powdies

I have not read the book. And I did watch the 1984 film, which I found visually entrancing though utterly incomprehensible. I read the reviews here and watched this 2021 version. Granted I did have more idea of what the story actually was in this one, but Wow, DULL! Half of the movie took place in the dark. We could see virtually nothing in a room with the lights out (very large TV BTW). And where was all the visual splendour everyone talked about!? Even the sand worms were an anticlimax. Our very good 3D did not save it. For me this didn't have anything like the visual impact of the first version. I didn't have a problem with the talkie scenes but there was just no eye interest and I found myself thinking "is this still going on?". If only the two films could have been combined into something comprehensible AND with visual appeal...

I liked this when it came out but rewatching in 2021 I found it a strangely empty experience. From scene 1 on, I disliked all of the main characters. Stuck up young doctor, cold accountant and unspeakable jerk.. and all of them feeling just SO superior.. Each of them was repulsive in their own right. With no-one to root for I found the premise interesting but, as another reviewer has already stated, in a "who cares?" way. The best bit for me by far was Cameron's "moment"- because he was the only character for whom I felt any empathy at all.