Denis Villeneuve's Dune: Part Two hit the theaters a couple of weeks ago. I haven't seen it yet, but probably will eventually. I just read a review that appeared in Tablet, following a link from RealClearPolitics.
Reviewer Liel Leibovitz wasn't impressed with the Villeneuve treatment of the second half. He liked the first half by Villeneuve, after not much liking the David Lynch version from 1984.
I found Villeneuve's treatment of the first half inferior to the David Lynch version, and am prepared to be disappointed by the second half when I see it.
There are those who believe it is impossible to do justice to the Frank Herbert book in film, and in some senses they are probably correct. Understanding much had to be left out, I still find the Lynch version does a good job of putting pictures to the story if you've read the book.
Leibovitz doesn't even mention the made-for-TV version (2000, 2003) that's available on CD. It has some strong performances but lacks English subtitles and is thus difficult for those of us with age-impaired hearing.
The TV version has Ian McNeice playing Baron Harkonnen in a more nuanced-but-evil way than the diseased sicko of Lynch's film. You know McNeice from PBS's Doc Martin where he played Bert Large. Alec Newman played Paul Atreides in the TV mini series.
The spice must flow.
