by Tom Luongo, Tom Luongo:

Frank Herbert’s Dune is a work of immense depth and subtlety. I never thought Denis Villeneuve would capture even half of that depth in his 5-plus hour film. After having seen the second part, I can say I was right.

This is not to denigrate what Villeneuve was able to capture. He rightly focused on a linear narrative supporting Paul Atreides’ journey from Duke-in-training, to leader of a holy crusade against entrenched political powers.

I am not a purist about film adaptations of books. If the core of what made the story great is preserved while translating it to the very different medium of film, I will not grouse.