Christopher Nolan hails “miraculous” ‘Dune: Part Two’ during Q&A with director Denis Villeneuve

nme.com:

Christopher Nolan has hailed Dune: Part Two as “miraculous” in a Q&A with director Denis Villeneuve.The Oppenheimer director, who was speaking during a recent FYC conversation, was so impressed by the sequel, that he felt it was up there with The Empire Strikes Back.“I watched the second half and I think it’s a miraculous job of adaptation, of taking that second half and making an incredible conclusion of the story,” Nolan said. “What a remarkable piece of work.”Nolan added: “If, to me, Dune was like Star Wars, then Dune 2 is The Empire Strikes Back, which is my favourite Star Wars film.

I think it’s just a great expansion of all that was introduced in the first one.”He continued: “What I was really struck by is the sense of immersion in that world.

It’s a film that has so many unique images, so many things you’ve never seen before in this movie, time after time, and I was so struck by the detail of everything.”Nolan also praised Villeneuve for the way he condensed the original story of Frank Herbert‘s 1965 sci-fi novel.He went on: “Most adaptations, it’s a process of condensing things and simplifying things.

My feeling in watching both films, in particular the second film, is that this was an act of exploring a little further and burrowing into the complications and embracing those and the world building beyond even what’s in the book.”Elsewhere, Villeneuve recently explained why he isn’t keen on directing a Star Wars film.He said: “Star Wars became crystallised in its own mythology, very dogmatic, it seemed like a recipe, no more surprises.