GREAT. But not as fantastic as I had hoped.

Watch it just for the cinematography. I sat in the 2nd row in IMAX so the images filled my vision.

YES a bit blurry, but it feels more like I was actually riding a sand worm. 😀

Dune (1965) is one of my favourite books. I read it for the 4th or 5th time in advance of seeing part 2 of the Denis Villeneuve adaptation.

The best character in Dune 2 is not my (alleged girlfriend) Zendaya, but Feyd-Rautha, Baron Harkonnen’s younger nephew. Perfectly played by Austin Butler.

What a transformation from Elvis to the epitome of evil.

Chalamet was inspired by Austin’s commitment to the role.

Casting is all good, however.

Javier Bardem as Stilgar, is better than in the book. And he’s great in the book. 😀

Stilgar given a larger leadership role on Arrakis in future books. So he’ll likely be back in the 3rd film.

As nearly all books were in 1965, the roles played by women are quite cliche. Powerful — but mainly in devious, backroom scheming.

In this movie, Zendaya is more independent than in the book. And she rides off into the sand at the end. Alone.

In the book she meekly follows Paul as his concubine.

Of course no film can include EVERYTHING in the book.

For the most part, I liked the changes.

It was better — for example — that Chani didn’t get pregnant. That’s quite confused in the books anyway.

In the Lynch, Paul’s sister Alia was one of the most interesting characters. She’s only hinted at in the Villeneuve – part 2. I suspect she’ll be central to the 3rd movie in the series.

I quite liked the 1984 David Lynch adaptation, by the way.

Because the timeline of the Villeneuve is accelerated, Alia isn’t born yet when part 2 ends.

I do wish Thufir Hawat had been back for part 2.

Mainly I felt the first half of the long movie was near perfect. The second half less believable.

It may be that there was no perfect way to explain the beginnings of Paul conquering the galaxy with fanatic super fighters.

The knife fight between Paul and Feyd-Rautha’s is the climax of the film. And it was well done.

See it.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

related – Lynch doesn’t like the final cut of his version of Dune.