I already saw Dune, and I have to say that I am EXTREMLY biased to say anything about this movie. But I was blown away with the sheer scope and size of the film, it's truly grandiose. This is the Dune adaptation that I wanted to see. The colors for me are just correct, and they looked slightly different from the trailers, a little more vivid. (don't know if it will on some screenings). The trailers truly know how to deceive it's audience, throwing the only jokes in the entire movie and action sequences, but the film density is far more richer than what was showed.
It is exactly as I imagined the book to be when I first read, everything, designs, scenes, the soundtrack - which is not Hans Zimmer's best, but is up there. Honestly, it's crazy that they've accomplished this with a lesser budget than the Marvel films.
I liked the 1984 Spicediver's version, but the theatrical and extended TV versions are a mess in my opinion, liked it, but not enough.
For me, this is the perfect adaptation of Dune, it will not be for everyone, however. The pacing felt a little odd but it did not bother me so much as it would be a distracting thing like in The Rise of Skywalker or Blade Runner 2049, it has enough action sequences to keep you hooked in but the overall movie could benefit some trimming. The movie whilst is not a page-by-page adaptation of Herbert's work, it is at it's soul a faithful adaptation what the feel of the universe is.
Also, in my opinion, this is the best depiction of the Harkonnen, brutal, cold, merciless. They are genuinely bone chilling, if a younger child saw them they would be scared as hell. They are not the slap-stick ridiculousness that were portrayed in the 1984 movie and the miniseries where they were made as generic and over-reactor villains from something out of Batman and Robin.
Villeneuve has done a better job than anyone could ask for. He left out a lot of the more political details and intrigues present in the original novel, but kept just enough for us to know what's the political context of the universe, and that's for the better, the information overload would have been difficult to follow for most, like in the David Lynch movie where it's so much exposition dump that it just turns out to be confusing. We do have exposition dialogue but it felt natural and not forced nor contrived. As I see it, the plot and characters did not feel dumbed down, it still dense and strong enough to have that feeling of satisfaction by the end of it.
The visuals and the soundtrack are hauntingly beautiful and they convert precisely what Herbert's works are. I got goosebumps almost throughout the entire movie.
That being said, Dune is definitely a part one. It serves as The Fellowship of the Ring does to the Two Towers. The last shot really resembles the ending of TFOTR, to be honest, maybe too much. The movie serves as a stepping stone for both character and world building that will be explored more in the sequel. If you are looking for action, part two will be the movie to be waiting for.
For the general audience, I think most will understand the movie without any problems, even those who are not familiar with the books. I went see with some friends of mine who are not familiar at all with Herbert's work and were still (if not even more) speechless than me. I would say the general audience is going to like this movie - maybe even love it. Although it will NOT be for everyone, I believe it will please most and maybe open space for more Dune films beyond Messiah.