I think Alia was a smart, though pretty big change. But I understand why a 2-3 years old Alia would have been too creepy. Thufir and Count Fenring were cut, meanwhile Shishakli got a pretty huge screentime and I think that wasn't the best decision. We already see enough Fremen POV, I think expanding the plotting, political plotlines would have been better.
I like what they did with Rabban, though he became way too coward and pathetic. He didn't pass as a brutal warrior who earned the nickname 'Beast'. However Bautista was great I didn't see Bautista but really Rabban from the novels. Feyd is less book accurate and I didn't like he was made an even more cruel oppressor than Rabban. The opposite was true, he was the more 'likeable' that's why the Baron planned to put him on Arrakis. I guess they made this plot line simplier just it doesn't make sense why Rabban was bad when Feyd was basically the same except he was 'smarter'. The Baron was ok. Finally we can see his plotting side, though he still could have got more screentime. But the Baron meeting with baby Jessica??? 😮 Wtf, it never happened. Not just this, I think the Bene Gesserit never would have reveal the child to the Baron anyways. Jessica had secret lineage, even in Dune not just in the prequels.
Totally forgot about that little scene with baby Jessica. I agree with you, I wanted a little more screen time for the Baron. Something I forgot to mention in my review: I liked what they did with Gurney overall. The baliset was a nice nod to the fans and I’m glad they actually let him get his revenge with Rabban. The only thing I didn’t like was his line to Rabban: “This is for my Duke… and my friends!” Really? Not your family that Rabban murdered?
And I hoped Rabban will last at least a minute, but not... Though this death was consistent with his movie portrayal. And I can even imagine Rabban as someone who is only confident when he beats/kills weaker people. And when he meets someone who is equal or superior to him he becomes insecure or even coward. Also, he didn't really have a sword fight /combat in the prequels either. But this Rabban wouldn't have lived 61 years. Or did he hide somewhere in his whole life?
The dialogue between Paul and Chani reminded me more of Barbie and Ken in that recent travesty of a film than a pair of faithful lovers. Quite irreverent to the source material I think. Like in the Barbie movie, all the men look like fools too. Stilgar is comic relief blinded by religion, Paul is being pushed around by Jessica and Chani, the emperor is hardly a shadow of his role in the book. Feyd is an impulsive bloodthirsty killer instead of a smart, scheming killer. etc. I don't understand why they feel the need to change so much, especially after how closely the first film followed to the book.
Exactly, Feyd 's behavior on Arrakis is basically' what if Glossu Rabban would be smarter' The Arena scene is more accurate where he was an egoist 'playboy'.
