Every so often, I have to come to the pages of I Am Geek and make a confession. These confessions don’t come easy. I like to believe that I have consumed a great deal of pop culture in my life maybe even enough for two lifetimes. I’m not here to measure or brag… which is a lie. I’m totally bragging. Even with that mass consumption of all things pop culture, there are movies, shows, comics, or books that fall through the cracks. Things where I look at myself and think “you should have done this already”. If you recall awhile back I wrote a column about one such thing that I hadn’t experienced. Firefly. It was a tough piece to write but it felt good to get off my chest. Like the admission of guilt freed me in some capacity. I’ve since watched four or five episodes but haven’t finished the season. So, there’s your update on that. Welcome new guilt! 

Sadly, I again have to come to you today with my head held low as I admit that I have never read Dune or any of the other books connected to the series. Not even a sentence. I knoooooooow, but I do have a copy of it on Gandalf the Kindle just waiting to be read. It was on my books Wishlist, a list I keep for myself to keep track of books I want to read and when they go on sale, and it dropped dramatically in price. I picked that sucker up for like $2.99 one day and have allowed it to collect digital dust on my trusty friend the Kindle ever since. 

I’m the worst. 

Or am I the best? I don’t know, this is a topic that is hotly contested. Just yesterday there were a number of Cult of Snyder fans explaining to me how I was the worst on Twitter for my beliefs on Snyder’s Batman. Today there are a bunch of people who aren’t a part of cult celebrating me. You win some, you lose some, or you’re a Snyder fan. Just the way the cookie crumbles.

I’m sure some of you might be wondering why I’ve come here to humble myself before you today. The answer is quite simple. The Dune trailer was released this afternoon and we need to discuss it but I couldn’t discuss said trailer in good faith without this little preface. Is it a little long-winded? Sure. Is it what you’ve grown accustomed to with your daily readings here? Also, sure. But I’m nothing if not honest.

Right off the bat, this trailer is gorgeous. Stunning really. I love that it can still seem vibrant and full of life despite the washed-out sand colors. I was really taken by the visuals here and it probably helped to be scored to a creepy/eerie cover of Pink Floyd. You really can never go wrong there. I only had a rough understanding of what Dune was heading into this trailer and this trailer really allows the world to take shape around it. There will need to be a lot of world-building here and I feel like Denis Villeneuve is taking on the importance of that job beautifully. 

Can we also talk about this cast because it feels like this movie has just about everyone. Timothee Chalamet, Zendaya (!!!), Jason Momoa, Stellan Skarsgard, Rebecca Ferguson, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, and then throw in the surprise Dave Bautista sighting as an added bonus only to be matched by Oscar Isaac and his magnificent beard. Seriously, that thing could have had a trailer of its own and I’d probably write twelve hundred words about it. I’m curious to see how all these names work together and bring their distinct flair to the film. I hate it when a superstar cast doesn’t mesh well. We all can’t be the Ocean’s franchise. Although, surprisingly lack of Sting here though… 

Anyone else get some serious Seven vibes with the “what’s in the box” line? Cause somehow the answer given works both here in Dune and Seven. What a gift. 

But I suppose the true highlight, what everyone wanted to see, was the sandworm. There ain’t no Beetlejuice looking sandworm here. No, no, no. These creatures are not only massive but the trailer does an excellent job making them seem harrowing and deadly. Imagine something like that coming up from the ground. Nope. I’m just going to lie down and prepare to be eaten. How can I possibly outrun that?! As far as Dune is concerned though… here for the sand but staying for the sandworms.

What did you think Geeklings? After much hype, many released images, did the Dune trailer live up to your expectations? Are you going to read, or re-read the book, before the release? Were you mesmerized by Oscar Isaac’s beard too? Were you hoping for more Sting? Sound off in the comments below or let’s talk all things Dune over on Twitter @iamgeek32. Looks like I have some reading to do before December 18^th. Providing the lords of COVID don’t muck this up.