One of my favourite films recently was Dune part 2 (and Dune part 1). The films are based on books by Frank Herbert who was an American writer who died in the 80s. The film series is a science fiction film based in a futuristic period where there is advanced space and weapon technology and multiple human races on different planets. The House Atreides is the closest thing to the good guys although as the series goes on this this statement is questioned. The House Harkonnen are apparently evil and the mortal enemies of House Atreides. The science fiction world of Dune seems to be both a space civilisation but also it is similar to a feudal society from the medieval period from our (Earth) history period. Each house looks after fiefs for the emperor like a king had lords back in medieval Scotland and medieval England. However most of Dune 1&2 takes place on the desert planet of Arrakis where spice is extracted which fuels the spaceships of the Dune universe. The plot continues with lots of fighting and intrigue but ultimately as the story continues there is more and more of a religious theme which is one of the reasons I like the films. Paul Atreides (played by Timothy Chalamet) turns out to have supernatural powers, he has predictive dreams when he sleeps, he knows details and information about people around him that can’t be explained, he use a power called the Voice and command people to do things that they have trouble disobeying. Ultimately Paul is revealed to be a sort of religious figure to the local people of Arrakis, the Fremen; he is the Muad Dib.

The plot follows a classic  order, disorder, order formula where Paul is at one point totally alone and on the run on Arrakis, ultimately he unites the local Fremen and attacks the spice miners, drawing out the House Harkonnen and the Emperor and he ultimately defeats these factions to become the main power on Arrakis. The film ends with the other great houses refusing to recognise him as new emperor and the prospect of a massive war.

Why do I like this film in particular? In some ways its like Star Wars with Paul a sort of jedi like character, a person with special powers, I’ve always had a weak spot for such a character. Another example of that is the Eragon books by Christopher Paulini. But Dune goes further, my favourite scene is when Paul drinks the ‘water of life’ in Dune 2 and he has access to the future and knowledge about his destiny. He reveals his mother is actually a daughter of the Harkonnens in a delicious twist. Paul then enters the temple of the religious fanatics and gives a passionate and aggressive speech where the Fremen all decide he is the person from their prophecy. Gurney, Paul’s old teacher is present as is Paul’s mother who ultimately don’t believe in the prophecy but they stay silent because it suits them for Paul to be believed to be the Chosen One. Paul then leads the Fremen in a massive battle at the end where he defeats Harkonnen and Emperor’s forces combined. Its a fantastic rise of the underdog. The sound track is satisfying but is not domineering enough to take the attention away. The cinematics are great where Paul is walking through the desert and then into a sea of people outside the temple.

Another reason I like this film is for the theme. Paul Atreides uses modern and religious ideas to unite the Fremen of Arrakis. He then successfully defeated a far greater power against the odds using these ideas.It just shows what ideas can accomplish. Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes and used modern ideas to take control of imperial China similarly in the medieval period. Although the closest story to that of Paul and Dune is that of Mohammed and his descendants taking control of the Middle East in the first millennium. Arrakis is a desert planet like the Middle East. Mohammed was a messianic like figure that united the various factions of the Arabic peninsula and then went further afield. Similarly the Fremen speak a language similar sounding to Arabic. Similarly the followers of Islam also went up against the Roman Empire in what is now Israel, Lebanon, Syria just like Paul going up against the Emperor on Arrakis.

And that’s why I like the films Dune 1&2.