Dune Part I: Nice Try to Adapt the Novel, But Falls Short (HBO Max and Theaters)

This film is the second attempt to adapt the iconic novel Dune (Frank Herbert, 1965).  It succeeds more than David Lynch's 1984 film, but, if you want to know what makes "Dune" a sci-fi classic, you'll need to read the novel.  Nevertheless, it has a Rotten Tomatoes 90% audience score and 82% critics score. The plot is very complex, but I will give a brief outline of it.  The film takes place in the distant future (year 10,101).  The desert planet Arrakis is the jewel of the Galactic Empire, since it is the only source of "The Spice."  This is an extremely rare and expensive substance, mined only on Arrakis, that is a necessity for interstellar travel.  Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac), Ruler of the House of Atreides and the planet Caladan, is ordered by the Emperor to take over the rule of Arrakis from the House of Harkonnen.  This potentially could be a positive development for Leto, but the Emperor is threatened by Leto's increasing influence and may have ulterior motives. Leto's concubine, Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), and Leto have a son, Paul (Timothee Chalamet).  Leto has trained Paul in martial arts and politics while Jessica has trained Paul in the ways of an all-female mystical order, the "Bene Gesserit."  Jessica has some amazing powers, such as seeing the future and controlling the actions of others.  Jessica was supposed to have a daughter that might become a Messianic leader known as the "Kwisatz Haderah," so Jessica having a son has this order quite upset. Arrakis is a very dangerous planet.  Its harsh climate can easily kill anyone.  There are giant, underground sandworms that can attack at any time.  The native inhabitants of the planet (Fremen) might fight Leto's army, and the exiled Harkonnes want Arrakis back, since they had made a fortune mining "The Spice."  Leto, Lady Jessica, Paul, and Leto's necessary scientists and military forces all arrive on Arrakis.  What happens next comprises most of the movie. The book is primarily an inner mystical journey, which I think is probably impossible to convey in a film.  (For example, "Life is not a mystery to solve but a reality to experience.")  One can be faithful to the plot, but miss the essence.  The cinematographer (Greig Fraser) has done a fantastic job and the movie needs the BS.  The CGI is also top-notch.  The Director (Denis Villenuve) has made the plot comprehensible to those who haven't read the novel and has obtained nice performances from all the leads.  Although there are about 30 minutes of suspenseful scenes in the 2 hour 30 minute film, it's too slow to develop.  I anticipate that Part II will be better.  Sci-Fi fans will probably enjoy it, but some may find it boring.  It's quite possible, however, that the film may "worm its way" into your heart. Bottom Line: I think they need to "Spice it up" in Part 2!