This review contains spoilers forDune: Prophecyepisode 1.
For years, fans consideredDunean unfilmable novel.
Denis VilleneuvesDuneand its follow-upDune: Part Twoseemed to prove that conventional wisdom wrong.
Now comesDune: Prophecyto suggest that maybe Villeneuve got lucky.
To its credit,Prophecyseems to anticipate audience confusion.
Villeneuves adaptation worked not just because it simplified the machinations upon machinations in the book.
Because theyre playing wiki entries, even outstanding actors such as Watson, Williams, and Strong get lost.
Strong isnt asked to do much but look annoyed and befuddled by everything.
The younger actors dont fare as well, especially Jessica Barden as teenage Valya.
The most compelling performance in The Hidden Hand comes from Fimmel, strangely.
Anyone interested in what happens would be better off reading theDunewiki and then rewatching any other adaptation.
Even flawed but functional takes on Herberts world are better than whatDune: Prophecyhas to offer.
Learn more about Den of Geeks review process and why you could trust our recommendationshere.
Rating:
2 out of 5
