I had been looking forward to seeing this film, but also felt a little worried because I feared it might be another adaptation mishandling beloved source material. It’s been quite some time since I read the Dune books, however, I must say that the movie largely stayed true to them, as far as I can recall, and was mostly free of politically motivated changes aside from swapping out a few characters with “gender correct” versions for seemingly no good reason. There's really not much point in me discussing the plot; it’s well-known among science fiction fans, and it's an excellent story that lends itself well to the big screen despite some critics at Rotten Tomatoes complaining about its complexity. They probably found it too long and detailed for their own narrow perspectives. Not a surprise there. The movie is wonderful to watch overall; the scenery is often stunning, and the décor, buildings, and machinery are all very well-executed. I was initially surprised that Caladan was depicted as an austere landscape resembling Scotland but after getting over my initial reaction it actually worked quite effectively. I also appreciated that the Harkonnens, especially the Baron, weren’t turned into exaggerated caricatures; they are genuinely repulsive and awful people, but portrayed as actual humans. The casting was generally very good, and everyone performed their roles well. I initially felt Paul seemed a bit too fragile, because in the book he was already quite skilled and trained from the beginning, but his character developed as the movie progressed. It’s science fiction, bordering on fantasy, so there should be special effects, right? This is a difficult universe to depict visually, being a strange blend of futuristic technology, fantastical elements, and old-fashioned traditions. I have to say they did quite well though. The atmosphere felt just right; the ships, spice harvesters, and buildings all looked cool and appropriate for the story. Their implementation of personal shields was particularly nice. They didn’t overdo the special effects or rely on bizarre designs. The ornithopter, of course, was completely ridiculous from a scientific perspective but at least it looked good. If I were to complain about something, and this isn't really the movie's fault but rather an issue with the original story, I've never understood how, in a universe obviously rife with secret plots, betrayals, and assassinations, the Atreides could simply pack up everything, abandon their home, and put all their resources into one location on Arrakis. Another minor complaint would be that we now have to wait two years, according to what I’ve read, until we can see the next movie and get to the really exciting parts of the story. Ultimately, this film is definitely among the best movies I've seen this year.

Source on TMDB