Magnificently directed by Anna Foerster (whose cinematography background comes to the fore), the launching segment of "Dune Prophecy" sets up a severe, stately atmosphere, reminding me of costume/court dramas of old. But this is an alien world of alien beings, humanoid yes, but with hidden powers. Placing it in a time where "thinking machines" have been defeated in war and banned is crucial to giving the viewer a mindset far removed from our contemporary overload of phones and screens and constant visual pollution.
The color control is expert, with only one primary color (Red) interrupting, especially in the dramatic red gown of the princess, helping her to become the most striking presence on screen. Emily Watson's control in the leading role is immense, and the stern nature of her little world suggest the cloistered confinement of old religious films.
But it the slowly paced, heavy, heavy atmosphere and quiet dialogue that mesmerizes the viewer, allowing the sudden and brief outbursts of violence or mytstical fantasy to exert maximum power. It's the opposite, almost, of the slam-bang, gimmicky "action movie" cliches wrought by the success in recent years of so many comic strip movies with their SFPX emphasis and annoying constant editing.
