I was able to compartmentalize it.

I honestly thought it would be a pretty late heel turn of sorts. So I wasn't looking for it and had it largely out of mind when they just kinda start beating you over the head with it.

It's just frustrating. Not even 'oh look, grlpwr again, I'm I right fellas" but mostly that the story of Paul and Chani is as critical to the first two stories as anything in it and it gets sidelined hard. Maybe irreparably.

And hell, they had an actress that could've killed as Irulan - Lea Seydoux. But she's probably a little too old at this point.

Young Lea would've been NAILS in the role.

Disagree with you there Zendaya looks like a Samoan boy to me. Pugh overtakes her no question

Neither one of them exactly blows me away. But I do think Zendaya is prettier (mainly because I prefer brunettes) although she does sadly seem to have the rack of Samoan boy.

Pugh is far plainer, IMO. Sort of an ordinary cute girl; not terribly likely to turn my head to be honest. Attractive, wouldn't say no, but nothing that really stands out.

Zendaya's features are far more striking, IMO. I'd almost certainly take a genuine double-take if I saw her.

But neither are Irulan in my eyes.

I mean I don't even find Anya Taylor-Joy very attractive, but she has that kind of angular and almost delicate look that I envision with Irulan.

Rebecca Ferguson with the Florida rapper look would still get it

I enjoyed it but know nothing of the story outside of the first movie

I read Dune when I was 13-14 years old. Any brain cells dedicated to any info of the storylines were assigned to brain cells that were later sacrificed to my discovery of alcohol a few years later.

I have no expectations along storyline details - my only criteria is : Am I entertained?

Part 1: Heck ya, I was entertained. Classic story lines, compelling character performances.
Part 2: Maybe 75% of previous entertainment level. Still good performances, but story plods a bit.