This is Part I of a two-part adaptation of Frank Herbert's novel Dune. It ran a little long with the escape to the desert, but did an impressive job of introducing the multitude of necessary plot details.
Even more striking was how artfully the movie recreates the emotions and awe of the novel. It's been 25 years since I read the books, but this movie pulled me right back into how it felt. The special effects were flawless, and the soundtrack achieved the drama and grandeur of the 1984 version without following it in going over the top.
Perhaps the biggest improvement over earlier versions is the superb casting and acting. I also appreciated that the gender imbalance in the novel was slightly corrected - extra point for triggering the people who can't handle a supporting character packing different junk. And I can't imagine that even Frank Herbert bought the all-white cast of Fremen from the 1984 version, so the addition of diversity there was a sensible improvement as well.
Even more striking was how artfully the movie recreates the emotions and awe of the novel. It's been 25 years since I read the books, but this movie pulled me right back into how it felt. The special effects were flawless, and the soundtrack achieved the drama and grandeur of the 1984 version without following it in going over the top.
Perhaps the biggest improvement over earlier versions is the superb casting and acting. I also appreciated that the gender imbalance in the novel was slightly corrected - extra point for triggering the people who can't handle a supporting character packing different junk. And I can't imagine that even Frank Herbert bought the all-white cast of Fremen from the 1984 version, so the addition of diversity there was a sensible improvement as well.