While director Denis Villeneuve attempts to balance the drama of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” novel with the flair expected of a box office hit, the film’s dialogue and stiff performances leave something to be desired.

This weekend I went to the movies with my friends. We saw “Blade Runner 2049.” At first I was skeptical of the movie. I wasn’t a huge fan of the original “Blade Runner,” but I did enjoy the novel...