I loved it. Everything I wanted from the book was there. Paul’s religious takeover was as terrifying as it was epic. I liked the change of Chani leaving Paul. It really hammers home that what Paul and Jessica did to the Fremen was wrong.
The entire ing cast was excellent. Austin Butler was terrifying. The scene in the arena on Giedi Prime was excellent. The black and white was such a fun stylistic choice, highlighting the inhumanity of the Harkonnens. Stellan Skarsgard was menacing. Javier Bardem portrayed Stilgar to perfection, showing his change from friend to follower. I really liked Josh Brolin as Gurney Halleck.
The score was amazing. I loved how after the reveal of Paul and Jessica being Harkonnens that the Harkonnen theme was interwoven with theirs when Paul fully becomes Muad’Dib and makes the Fremen his followers, and not his friends. That scene was the best scene of the movie, so terrifying, but also made you want to believe in him.
The early scenes of Paul becoming Fremen were laced with humor over how Paul didn’t know, and with Stilgar’s belief in him. But that was terrifying, knowing what was coming.
Just phenomenal. One of my new favorites.
Give them all the Oscar’s.