A Very Late Monday Movie Mania - Dune 2

I'm not going to do a SPOILERS warning on Dune 2. For one thing, the book by Frank Herbert on which it's based will turn 60 next year. For another, this isn't the first film adaptation of the book. Nor am I going to compare this version to the previous versions.

Director Denis Villeneuve did the smart thing by splitting the sprawling novel into two separate films. The story is simple two massive for one two-hour movie. While Villeneuve stayed fairly true to the book in the first movie, he massively strayed from the story in Part Two.

If Villeneuve does adapt Dune Messiah as Dune 3, how is he planning to fix the problems he's created by altering some of the major storylines in Dune 2?

Problem #1: Paul's sister Alia is the one who kills Baron Harkonnen in the original Dune book. This leads to the Baron possessing Alia, which causes a lot of problems in the two sequels.

Instead, Paul is the one who kills the baron in Dune 2. Alia isn't even born before the end of the movie. Does this mean the baron has possessed Paul in the Villeneuve version? What does this mean for Alia's personality and actions if Villeneuve turns Dune into a long-running movie series?

Problem #2: Paul and Chani's first son Leto isn't born in Dune 2. The baby's death is one of the motivating factors for both Paul and Chani in the attack on the city of Arrakeen.

Again, Leto isn't conceived in Villeneuve's Dune 2, so he isn't born, much less dies. This change doesn't build the bond between Paul and Chani, one of the few things that keeps Paul grounded. In fact, Chani abandons Paul out of anger and frustration at the end of Villeneuve's Dune 2. So, how is Villeneuve planning to get them back together? The Chani he's written isn't going to just walk back into Paul's life, saying all is forgiven.

It's Paul's love for Chani that spikes Irulan's jealousy in Dune Messiah, and sets into motion another series of events. Does this mean Leto II and Ghanima won't be born in Dune 3? Their survival is the reason Paul renounces his throne and disappears.

Nitpick #1: While I'm glad Villeneuve worked in why Gurney hates the Harkonnens, I prefer seeing Rabban getting ripped apart by the civilians of Arrakeen. It's not that I would deny Gurney his revenge, but after the cruelty Rabban inflicted on the populace, it's a more satisfying ending to me.

Generally, I don't have a problem with minor changes or the removal of subplots in movie or TV adaptations of books. However, these a couple of major alterations that will have ripple effects in any subsequent sequels.

Part of me looks forward to seeing how Villeneuve handles the story with such major revisions. Another part worries Dune 3 will suck because Villeneuve didn't think his changes through.

Overall, the stunning visuals and performances still elevate Dune 2 above many other movies in current release at the theaters. I give it 9 out of 10 stars,