Graham Payne

Spoilers! I sort of enjoyed this film, but I wouldn't recommend it to those who haven't read the book as it doesn't do context well. The best bits? The film looks absolutely stunning: sets, costumes, effects and models (spaceships, ornithopters and animals - especially the worms) but NOT the cities and buildings for which the model makers should be shot. Arrakis and Geidi Prime are really brought to life, but Kaitain and the Imperial court not so much/at all). And Stilgar, Gurney, the Baron, and Feyd-Rautha are great supporting characters. It didn't feel almost 3 hours long, so it must be engaging. I suppose my beefs/disappointments are the following: - The importance of spice and Arrakis doesn't come through in Part 2 (no Spacing Guild at all which is odd because in Part One they had a key role in the Atreides' downfall). - Paul and Chani are 'meh' in terms of acting and character. Fundamental to the book is Chani and Paul's relationship: he learns much from Leto's mistake with Jessica and will not repeat it, so a crucial element of the book, that Irulan will be Paul's political necessity wife but his love and children belong only to Chani, is tossed away for the sake of a possible Part 3 cliffhanger and some moody Zendaya scowls (pretty much her go to acting method). - Paul's rationale for actually going ahead and drinking the Water of Life isn't really explored (although how it is made is really well done on screen), nor is the crucial importance of Paul being the Kwisatz Haderach to the Bene Gesserit. - The book delivers an exhilarating revenge punch like no other, however this film fails to deliver the delicious battle knock out blow needed ahead of the politics (probably the one thing that the David Lynch did best) - as the film makes you wait two and a half hours for it, it needs more, much more! And the face offs with the Emperor, Beast Rabban and the Baron have no depth or raw passion given the sheer brutality of the destruction of the Atreides and the subsequent loss of Duncan and Chani's father (although Part One ruined this latter subplot by omitting this relationship in favour of having a random female as Liet).