Dune is set in a distant future. Arrakis is the only planet in the known universe that produces the spice Melange, the most valuable and essential commodity in the universe. It gives long life, greater vitality and heightened awareness. So, whoever controls Arrakis will amass untold wealth and power. The Padashaw Emperor controls this universe and rules with the aid of the Landsraad. The Landsraad is composed of the great houses, and is extremely political, very cutthroat and brutal. Arrakis is a hot, almost uninhabitable environment of desert and
mountains. It’s controlled at the beginning by Baron Vladimir (Stellan Skarsgard) of the House Harkonen. The native life is composed of the giant sandworms, fierce guardians of desert spice fields and the Fremen, the mysterious denizens who want to be rid of the Imperial houses and have made an agreement of convenience with them regarding spice harvesting. But the Fremen have other plans, there is prophecy, mysticism and a looked for mahdi. And that’s just the overview! Timothee Chalamet stars as Paul Atreides, the only son and heir of the Duke Ledo the Just (Oscar Isaac) of the great House of Atreides. Duke Ledo is inexplicably handed Arrakis by the emperor, displacing their deadly enemies, the Harkonen. They know the Emperor plans treachery, and try to take precautions. However, it’s too little, too late. There is death and the virtual destruction of the Atreides clan. Paul will need to step up and rise to his destiny. Dune is a complicated book, and I can see how people who are not familiar with previous movies or the original book, could be confused. But director Denis Villeneuve does a great job helping the uninitiated follow the story, while giving hardcore Dune fans the details. Chalamet handles the task of showing a young nobleman faced with sudden disaster and tragedy and rising to the challenge with strength and intelligence. The supporting cast is superb, and includes Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Jason Momoa, Javier Bardem, Josh Brolin, David Bautista, and Charlotte Rampling along with the aforementioned Oscar Isaac and Stellan Skarsgard. The scope of this epic, the stunning settings, and well designed costumes, are beautifully done. Even though Dune comes in at over 2 1/2 hours, it is only Part 1 of this epic story. There is something for everyone in this movie and you do not need to be a fan of Dune to enjoy it. Honestly, I can’t wait for Part 2!