Other than the star-studded cast and the epic sci-fi story, we have more reasons to watch the movie Dune as Jason Momoa reveals that the Filipino martial art, kali/arnis was used as an inspiration for some fight scenes.
DUNE actor Jason Momoa shares that his character uses a fighting style inspired by the Filipino martial arts, Kali also known as Arnis or Eskrima.
Momoa plays Duncan Idaho in the 2021 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s classic science fiction novel Dune whom he describes as “a legendary warrior.”
Idaho is one of the most skilled fighters of House Atreides as well as a father figure and mentor to protagonist Paul played by Timothée Chalamet.
In an interview with IndieWire, Momoa shares that his training to transform into Duncan involved “a bunch of stuff like Kali” that he himself never learned before but his son has.
According to him, he used a Kali move to send a shoutout to his 12-year-old son, Nakoa-Wolf.
“That’s a Kali move, where you put your hand on your heart and put it on your head. That’s to Timothée in the movie, but that's to my son in real life,” Momoa said.
Momoa was referring to the arnis salute locally known as “pugay” which is done before and after a fight as a sign of respect to the master, a sparring partner, or an opponent during competitions.
While the movie is already showing in theaters in several countries and despite IATF easing restrictions on movie houses, theater operators ask fans to wait a few more days.
The consortium of cinema owners and operators, Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) has announced that cineplexes in areas on Alert Level 3 will open on November 10.
CEAP has developed the “Sa Sine Safe Ka” protocols that include the following:
1. Body temperature checks upon entering the cinema
2. Authentic proof of full vaccination is required
3. Follow the current IATF ruling on face mask and face shield
4. No eating inside the cinema
5. Enforced two-seats apart social distancing for all
6. Contactless and cashless transitions are encouraged for ticket purchasing
7. Improved air ventilation
8. Hand sanitizers at cinema entrance
9. Mandatory hand-washing every 30 minutes for cinema employees
10. Deep cleaning between screenings
“We would like to assure the public that cinema is a safe place,” pointed out CEAP President Charmaine Bauzon.
“In fact, LGUs have converted some theaters into vaccination centers—and no super-spreading was ever reported, even though people waited inside for hours.”
Idaho’s pugay gesture is also seen in one of the trailers but Momoa says “Dune is epic which is why it needs to be seen the way it was intended (in theaters)”.
Dune has been announced to open in local theaters this November 10.
Tags: #FilipinoMartialArts, #Kali, #Dune, #JasonMomoa, #movietheaters