Dune Part Two is amongst the greatest sci-fi movies ever made. Take a journey to Arrakis, the deadlist planet in the Universe--anytime you want in 4K Ultra HD.

Dear Friend:

What makes Dune different from other sci-fi movies where the protagonist goes through the hero’s journey?

If you are familiar with the novel, this movie reboot makes some major changes to the narrative that better reflect Frank Herbert’s intentions.

Denis Villeneuve explained why in an interview:

When Frank Herbert wrote the book, and then when the book came out, he was disappointed by how people perceived Paul Atreides. At the time, he felt that people were talking about Paul as a hero, and for him, he was an anti-hero. He was a dark figure. The book was a warning for him about a Messianic figure.

You see, Paul Atreides is by all means an attractive character.

Paul’s journey from his home planet of Caladan to an exile in the harsh desert conditions of Arrakis are typical of a hero’s journey. He is called to adventure through extreme and unusual circumstances. He crosses the threshold, and transforms into the Kwisatz Haderach—a being of immense power.

And on the surface the Harkonnen’s clearly demonstrate their cruelty and ruthless ambition to profit from spice production.

But without the Baron Harkonnen, Paul would not exist.

So how did Denis Villenuve portray Paul not as a hero but an anti-hero?

Through Chani.

In the novel, Chani is very supportive of Paul—his ambitions to become the emperor, to rule over the Universe (and the Fremen). But the movie depicts her as more combative and reluctant to accept Paul as her leader.

In this scene, the Fremen are arguing over the prophecy which she does not believe in. In her reasoning, the Bene Gesserit order created a myth in order to enslave them.

Take a look:

By making Chani a skeptic of the Chosen One, there is ambiguity. There is uncertainty—an uncomfortable feeling that stays with you long after the movie has finished.

This is a mark of a master storyteller and why Dune Part Two is a cinematic masterpiece.

What Makes Dune Relevant To Our Time

In our highly industrial society, life has sped up immensely. Faster cars, trains, and planes. Faster internet, streaming, and downloads. The conveneince of online shopping means we don’t have to leave our homes to get a product delivered to our doorstep.

But this convenience through technology comes at a price. Whether it’s a diesel engine or an EV (lithium mining for batteries)—so much of our activities require the use of energy.

Oil is a finite resource and as a modern society we are completely dependent on it. It is an addiction.

In the same way, the spice Melange makes space travel possible—making it the most valuable substance in the universe.

And which also enabled Paul to unleash his super-human powers.

But it can only be found on Arrakis.

Frank Herbert made a conscious decision to focus more on the way humans evolve and their complicated relationships instead of technology. Because of this, Dune has a timeless quality.

But to really understand a multi-layered story like Dune, you would need to watch it several times to pick up all the details.

Let me know what you think below in the comments.

Yours truly,

Jay Khan

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