the Benne Gesserets are mysterious and holds alot of power
The next time you watch it, listen for the whispers and woman chorus showing up in other scenes. Even when the witches aren't present, their presence is still felt.
Yeah best scene
The sound the ship makes as it starts up, too. Goosebumps.
Same with the harvester rescue, my favourite scene!
Watching this in IMAX with Dolby was singlehandedly the most bone-jarring cinematic experience of my life
It really is worth watching in IMAX
God, I watched it in just standard 2D and the attack on Arrakeen was the most memorable and exhilarating scene I have ever seen in a movie. I legitimately cannot imagine how intense that would have been at higher levels.
I regret not catching it in Dolby
That's a generous way of saying "ear rape". Loved the movie overall but I felt the score lacked subtlety in parts.
I tell this to everyone. The best theatrical experience I've had in 10 years.
the throat singing on the sardaukar planet was so dope
Dude the memes of that scene 😂
Hamburger cheeseburger big mac whopper
Denis likes using that throat singing. Used it in Blade Runner 2049 too.
@@rushthezeppelin , yes, the Dune memes! Especially the Sardaukar chant rave memes.
hamburgercheeseburgerbigmacwhopper
It's really interesting how Zimmer made something that was memorable without being hum-able. It does lend itself to the exotic nature of the film and Villeneuve's directorial style as a whole.
You can scream and growl to it though.
@@MaxIronsThird Fair enough. There are also Mongolian throat tones if anyone here is good at that.
He does that with quite a few films, like the Dark Knight trilogy or Inception
OK this is actually a great insight
I dunno, I can hum along
The fact this movie exists, as it really is, with more than 300M worldwide, going into the pop culture as it should, is by itself a monumental achievement.
You are so right. I was afraid it would flop but it has genuinely entered the public consciousness. I'm delighted to see it happen both for the dune series and especially for Denis
Avatar made far more and yet is rarely talked about. Only time will tell who wins between _JimCam v Denny V: Dawn of Franchises._
Please shut up.
@@anantsharma7955 sugma
On the way to 400 million solaris.
I went to watch Dune with no previous knowledge of it. I knew basically nothing, just that it was a Sci-Fi movie. And, up to this day, I think that it was one of the best cinematic experiences I've ever had before. I remember being over the edge of my seat as the movie finished and, just as the credits started to roll in, I found myself amazed with he score and cinematography. I cannot wait to watch the sequel!
Similar experience as you. Watched the movie three times in the cinema
I am a substance-over-style guy, but nonetheless the movie was such a delight to watch, and the slow pacing never felt boring, but the movie is captivating. Maybe also because it gives the audience time to 'take it all in'. It benefits from the crap contrast of modern Hollywood garbage by showing how mastery does things, with fanlike love and devotion.
I’m the same, just watched it today
Praise the lord, the sequel did NOT disappoint 🫡
What did you think of the movie?! @xoxovallllllll
The 'Leaving Caladan' track, that if I remember correctly, starts as the ship breaches the water and ends as Paul looks off at the Caladan sunset - to me that crescendo of bagpipe-like sounds and pounding drums really sold the score to me early on. I thought that was an incredibly powerful moment that would've felt MUCH different without such a dynamic musical backdrop.
I was going to comment about the same thing, that track plus that scene was truly awesome, like you were really there watching these gargantuan ships rise up in person.
That music immediately gave me goosebumps, I think I could hear symphonies/hurdy-gurdies instead of bagpipes there but the sounds are surprisingly similar for such different instruments.
Yes, the Leaving Caladan track was phenomenal. Definitely my favourite from the entire score.
The track that sticks around in my head for sure
I couldn't agree more!
I’m surprised you didn’t mention anything about the Harkonnen motif being a tritone! THE most sinister interval. Not only that, but the Arrakis motifs frequently use semitones. This gives the impression of the Harkonnen motif as an inversion, using the tones in the “wrong” direction. They took Arrakis and twisted it for their own needs, and their motif is similarly twisted.
agréed, but idk if this guy has a music background. kinda disappointed, i felt like this video only scratched the surface.
I hope that Pt. 2 features an even more sinister score, hopefully with some unresolved chords.
i have no idea what you are saying
Wow, that's pretty cool.
"The Devil's Interval" Perfect for them! Actually, most of the music is pretty atonal.
The score was just so amazing. I felt sucked into the world, and because it was constantly playing, it seemed like I was in a trance after an hour or so. The themes were so subtle and yet so effective. They felt very intuitive and my brain could understand the meaning without having to study motifs and such. Which I think is the perfect way for a score to work.
I'd have to agree, watching (and listening to) this film really does put me in a trance, and everyone I know feels the same. I've watched it 5 times now, I can't get enough of it. I can't remember the last time I watched a movie 5 times in two weeks, I think this is a first for me, not even Avatar back when it came out garnered such attention from me, I only saw that three times.
ok ill say it what is score.... explain
@@wurskind The music.
@@TheExplosiveGuy Then why don’t we just call it the music? lol
Thanks for taking the bait yes I’m a douche
@@wurskind lol it's a term used in the music industry, it's usually referring to the written sheet of the music itself, with no lyrical elements, just instrumental. In this instance score is the proper term for the music in dune, music these days almost always has lyrics/singing which makes it song, while a purely Instrumental piece would be a musical score. I think the term originates from the score-like marks on the music sheets if I'm not mistaken...
The reason Duncan Idaho has his own theme music is that far into the book series, he plays a very major role.
Yeah, he's big boi worm bitch for like 3k years haha
didnt he die tho?
@@RED-my9hlwithout spoiling it too much, it's not the last we see of him. Or at least "him"
@@cjckdbdhx OOOO i see
@@RED-my9hl No one dies in Dune, the end reveals it’s all a simulation. Just trolling but genuinely in some ways no one truly dies
This was such a fascinating analysis. I did not notice the mixing of motifs/themes like in the example w/ the Atreides and Bene Gesserit tracks you pointed out. That detail of Paul's theme slowly changing from the "Atreides" sounds to the "Fremen" sounds blew me away. One of my favorite things about the score and sound design is that while they made an effort to make the film sound like something "out of this world", it also uses a lot of traditional/folk music elements - choirs, throat singing, bagpipes - which all evoke the old Earth. IMO this is perfect for Dune, a story set so far into the future yet so deeply tied to humanity's past and present.
I am a bit disappointed we didn't get any super-memorable melodies like in some of Zimmer's other works but I can live with it. That could always change in the next film. God am I enamored by this film. I need to see it again. And again.
I would argue Paul's theme is a memorable melody, and it's introduced several times in really stripped-down ways at the beginning (6:11) before coming back with incredible intensity in Leaving Caladan (7:03). While I remember most of the soundtrack as textures and interwoven layers, this one is a really clear motif that stayed with me.
Also when DUNE part 2 comes out you might get some sweet Zimmer themes. I loved Batman Begins but The Dark Knight was a more memorable offering score wise.
@@davidshaban8554 Apparently, Zimmer came up with so much material for Part One that he already has lots of things to work with for Part Two. There's bound to be great continuity in the style, but as we get more action (as stated by Villeneuve) we can expect a broader range.
@@TheSaniss Leaving Caladan is the theme that keeps replaying in my head. Its epic.
I disagree partially. The chant part was way TOOOOOOO LONG, loud and IRRITATING. Sorry...
Zimmer is such a genius. His pieces always double the depth and emotion already portrayed by the acting and visuals
The Sardaukan theme was so sick. Its shows how ruthless they are
Reminds me of the mongols.
@@s-kazi940 mixing Mongol and Germanic/Scandinavian throat singing was great
I feel like their theme is more ruthless than their visual portrayal haha
Yeah, that part filled me with a sense of Dread or imminent doom like I've never felt before. It was absolutely brilliant.
DUNE and its score is a masterpiece, but you’re point on how the music takes away space to breathe is 100% accurate. I as an audience member felt quite literally as if I couldn’t fully breath in, with all those low frequencies pressing onto my ears. Would have loved to just hear the wind in the desert and enjoy some authentic sound design in the more quiet moments.
I feel like the feeling of "rushing through setup" (from the video) or not being able to "fully breath in" is intentional. The fate of the Atreides was already sealed so every moment was in some way their last together.
The fabric of the audio is meant to feel suffocating, and bewildering at the same time... It was amazingly well created
@@jablewit that's a very interesting way to put it.
@@Supadupanerd First viewing was in IMAX, and the only thing I could say by the end was "I can't even breathe", in the best possible way. Truly immersive and visceral.
I honestly feel the score didn't succeed in the truest measure of any score: how well it blends with what's on screen. A good film's score will feel completely organic to the scene, and not distracting. Dune's score feels like it's SHOUTING at you in nearly every scene. There's no subtlety or memorable motifs outside of a few vocal cues.
Credit to Lisa Gerrard needs to be recognized.
Some music fans might have thought "wow he's getting into Dead Can Dance territory here," especially on pieces like "Paul's Dream" and "Gom Jabbar" that feature mystical belt-it-out chants and wails. There's a reason for that: it actually is Dead Can Dance's Lisa Gerrard on the soundtrack.
“There was an amazing commitment from vocalist Lisa Gerrard, who was in Australia, and I kept torturing her and she came up with this language that is all her own," Zimmer told Indiewire. "It could be from the future, it could be from a different world. And there was this linguist [David Peterson from ‘Game of Thrones’] on the movie, who invented a language, and I picked things that would sing well.”
Gerrard, Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Suzanne Waters, and others were part of a choir of singers led by Loire Cotler.
I didn't realize she worked on this score. She also worked on Gladiator, right?
@@Tlducken yes, she also worked with Zimmer on Gladiator :)
Commenting for increased comment visability
When I heard it in cinema, I assumed it would be her!
Thank you for posting this, i had no idea!
I don't know why, but the score actually made me shiver, and it was hard for me to breathe. I don't think I was ever this immersed in a movie before
This breakdown is incredible, when you showed me the link between the themes of leaving Caladan and arriving at Dune I was blown away, truly incredible, Thank you for this video!!
Highly creative people coming together creating something mesmerising is such a crazy thing to witness. I'm simultaneously in awe and annoyed I wasn't part of it
This movie literally gave me chills and I’m sure the score had much to do with it. The throat singing, the gom jabbar scene when Paul starts to become defiant, all of it gave me goosebumps. For anyone on the fence you definitely need to see this movie in a theatre where the sound is all around you. Unless you have a great home theatre set up you won’t get the same affect in my opinion. I’ve gone back to the theatre 4 times just because I love the feeling the movie gives me!
Coming out of the cinema after watching Dune, I was left a bit "disappointed" that I wasn't humming to myself the main theme, as has happened to, I think, everybody after watching LotR or Harry Potter. Now, thanks to this video, I understand why and can appreciate the complexity behind this choice
watching the movie in an imax theater, the sheer volume was unsettling. After the sandstorm scene we felt like we'd been in a tumble-drier full of sand. I do agree that the use of sound would have been more effective if there had been a few more moments of quiet and respite for contrast.
Yeah the volume in Imax was painfully loud, I had to plug my ears at certain points. Otherwise a great movie, but the sound turned up to 11 left me feeling annoyed.
@@szinyk I left with jaded hearing that lasted about a day. The soundmix seems to have been poorly done in pursuit of impactful audio (i.e. very low dialogue and very loud during action scenes).
@@szinyk I also felt I went a bit deaf after watching it today. Definitely plugged my ears at times.
Agreed. I found the constant music annoying and distracting, and often too loud to hear the dialogue. I hope they address this in a director/extended cut.
@@MajorMalfunction Sadly, Denis said that the film in theatres is the director's cut, and not to expect an expanded one. (Which sucks because I'd love to see MORE). But yes, I hope against hope that they master the sound for normal TVs for the home release.
I already adored everything about this film, but this video really did give me a much greater appreciation for all the subtleties used throughout the score and quite how complex and well thought out it was. I loved it for the mood it created throughout the film, but this really made me appreciate WHY it was so effective.
If you liked this analysis of Dune you'd love this one too: ua-cam.com/video/LHb2eRv4FjI/v-deo.html , you're welcome ;)
As soon as I heard the score in the beginning of Dune, I was convinced it would win the Oscar. I had the same expectation with Lord of the Rings. These were sounds I had never heard. It was the same feeling when I first heard 13th-century music: immediately waking to a new voice. Life would never be the same.
Well, I think that's too much, hehe. The Lord of the Rings soundtrack is one thing; and the soundtrack of Dune is another one. Different levels. The scale and beauty of TLOTR soundtrack is still unmatched.
@@r.c.c.10 If you are looking for beauty in music, yes, you are right. There are other types of music, however, where emotional context is more important than beauty. We’ll have to wait for Dune II to discuss scale. The emotions in Dune are often not beautiful. Consider “Pictures at an Exhibition.“ A stunning work of art, not always beautiful.
@@Hobgoblin4447 True words.
But what I meant is that the beuaty (not just as happiness) of TLOTR soundtrack as cinema music is the most perfect thing I've ever heard for the screen. It's like a list of great things, no matter if it's beauty, epicness, sadness, suspense, etc. I was't comparig beauty with beauty, but characteristics overall. And I think that the beauty, richness and scale of the soundtrack of TLOTR is the best thing to have ever been composed for cinema.
It's a bit tough to explain.
What can I say? I'm a sucker for a female vocalist going full ham.
@@r.c.c.10 Have you heard of Yuki Kajiura?
I am absolutely obsessed with this film. Was so grateful to see it twice on the IMAX. This breakdown / analysis is immensely satisfying 😊
You'd love this then: ua-cam.com/video/LHb2eRv4FjI/v-deo.html , you're welcome ;)
@@rickydrizzle9150 I subscribed, so good! Much appreciated 😊
Heard an interview with Villeneuve, where he likened the score during the “pain box” scene as reminiscent to the grinding of a dentist drill. Brilliant!
Another great analysis, the only thing I disagree with is when you talk about how there are parts that would benefit from the score being taken out, to give the characters room to breathe and slow the scenes down, as you said. I feel what you are saying and agree that it would have that effect, but I also feel it was intentional to never give the audience that feeling of slowing down. In a certain way the film benefits from its mad pacing, pushed along by the intensity of the score. Watching it in theatres I felt like I never had a chance to breathe and that enhanced rather than took away from the experience. Someone else in the comments described it as being put in a trance. I subscribed to your channel because of this video and the vfx analysis of Dune video you posted. Hope to see more expert analysis from you.
Exactly!!,
Completely agree. One of the important elements in the story is that from the moment they embark on the voyage to Arakis, the Atreides are on this proverbial runaway train to unavoidable prophecy. So it is critical to feel this tightness of pacing and lack of room to breathe. It took me days to come down from the high of seeing this movie and all i could think of once i did, was of my next opportunity to see it again.
i remember when i went to watch dune (i'm from italy, hence i watched the movie some time ago), I watched it with a couple of my friends and my sister, and since i'm a cinema junkie, as soon as i sat on the chair, i was ready to watch while the others were still making themselves comfortable, and when that sound arrived instantly, the sardaukar deep throat singing, i melted on my seat and i instantly knew that i was going to hear something i never or rarely heard in my life. that introduction hit me deeply and I already felt immerged in that world, while the others were just startled from that sound and felt the urgency to sit down and just watch the movie. In both cases, that sound takes your attention immediately and makes you focus on the movie and the movie alone. at least, that's what happened in the cinema that i went to.
This movie is a masterpiece on all technical levels. I hope Villeneuve, Zimmer and all the artisans that worked on this movie are recognized on the awards circuit.
One of the reasons for the score carpeting the entire film was probably the sparsity of the score in his previous films. He seems to have taken Bladerunner 2049's box office failure to heart. He's brought it up often in his interviews, including the DGA interview with Christopher Nolan.
So this time he's used as much of the blockbuster bombastic tropes as he was comfortable with. An observation based on what he's said and how he's been promoting the film as well.
While i don't agree that this is the reason why he put more score, I think it had more to do with the script (and exposure mechanisms) as he said himself and the collaboration with Hans + the attempt Denis was making to increasingly mix score and sound design. But i agree that he took the Blade Runner box-office failure at heart and seems like he blames himself more than promotion (Which was sh**) or anything else, and It's sad because Blade Runner is an amazing movie.
@@jessica5497 you're right, he did start working on the score with Zimmer during pre-productio and finished during the edit.
Interesting observation. I’ve listened to both OSTs frequently the last few weeks, and I can understand that position.. BR seems to be comprised of held synth pads. Pretty, but really not much going on. Dune, on the other hand, feels more epic and grand in scale and approach.
@@jessica5497 l
What a terrible take. Sparsity of his score in blade runner? Also you think Hans had that kind of negative impact on 2049's box office? where would you have added a score in 2049 where there wasnt any music? 2049 was a far more philosophical piece than Dune (calm down people, im referring to the MOVIE dune, not the book).
The score is a huge reason why I loved the film so much. I love how the main theme is basically 2 chords, but the way it waxes and wanes in intensity is so satisfying. Combined with the amazing visuals, it’s intoxicating. Going to see part 2 in 2 hours and I can’t wait. I’ve heard it’s far better than part 1 and I loved part one although it’s clearly mostly exposition. 2 is gonna get meaty.
as an aspiring composer, this is one of my favorite movies of all time. as a film fan, the music is definitely overused in the edit. this is one of, if not THE, greatest score I have ever heard. I have rewatched the movie multiple times just for the feelings of the planets and groups with the music. wonderful video as always Thomas, great breakdown!!!
One thing that stood out to me when I was walking out of the movie was the feeling that the score was missing consistent percussion. I felt it weird because I would expected the Fremen to have drums that ground them to rhythm because they are in tune with the planet. I shared this with my brother and he believes this was done on purpose to emulate the planet of Arrakis. The loud score emulates the hot blistering sun, and the missing percussion fits the missing flora of the planet.
Good job editing around HBO’s blocks. I wouldn’t have guessed anything was missing.
you spelt bollocks wrong
; )
Coming back to this after seeing part 2, the absence of score during the final duel feels very powerful. Like, I think it's one of the few unscored moments in both films, it's great.
What a difference it would've been without music in the Duke's bedroom with Jessica. It would've also given me a chance to *think* and put all these world-building pieces together. Great video
The score was the thing that really blew my mind with this movie, aside from the obvious cinematic extremism is that the score was completely integral to the film from start to finish. Its not an accompaniment, it is an inseparable part of the narrative.
One section I think that would have been more powerful with no score would be the talk with Paul and his dad at the graveyard. The score is nice but kind of distracts from what they're saying imo
Nailed it. That was the point where a great score became only a stupid nuisance and its prevalence from there made the entire film feel like watching an extended trailer.
When I first watched this in IMAX and saw that Navigator ship for the first time, followed by scenes with the Imperial ship descending and standing tall among the mountains, I was in such spellbound awe that I actually got moved to tears. And that's entirely because of the music. It's designed in such a way that it feels so grand and so much bigger than you that you have no choice but to be lost in it
A thoroughly intelligent breakdown of one of Zimmer’s best soundtracks. I didn’t care for the soundtrack at first because there ws nothing that stood out for me. I fet that in parts Zimmer’s characteristic accoustic bombast was competing with the scene and soundffects for centerstage. Upon my second viewing without being visually overwhelmed by the visuals, I could better appreciate the soundtrack. It’s brilliant and this video illustrates that brilliance. Thank you.
Indeed, the brilliance of the visual brilliance is only equalled by the audible brilliance of the brilliant audio in this brilliant movie. Epic!
Just the chord progression of the main theme is so cool. That major chord inching up recontextualizing the melody from the root to the major7. And then that minor-M7 chord omg
My thoughts on the Hans Zimmer score was it was a *very* Hans Zimmer score.
Right?! It totally felt like his style. Honestly some of it reminded me of some melodies I heard in the Prince f Egypt.
Once again I'm reminded that one of the most important quality an artist should evelope is restraint, if not the most important.
Waaaaaay to zimmerian. Not in the good way.
Yeah, I didn't know Zimmer did the score before seeing the movie. As I sat through the movie (which I loved) I really wanted the score to back off many scenes. The Dune score reminded me of Interstellar and how much the music kept taking me out of the movie because of how loud and overbearing it was.
@@beckybyt He does mix in smaller pieces from his previous movies. I heard hints of the Dunkirk soundtrack few times.
I saw the film in theater and the sound was a visceral part of the experience...it was another character in a way I hadn't experienced in a movie. It was so moving to me.
I have never watched a movie where the score and sounds fused together with cinematography so much that they created their own magical vibe that wouldn't be possible with only the (albeit amazing) score and cinematography by themselves.
This music, more than any other aspect of the film, reflected what I felt while reading the books.
In my head, I always envisioned a little more...color? And more trippy surreal imagery that I felt the Lynch version captured fairly well. But I totally understand why Villeneuve approached the look of his version the way he did. Zimmer captured the surreal, the epic, the terrifying and the power of the desert as well as the loneliness of Paul's journey of self-discovery.
I think the sequel (or second part) is gonna be INSANE.
This movie had so much impact on me. The visuals were just so beautiful, the acting was on point and the score by Hans Zimmer was outstanding yet haunting at the same time, especially the Sardauker chant and Harkonnen theme.
And that's why Dune is one of my favourite movies of all time, and why Denis Villenueve is one of my top favourite filmmakers.
The rhythmic drum hit is the coolest sound ever
I agree with the critique you had about the score being overused. I absolutely loved all the sound design and score, but by the end of the movie I started getting 'lamenting woman singing' fatigue. Using it more sparingly would have really elevated the movie.
yeah, I was loving the depth of the score until he did the stereotypical wailing woman, which modern cinema just LOvEs to attach to arabian desert scenes. I couldn't help but chuckle when I heard the first wail--like seriously? It was very cliché.
@@cloflomonster Yeah it's a cliche I REALLY cannot stand haha. Everything else about the score was on point though!
“Lamenting woman singing fatigue”. Absolutely laughed out loud at that one. Because that’s exactly how I described Zack Snyder’s Justice League whenever Wonder Woman came into frame
@@umbassa YES great point, it was really overdone there too!
I definitely recommend listening to the sketchbook album as it basically explains what the various musical cues mean, like this video does but obviously in more detail.
Where can I find it?
@@TheTonyEntertainment anywhere you buy music, dude. amazon, apple both have it, i bought it on apple music.
Tons of amazing scenes, but my favourite was when the emperors herald arrived, gives me literal chills no matter how many times I hear and see the grandiose arrival
I don't disagree with the conclusion that using less score might have been more impactful,
but it'd be a brave member of the crew who says _Hans Zimmer, one of if not the best film composers of all time, wrote one of the best scores of his life and we're going to use less of it_
Zimmer has been making the same score for almost a decade. ticking clocks, ascending scales, horns. Think about it, you can take any dunkirk piece and recycle it, it's basically due to any nolan movie.
Calling Zimmer possibly the best film composer of all time is pretty goddamned audacious, dude.
@@jsalinasbarros That's like saying all classical music sounds the same because they use horns and strings and similar melodic structures
It's also weird because, isn't Hans Zimmer famous for using unique instruments and sounds in his scores? It's strange to point to specific recurring sounds to say his scores are homogeneous, when many of his most well known scores are largely popular due to specifically their unique sounds
@@yuyutubee8435 I mean yeah and such a claim is obviously subjective, but if you take average quality of score and multiply it by the number films he's scored he's got to be up there.
Best doesn’t equal most popular, he’s fine and effective and I did enjoy the sheer tactility of the Dune score, but there are many other composers who do things very differently that should be praised too.
I agree that the score does seem to be a 2.5 hour affair as long as the film and you are right some scenes without seem more intense, urgent and pace better without the score - i.e. when Leto asks Jessica/BG to protect Paul. It was a pretty much a score-driven film and Villeneuve is known to not over-use score in his films. Perhaps at most an artistic decision designed to expand the feeling and setting of Dune, world building through sound and voices.
Dude, you absolutely nailed what I've been trying to figure out since I saw this movie. I loved it when I saw it but something felt, off. I read the book and knew all the background info but it felt like most of it was rushed through, even though everything (besides Liet Kynes' backstory) was pretty much covered. I never considered the score's effect on the perceived pacing could play that big of a role. Even though the score was possibly my favorite part of the film, I never considered it could contribute to what I had not enjoyed as much.
Brilliantly done, how you make these observations for these video topics I'll never be smart enough to understand
kinda made it feel like a trailer?
maybe that's another reason I found myself reflexively tuning out
*_; \_*
Nah, the score did not effect the pacing at all. Its your preconcieved notions of what the movie was supposed to be.
The demise of the Artreides plays a different role and is executed far more swiftly for narrative reasons.
The book lets you know in andvace and keeps you on your toes as to when its all going to happen. And even then it is pretty fast paced and rushed. They cut surprisingly little out from the books (plotwise).
I felt the same way the first time I saw the film. Watch it again - it is paced perfectly. Nothing is missing, not 1 beat of the story. Its just different, but keeps the exact same spirit as that part of the book.
Its a 2 and a half hour long movie that gives you everything you need, but also keeps you wanting more, has a small 3 act structure but is ultimately act 1.5 of a 3 act epic.
It is perfect in every way, as perfect as a Dune movie can and should get.
The pacing and score were fine. Maybe because you know the book you were missing things from the book, but they're different medias
Fully agree with you Josh G
@@jukaa1012 It'll be interesting to see how Pt 2 begins, in a way that seamlessly accommodates a whole 5-6 hour edition of the movie.
Wow what a great analysis you've done here. I'm a long time Dune nerd, and a professional musician and composer. I think what they've accomplished via sound design and score is something really astounding and probably so unusual that I don't think any of us have fully appreciated it yet. Gonna take some time to sink in to the cultural consciousness.
One of the best film scores of all time was Elmer Bernstein's "The Great Escape". Watch the movie a few times, then just listen to the score, and the scene from the movie will appear in your imagination. And the score for "Dune"? Like the movie itself, masterful. I am already awaiting Part 2.
The score is just a massive part of this movie. Hanz Zimmer never fails to move your soul.
I knew I loved Dune after watching it, yet at the same time I felt like it being structured as an entry point to the universe made the story off in some way. Now I know why I loved it instantly - it's an experience that is not a traditional cinema one specifically, rather one more akin to taking in a painting
And that being said, if the the world building doesn't hook you enough then its definitely not gonna be a pleasant 2 hr 30 min. I feel like that's what happened to a lot of people who didn't enjoy the movie.
@@REChronic54 Yeah i think that was my problem, the World didnt grab due to the choices. Its a fine made film, that just didnt rub me the way it wanted
I feel like I'm out of place with the fact that I loved that the music was almost constant. I love the feeling of being crushed by the music and having it drive into my head.
Might also be why I'm a fan of Monolord for a similar experience of being wrapped in a cloak of sound.
Glad I'm not alone thinking like that! I love music being used as a tool to get you lost and immersed in the film's world, sometimes whether you like it or not 😂
Problem for me is that the film used lots of asmr whispering, which was hard to hear whilst this score was on.
My favorite way 2 themes are mixed together in a movie is in lord of the ring, when they are huntuing the uruk-hai, you get served a mashup of the fellowship theme and the 5/4 theme of isengard
watching this high at the cinema was probably one of the best cinematic experience I've ever had to date
For real, great work man. As I learn more of the movie, I still can believe how much craft and dedication went into it. For example, if you look at 7:41, the color grading is reminding us of both world: Caladan (greenish) and Arrakis (tan) that you can see at 7:30. Man, I can't wait for Part 2.
How incredible the score was, was the second thing out of my mouth as the credits rolled. I do agree that having some scenes include a bit less of a score would have helped the audience identify more with the characters. Overall I found the film very impressionistic though, and that's certainly not a bad choice. Every minute thrilled me and at the end, it left me breathless.
So the phrase should now be: "Music, don't tell"
Hands-down, one of the best film scores I've ever had the pleasure of hearing! Absolutely out of this world. Thank you so much, Hans Zimmer.
I've been advocating music/score for so long....it's literally half the movie for me, can change a movie from mediocre to incredible. Dune happens to be an incredible movie with an incredible score...so it's a masterpiece lol
Zimmer's unique use of score and sound to support story telling in Dune is related to the Bene Gesserit.
The Bene Gesserit use phonetic and tonal elements in speech to command and affect people with a message.
Zimmer uses music like the Bene Gesserit use language; as a way of delivering messages and affecting others.
The music also embodies the metaphysical and mystical elements of the Bene Gesserit, just like you said.
Zimmer's careful use of sounds also emphasizes language as an important plot device in the Dune story.
By speaking and commanding others, the Bene Gesserit affect the consequences in the Dune universe.
Herbert focused on this importance of language to the story by adding a glossary to the original novel.
Zimmer also reflects on the importance of speech, by incorporating cries and whispers in his score.
Herbert also used borrowed terms from different cultures! Like "kwisatz haderach", literally "a leap forward" in Hebrew.
Zimmer focused on the primal and vocal elements of cultures (Instruments, singing) rather than language, of course.
I love how both of these creative people found ways to use their craft to deliver similar messages, however differently.
I found the score to be really operatic, frequently pulling you through scenes even more than the visuals.
I like that first clip without the score better than with it. There's just something about hearing only Paul's breathing and the wind. I totally agree that those scenes you showed work really well with no score.
I just got CuriosityStream + Nebula with your code just so I could watch your video on the sound design of Dune - and boy was I not disappointed. I just might go watch the movie again with that knowledge in mind.
Glad you liked it!
Every aspect of this movie is so finely tuned, true professionals and gifted people behind the scenes here.
I've been repeating the score in my head for days.
00:04 - This is the most legendary sound from this movie.
Great video, as I haven't thought about Dune's soundtrack before. But I think it kind of is what Hans Zimmer has done many times before, using minimalistic themes (that are so minimalistic that you basically couldn't call them themes in a musical way if it wasn't film music) to let the audience remember stuff. What you explain in the video are the basics of leitmotif usage in film music and musical drama. And using leitmotifs is not a sign of quality in of itself I think. How the themes are used in Dune seems a little on the nose to me, but still effective enough to work.
"If Zimmer had been relying on a melody to communicate these ideas this would have been a lot more difficult..." is very true, doing that would be indeed more difficult. It is what every soundtrack with leitmotifs does though, even more effectively. What Zimmer does in the scene you described is more like letting the audience remember that the Bene Gesserit and House Atreides exist, while other composers would have made that connection way more subtle and way more complex at the same time (for example in Lord of the Rings most themes are related to each other, originating in one tiny idea, which allows the soundtrack to make connections between various ideas to make statements about the film's themes by simply existing).
What makes the Dune soundtrack stand out though is the sounddesign itself, which is not Zimmer's work alone, but instead the work of him and his whole team if I'm not wrong. Most of the sounds are pretty awesome and give the film a really dense atmosphere. I think Zimmer definitely knows how to produce a soundtrack, while I never loved or hated the music itself - it is okay. The music does what it has to do for the film to work, which is the least it could do.
I would agree that they could have had more scenes without soundtrack. The effect of the silence in the scenes you showcased was incredible. On the other hand, it was remarkable how fast the film felt eventhough it was in fact a long film.
The sound design is more Denis team tho, great team because is also one of my favorite parts of Blade Runner. (Btw I totally recommend you see their interview, Denis, Mark and the team on UA-cam, really good) And i agree that we could have more scenes without soundtrack, because the acting alone was SO GOOD that sometimes the soundtrack just got in the way 🤷🏻♀️
@@jessica5497 wow, thanks! Now I know what felt so off about parts of the Dune soundtrack. I did like the BR2049 score much better. I literally was anticipating a moment of quietness in Dune. In my head I was like “Zimmer, don’t tell me how to feel RN, please, just for a sec” ;)
This such a pretentious comment. Make your own damn video, holy shit.
I agree, the combination of themes etc is really standard film score stuff.
I hate to say it, but I think the score made the film worse. It's just too loud too much of the time! (This is true of the mixing in general which drowned out quiet dialogue, and also frankly it's unethical of IMAX to make movies so loud they damage people's hearing.)
Yup, leitmotif has been done and overdone ever since John Williams started using it in scores, and even back then the idea was taken from Richard Wagners operas from 100 years prior. The sound design in Dune is great, sure, but the use of the Maqam scale, throat singing and flute sounds for the Fremen theme was so on the nose and borderline problematic that it really killed the buzz for me 🤷🏼♀️
This movie is a masterpiece and I hope the next one is just as amazing. It makes me want to read the books... But, seeing the movies are my first experience with this series, I'd like to finish the movies first then read the books.
I can't criticise Zimmer too much for this, but the OST was overused in the edit. It would be interesting to find out what percentage of the film had either OST or significant soundscape. It must be around 90%. Edit: You mentioned this! Completely agree.
Yeah it's in there a lot. I almost counted up the actual time, but it's probably close to 80-90%.
Nice to hear someone else point this out. It's a major criticism for me actually. There was so much score in the film at times I felt like I was never really in it. Whole film was washing over me, just out of reach and I couldn't get a foothold. There was the moment with Paul and his Mum in the crashed gyrocopter when it all the sound was diegetic (rustling of the tent, scraping the sand) and I was like 'Whoah! I'm there!', pretty much the first time. Shame it was about 2 hours in. Glad the film's doing well though.
I think it has got to do with this beeing part 1 of the movie and beeing threated like setup, mainly.
It's also book accurate, whether it's on accident or not, since the book treats the plot the same way, even telling us the outcome in advance.
But I think the score beeing there at all times, like in the scenes you showed of leto and jessica, also helps illustrate the story as well as their particular relationship - perfectly.
For example, the fact that their relationship is in their way (the birth of paul and their defiance of the bene gesserit) and is the cause of most of their problems.
In those 2 scenes, where you noticed a narrative shift when removing the score, their relationship is supposed to be fleeting and distracting - consuming them. The score beeing present supports that. Especially for jessica who is the viewpoint character in both scenes (and for a big chunk of the movie as well).
It shows us how inevitable and quick their demise was destined to be. There was no time for their individual stories, they were given none - in universe.
@@EubulusKane3259 Agreed! For me music works really well as interludes, or big moments. Some moments were really crying out for some silence.
@@jukaa1012 I guess I'd have been pulled into the world even more with less OST. The film suddenly felt so real when the score did drop out and if they'd mixed it up a bit more soundwise, I think I'd have been able to better appreciate all the points your making about the Jessice and Paul's arcs.
Seeing Dune in IMAX was my single favorite IMAX experience ever, because of the sound and sound system.
Finally, someone appreciating the score as much as I did! I was in a trance when the Imperial guards first came to Caladan
Wow, can’t believe I’m just finding this video years later. Very well done, friend. Glad this score had such an impact on you - That goes much appreciated, you have no idea! Hope you’re ready for Part II next year!
I'm glad you pointed out at the end that the sound editing needed some work. I completely agree. It was an amazing score but honestly it emotionally overloaded me throughout the movie to where I didn't feel as much in those important moments as I should have, I think because big score moments usually accompany big emotion moments and having the score so present throughout the whole film made it feel like everything was supposed to be important making nothing important.
I saw Dune in cinema and it had some sort of cool new sound system with speakers all around the place. Including sealing and underneath the seats. In the beginning there was this advert to demonstrate the system and it played the sound of a bird flying around the room. It was amazing as you could clearly hear the bird doing laps around you. I had to take a look behind me to see if I could see the bird, such was the realism I felt. Made the movie feel even more incredible.
Dune is a Masterpiece and Denis Villeneuve is one of the best directors of our time.
except for his movie "Sicario", I just saw it and it is horrible, probably one of the worst movies I have ever watched, and Dune is in my top 5 of all time
@@diegoramos27 Sicario is great
@@diegoramos27 Sicario is a fantastic film, why do you think it was horrible?
@@diegoramos27 I'm sure that's hyperbolic, unless you've only seen great films
@@diegoramos27 sicario is one of the best, intriguing, well acted movies of all time.
Reading Dune the book, it's written like a symphony, that's why I feel like the score was so dominant, it's never ending
This is the best video on the Dune score I've seen - bravo! Love the analysis, really makes the genius in a film I loved so much more accessible. Thank you Thomas!!
The connection between the water and sand scenes is an incredible detail. Masterful.
I agree so completely. It’s a wonderful score. Amazing. Brilliant. Hans Zimmer is truly one of the greats. At the same time, it eventually becomes too much. Too clever. Inserts itself inside the action. Nice analysis 🧐
From the first 30 minutes of Dune I already knew I was going to be obsessed with the franchise
Great breakdown. Zimmer's a genius, musical storytelling at its finest!
I didn't see old movie. I did not see a single trailer of new Dune . Then I sat down in the theatre , all i could hear is amazing music and this insane movie ❤️
Wow, what a great video!
I feel like scores are often overlooked when analysing movies and especially with Zimmer scores it often adds layers to the movies. I feel sorry for everybody who hasn´t seen this movie with massive speakers in a cinema. And it`s crazy that Zimmer only has 1 Oscar to date, hope that will change next year.
Zimmer only has one Oscar? 😮 But he's considered one of (if not the) best composers of the last 20-30 years. Lion King, Gladiator, The Dark Knight, Inception, Interstellar, Pirates of the Carribean...
I feel movies / scenes more reliant on visuals or with minimal dialogue rely more heavily on score otherwise it gets boring
One example that comes to mind is when the beacons are lit in return of the king
Such an amazing score by Zimmer in my opinion, and I’m looking forward to seeing this video.
I must agree, some of the best emotional and story driven music and sound design that I've heard in this film🙌🙌🙌🙌
Coming out of the theatre I remembered beeing so impressed by the score. I really have to watch it again!
What I noticed is that Duncan Idaho is one of the only characters in the movie who has his own, almost, 'theme song' that plays during several of his scenes. It's heroic and uplifting, but what truly makes it interesting is the fact that there are quite a few people who consider Duncan Idaho to be the true protagonist of the Dune series.
Can’t wait for your Dune 2 videos!
This movies score was top-tier, Zimmer really outdid himself
You know I never get tired of videos like these, people analyzing great pieces of film and music. It really inspires me to dive into the acting world again.
Here's some irony..I was wondering just yesterday (before noticing your video) what would it be like to see the entire film sans score...just the environment, as if I was there. Then I ran into this excellent exploration of yours today. Granted, I've only seen the film once (so far), so I don't know the score and its thematic elements at all. That will change over time for I'm certain to watch this film at least as many times as I have read this book...which is a lot. And I don't know that I was disappointed with the score itself, but the manner by which it was presented in my local theater. The music was so on top of everything else (obviously the theater wanted to emphasize the drama with extreme volume) there were times when it was overbearing and even clipping. I'll need to see it again under more appropriate conditions to get a better grip on the material. Still I wish I could see the whole film unadorned with music. I understand where many, being acclimated to how innate music accompanies story these days, might find watching a film this way would find it unbearable. I think I would be fascinating. Thanks for giving me an unexpected, but welcomed shot at it.
Yeah the sound mix is a bit rough in places unfortunately. I consider that to be a different technical element than the score, which itself I thought was great.
I too faced the problem with sound at my local theatre. I just went to experience the big screen. But sound mixing was too loud sometimes.
Later I watched the movie on my laptop with my headphones, found no such problem with sound and it felt so much better. So in this case maybe I have to blame the local theatre sound system.
@@snakelord8316 The theater was most definitely the problem for audio during my screening. Like cafeteria food, someone should taste it before laying it out for the general public. There's a very general metaphor there somewhere.
Listening to you speak is a total "unintentional ASMR" experience. Thank you for sharing such a brilliant analysis.
Damn, I need to watch it again ! Such complexity. Because it's used a lot in the movie like you said, I don't remembered that much the subtility on each sounds/themes. It could have be more impactful for sure to use the score at key moments only. But in the other hand, using it so ofter really make the atmosphere of the movie.
Wow. Great to finally see a thoughtful spotlight... on the brilliant yet overlooked score for Dune... by Hans Zimmer. This music is fundamentally vital... yet skillfully transparent. Thanks.