Just another Friday.

[rogueslayer452]

++ While I still haven't seen it yet (soon, very soon), Dune has been greenlit for getting its second part, which honestly thank god. It would have been hilariously disastrous if the movie didn't do well enough to warrant the second movie to complete the adaptation of the book, thereby continuing the ongoing curse of Dune adaptations. I know the director seemed confident that it would succeed, but it just seems odd to not secure that possibility prior, or even bother with filming the entirety of it before splitting it into two films. I know it might be an industry thing, perhaps he couldn't have negotiated any other way, but still. Nevertheless, I'm glad that its happening, especially since the second half of the book is where shit gets even more wild and interesting.

++ Critical Role started its third campaign, and while it's only been one (now two) episodes I'm digging it so far. It's too early to tell what's going to happen, but I like how they're bringing in familiar characters (from one-shots and EXU) with newer ones being created, so I'm curious at how it's all going to come together in that sense. Furthermore, I love the new setup they have. They're finally back sitting together at a table! They've been safely socially distant since they came back after months from quarantine last year, and you can tell that they've missed sitting next to each other. So yeah, I'm excited to see what they have planned.

Additionally, I mentioned before that I was starting to watch Dimension 20, and I've been really enjoying myself with Fantasy High. I love the way Brennan Lee Mulligan DMs, his players always seem to have fun and I really like the rapport they have with him and each other. Which is why I want to share a particular clip, in spirit of Halloween. You don't need any context for it, just the way things are described setting up the scene, the tension that builds up, the creepy voice Brennan has and the player's reactions to it all, especially the ending where they beg him to move onto something else (as Lou Wilson says, "We even went to Hell and it wasn't that bad"). So, enjoy!

Comments

[violateraindrop]

It is odd that there was no deal to shoot both movies at once when it has always been clear there would be two movies. It doesn't feel like such a big risk. Blade Runner 2049 did well and Hollywood likes adaptations.

[blakmagjick]

I'm glad happy to hear that the second part of Dune has been greenlit!!
I just watched it last night and loved it!

[sherrilina.livejournal.com]

I think the studio wasn't willing to finance it, it sounds like he didn't have a choice in the matter. But yes, I am glad, because the first movie was really well done. IMO much better than the book itself! (But then again I am not a big fan of the book).

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I've gone back and forth about it, really, and it just seems like it was non-negotiable in terms of making both parts, probably because, as someone else suggested, the studios weren't willing to finance both parts unless the first part did well. I mean, it is rather expensive and it's a gamble risking a lot of money on something as big of a production as this if the first part doesn't do well.

The industry is just incredible fickle and there's a lot of unfair aspects to it, including filmmakers not being able to do things that they probably wanted to do because the higher ups nixed the ideas for whatever reason.

(Also, didn't Blade Runner 2049 bomb at the box office? That's why the director was so adamant about Dune getting a theatrical release only, he listed that as one of his main reasons of it affecting his career if Dune also bombed, as well.)

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's kind of what I'm thinking as well. Ideally, both parts should have been greenlit the moment it was decided that he was going to split it into two and filmed all at once, but realistically I guess there was a lot of negotiating behind closed doors and the higher ups had different plans on how they wanted to do things. Which, y'know, makes sense, Dune is a massive project to take on and financially it would be a monster to create with just one film, never mind two.

I love the Dune novel, the entire Dune chronicles really, so seeing all the positive reviews and reactions from it from others both familiar and unfamiliar with the books makes me excited to see what they've done with it. :)

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy that you enjoyed it! It makes me even more excited to see it myself, since I loved the book and I want to see what they've done with it.

[elizalavelle.livejournal.com]

Very glad Dune is getting the second part. Glad that gamble paid off because half of the movie would have been such a bust. The first part of the book is a lot of just setting the stage for the action that's to come.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the first half of the book is just setting things up, so if people really enjoyed the first part, I'm hoping they'll love the second part because that's when shit really kicks off and gets very interesting, wild, and weird.

[violateraindrop]

I don't think it bombed, but it wasn't a huge success either. However, critics liked it and it got two Oscars which studios still like to see.