Okay, I have seen the movie. I liked it. This is probably the best casting of any of these characters. There was definitely a focus on atmosphere and visuals. I think the script from the mini-series is better though. I feel spoiled because of it. There were scenes in the mini series that I felt should have been in here (perhaps they are deleted scenes and will come out later like the LotR extended editions?), not that the movie suffers from it, I just wanted more.
Everyone did a phenomenal job. I really liked that they gave more time to Duncan Idaho this time around. You felt there was a bond with Paul compared to the movie and miniseries. Jason Mamoa nailed it. You also felt he had a role in the House Atreides as opposed to being told about it. You really saw the internal conflict Jessica was having, trying to protect Paul while also serving the Bene Jesuits. Paul was great and you can tell he's really off his feet, but trying to be composed until that moment in the tent with his mom. That made me jump and you kind of felt like he was shedding his Nobelmen composure which was humanizing. Stilgar was perfect. Shout out to Thufir Hawat, I think this was my favorite version of him. I also liked Yueh but I felt he was underused. The Duke was great too. You really feel like he cares about his family and coming to terms that they are trapped. I also think this was my favorite version of Dr. Kynes. She did an amazing job and her final scene was badass!
That said, I appreciate they went the route of making the Baron intimidating and menacing, but he felt underused. The Lynch movie he seemed crazy, but the mini series version of the Baron is by far the best version of him. He had so much character compared to the movie versions.
Honestly, barring the Baron, this cast was phenomenal! I am worried that we haven't been introduced to Feyd. Chances are we'll see him in the next movie. Give me the script of the mini series in the hands of these actors, visuals, and director and this movie would have been perfect.
It was a good movie and probably the best out of the 3 depictions in regards to style and visuals. I just wish they showed more! If part 2 is as long as this movie is, then it will be longer than the mini series (by a few minutes). And yet, the mini series feels like the better script. It told more and showed more in 2 and a half hours in the mini series than this movie. Again, I am spoiled. This movie was great, but I just wanted more.
That said, I like everything they did in the movie. I felt they could have built up the spy-situation a bit (which I also felt the miniseries pulled off well) and wish we saw more of the weirding way (perhaps in the sequel), but it was honestly a great movie especially if you have had no introduction to the universe. The Sardukar were great, the armies all looked awesome, the thopters were perfect, the costumes were amazing, the hunter-killer was believable, the acting was brilliant, and the score fit like a glove (or stilsuit).
And yet, I feel a bit empty inside. Like the movie had the skeleton, skin, and most of its organs but something was missing. Honestly, I think its because I keep comparing it to the mini-series. The story felt more fleshed out in the mini-series and its eating at me. Here's hoping they'll be and extended edition that changes that feeling.
I must also report that I saw it in the shittiest movie theater I have ever been in and it was hard to hear the actors sometimes. I am not sure if it was the theater's sound system or not, but it would have been great in a few scenes to have had subtitles on or perhaps if I was wearing headphones it would have come through better. So take this with a big grain of melange. I wish I saw it in IMAX, but all the IMAX theaters were fully booked and I really wanted to watch it opening weekend. Oh well. I think I can re-watch it at home on HBO.
(https://www.indiewire.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Screen-Shot-2021-09-27-at-5.22.45-PM.png?w=780)