Dune was a seminal 1965 sci-fi/fantasy book by author Frank Herbert. It became eventually became a six-part book series. In the 80s David Lynch’s Dune movie adaptation was not well-received. This version is being helmed by Dennis Villenueve, best known for Sicario, Arrival, and Blade Runner 2049.
To be transparent, I’ve never read the book or seen the 80s film. So, I don’t have any frame reference for this, other than “Part 1” is in the title.
The movie stars on Planet Caladan where Paul Atreides (Timothee Chalemet) is the son of the Duke, Leto Atreides (Oscar Isaac). Leto is training Paul to take over the rule of the House of Atreides. But Paul’s mother Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson) is a Bene Gesserit. She has been training Paul in using the “Voice”. Which seems to be a Force-Like mind control and communication. Jessica is not supposed to be training Paul in the Voice since the nun-like sisters of the Bene Gesserit disapprove of training males. But Jessica thinks Paul may be the Kwisatz Haderach, basically a space Messiah.
Then House Atreides have to go to Planet Arrakis, where the Galactic Empire collects Spice, which is used for space travel. The Emperor and his allies have been in constant conflict with the Freman, the native people of Arrakis. They live in the desert and use Spice as well. Arrakis is a brutal desert planet, where only the Freman can survive away from the Emperor’s outposts. House Atreides is supposed to oversee the production of Spice. It is presented as a great honor, but the Duke and other members of House Atreides think it may be a setup.
After they arrive they are under constant attack. They are not sure if the attacks are from their existing rivals, the Emperor, or the Freman. But eventually, Paul and Jessica are on the run and searching for the Freman. And then the movie…just kind of ends.
There is a sequel that is being made, but right now this just feels like an incomplete story. It’s just impossible to tell if the whole story will be satisfying.
It also doesn’t help, that we don’t really learn much about any of the characters, despite the film’s two-and-a-half-hour length. For many characters, it seems like the filmmakers are just relying on the existing goodwill that actors like Jason Momoa, Oscar Isaac, John Brolin, and Zendaya have built up. We’re not really told anything about any of their characters, but hey we’ve liked those actors in other things.
And the most egregious thing is the portrayal of Paul as the potential Kwisatz Haderach. He’s supposed to be the Savior that unites the Atreides, the Bene Gesserits, and frees the Freman? He does almost nothing remarkable in this movie. And the fact that a white outsider comes to a planet where the majority of the natives are portrayed by Black and Hispanic actors is troubling. It has shades of a “White Savior” story that seems incredibly dated and offensive today.
Maybe these are all things that are going to be put on their head in the next movie? As someone without any previous background with this Franchise, I hope so. I have no real interest in another story of how all a minority really needs is the help of a Mediocre White Man.
The action scenes are well shot. And you do end up rooting for Paul and Jessica in the end.
But even the villains aren’t well defined. They’re well-portrayed and they are memorable, but their motivations don’t amount to much more than “well, we’re the bad guys in this movie”.
I was really excited for this movie. I thought Arrival was a much more thoughtful sci-fi movie than we usually get, and Blade Runner 2049 was a far better continuation of that franchise than anyone expected. Maybe a sequel or sequels to this film can fix its narrative problems and address some of the optics issues. A quick web search and it seems like the original book series was a commentary on the White Savior Trope and Villeneuve has stated that Dune is not a White Savior story.
But right now, as a standalone movie, I can’t recommend it. I’m rating this an HBO GO.