CarmaWarlock

It's weird how this movie has so many fewer reviews than the first one. I smell Metacritic shenanigans to bump the score up higher than the first one. Dune 1 established the style which is the most striking accomplishment of the series. Yes the narrative feels unfinished but that's to be expected; it's the first half of a single novel. Dune 2 carries all of that forward while having the benefit of resolution which adds to the satisfaction factor. However this film rewrites the novel in ways that are unforgivable. In an attempt to modernize the narrative (or whatever, I just see it as feminist propaganda) they completely ruin Channi's arc in an attempt to make her seem less dependent and more strong and independent. In chasing trends it actually makes the character seem petty. There's real strength in the novel and a sense of yearning in Chani's decision to accept her role as Paul's crypto love interest playing second fiddle to a union that is overall better for the power structure. These decisions at the stake of this narrative feel more real than a love interest attempting to call the shots with a god-king. It's like Dune was rewritten as a YA novel. Really disappointing stuff, although I'm sure the producers insisted the changes be made like they always do.