It’s undeniable that this film is impressive to experience in a cinema, boasting striking visuals and powerful audio effects. However, the narrative feels surprisingly weak and unnecessarily prolonged over its 2¾-hour runtime. The story follows "Paul" (Timothée Chalamet) and his mother (Rebecca Ferguson) as they attempt to persuade the "Fremen" of their value. Thankfully, leader "Stilgar" (Javier Bardem) accepts the young refugee's messianic status, while their own Reverend Mother is nearing her end, potentially allowing “Jessica” a chance to demonstrate her worth and promote an exaggerated mythology surrounding her son’s destined role. This maneuvering and political scheming significantly affects “Chani” (Zendaya, who feels underutilized) and the developing relationship between her and the increasingly revered new Duke. Meanwhile, having recovered from his ordeal, the villainous "Baron Harkonnen" (Stellan Skarsgård, resembling a Zeppelin) has enlisted his deadly nephew "Feyd-Rautha" (Austin Butler) to confront the rebellion on “Arrakis,” bringing him under the scrutiny of an unhappy emperor (Christopher Walken). Conflict is inevitable. While I found elements enjoyable, the film feels like a slow-moving blend of "Khartoum" (1966) and "Lawrence of Arabia" (1962), with touches reminiscent of "The Phantom Menace" (1999). The performances are serviceable, but character development consistently takes a backseat to the spectacular imagery. Around an hour from the end, I became certain this was merely the second part of a trilogy—or perhaps even more. Walken and Charlotte Rampling have limited screen time, making little impact; even Zendaya’s warrior spirit seems diminished. And Chalamet appears to be overacting in his attempts to project strength, something he handled better initially. Nevertheless, it functions reasonably well as an elegant and skillfully produced science fiction adventure with action and mystical elements, but I felt it lacked substance. I still feel uneasy watching the scenes involving water, especially considering its source!

Source on TMDB