Denis Villeneuve's long-awaited 'Dune' has finally hit the big screens. This slow-burner of intergalactic scale was awaited by fans of the source material (the film is based on Frank Herbert's novel of the same name), fans of the director, and, of co...

When people who are passionate about the source material take on a project, the result is either a masterpiece or a film by David Lynch. For all its magic, 'Dune' forgets the basics — giving us someone or something to care about, root for, or think about after the film ends.

D — The Soul of the Film

The heroes of the new 'Dune' are faceless, lacking distinct personalities. In two and a half hours, Villeneuve didn't even develop Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), the central character. Yes, the cast is large, but there was plenty of time for development. We know this is only part of a duology, and perhaps Villeneuve plans to develop everyone in the second part, but by then the characters should already be transformed by the place and events they've experienced.

We only know that the Harkonnens are bad (thanks to Stellan Skarsgård, who portrays the Baron as so repulsive that just seeing him turns your stomach), the Atreides are good, the Emperor is mentioned in passing and is more in a gray zone. Villeneuve doesn't show the Emperor, completely sidesteps the figure of Feyd-Rautha, and remains silent about the characters' inner turmoil.

The plot of 'Dune' is incredibly sparse, especially for those familiar with the source material. For cinematic effect, Villeneuve removed many important moments:

• The feast on Arrakis, where Liet-Kynes (played by Sharon Duncan-Brewster in this version) develops sympathy for the Atreides, making her subsequent actions understandable;
• The test of Paul by the Reverend Mother (Charlotte Rampling) was shown treacherously sparingly, as was the brief conversation between Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) and the Reverend Mother about Paul's destiny;
• Far too little of Thufir Hawat (Stephen Henderson) and the Baron's Mentat Piter de Vries (David Dastmalchian), the chief assassin;
• The importance of the Baron acquiring the signet ring of House Atreides was omitted;
• And, of course, the characters' doubts about who the traitor is in House Atreides disappeared.

Much was cut, but was it worth it? The endlessly slow and long shots that Villeneuve indulged in with 'Blade Runner 2049' are here quite empty and barren.

The only one delivering a piercing performance is Rebecca Ferguson. Her Jessica is a loving mother, an insightful partner to Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), well-trained, and gracefully using her Bene Gesserit powers. One issue: a hallmark of Bene Gesserit acolytes is perfect control over their emotions and thoughts — they are impeccably composed in any situation. This is not the case with Jessica. She doesn't hide her emotions and feelings at all, though it should be the opposite.

D — Musical Dune

Hans Zimmer created unique musical accompaniments for each location. The most memorable motifs are the Bene Gesserit themes and the Amazonian chants of the Arrakis inhabitants. The composer faced the challenge of creating entirely new musical blends, as the music of space dwellers must be unlike anything existing on Earth.

Denis Villeneuve admitted he was very nervous about asking the German composer to join the project and didn't even hope he would be available. In turn, Zimmer turned down work on 'Tenet' to fully immerse himself in writing music for 'Dune'. The composer spent several months searching for a new sound that could convey the scale and fullness of the future film's world.

Varvara Ulianenok

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Open material

Q — Questions

Those unfamiliar with the source material likely have questions. Who is this Bene Gesserit order, and what role do they play in the fate of the universe? Why did the Padishah Emperor send House Atreides to govern the most dangerous and valuable planet in the universe instead of the Harkonnens, who had ruled there for nearly a century? Why are these two houses feuding? Why is melange called spice? How do stillsuits work? And many other small details scattered like bold strokes across this epic canvas.