Loved the first 45 minutes of this, good character dynamics and well paced with some action/suspense/emotional beats matched with great production value. The second act left me cold, both per the action moving to another planet with less interesting characters and an aesthetic that SOUNDS cool but just ends up a little dull, as well as the leads on Arrakis becoming a bit more one note due to some big plot shifts that change them up radically. The battle finale had some great visuals but you've seen them all in the trailers already (boo) and really just rushed through what should've been a long sequence of huge scale way too quickly. And on the topic of the battles, one glaring detail I noticed is that this is essentially a bloodless movie (well, PERSON blood), and It occasionally took away from the sell of the brutality that EVERY blow is obscured or a cut-away when someone attacks. I guess everything in service of the PG-13 rating, but this is a story that is about violence and what it takes to use or avoid it. These scenes should feel less toothless.

It's hard to judge, since it's clearly a middle film, and the beats here, while frustrating at times, could feel a lot more organic and sensible depending on where the story goes and what the motivations are eventually revealed as in the third chapter. All in all, absolutely do not believe the hype that this is one of the all-time great cinematic experiences. It is well made by people who are sure of their craft, with some stand out moments, but hardly beyond reproach. Adjust your expectations accordingly and enjoy.