I haven’t been as floored or thoroughly transported by a Science Fiction / Fantasy film series since George Lucas’ Star Wars and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. You could even say the Dune films are a mixture between the aforementioned adventure tales in the sense you follow individuals in a grand and complex world. My Friday’s Finest segment is usually dedicated to low budget, classic, foreign or independent films, but such is my adoration of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune 2, I felt it incumbent on me to dedicate an article to this epic saga.

IMDB Storyline:
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive

Allow me to digress a moment. The best forms of art – the ones that resonate with me deeply over the years – often tend to be an ‘acquired taste.’ Whether in cinema or music, they challenge me as much as they reflect the artist’s effort to create and deliver them. This dynamic brings me to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films, which epitomise this interplay of complexity and magnificence. These movies take their audience seriously and do not simply trap them into a cinematic odyssey but also tackles the storyline critically.

For first-time viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, the plot and intricate world-building of Dune can feel overwhelming. When I first watched Dune: Part 1 in Spanish, my second language, I left the cinema disoriented and unsure of what I had just experienced. It wasn’t until I saw Dune: Part 2 in the cinema and by reading detailed summaries of the first film as a precursor (this time in my native tongue) that I began to fully engage with the narrative and the worlds it presented.

Interestingly, Dune: Part 2 felt more accessible and allowed me to immerse myself completely. You can read more about Dune 2 in my fellow blogger friend’s review of the film – Awe Strikes Back in Dune 2 – Reely Bernie. After two additional cinema viewings, I revisited Dune: Part 1 when it aired on cable TV, and my appreciation for it grew exponentially with each rewatch. By then, I found myself as captivated by the first instalment as I had been by its sequel. Each scene feels necessary, although the film is mostly about setting the stage until the last third of the film. These films moreover, much like the best art, demand patience and effort – but the rewards are undeniably worth it.

The protagonist of the films is Paul Atreides played by Timothée Chalamet whose name has appeared here before but in connection with another film – the recent Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. This movie which received 8 nominations for the 2025 Academy awards will not premiere in my adopted country Colombia, until the 20th of February. But, better late than never as they say. I found Timothée Chalamet’s acting in these two Dune films nothing short of alluring and radiant so of course I cannot wait to see him in A Complete Unknown which by all’n sundry has been lauded as ‘great’.

The visuals in Dune: Part 1, combined with its hauntingly beautiful sound and music, create an almost otherworldly experience. With each rewatch, I found myself getting goosebumps, marvelling at how every scene felt like it had been meticulously crafted to resemble the canvas of a master fantasy painter. The cinematography captures not just the grandeur of the desert landscapes but also the intricate interplay of light, shadow, and scale, immersing the viewer in this vast world.

I do think that over time these movies will be considered masterpieces, but it will take the cinema world a while to catch up and recognise its excellence – just like it did for me. I count myself fortunate I had the time to invest in Dune unlike what most people can manage in their busy lives. It goes without saying, I cannot recommend these films anymore highly. To elaborate even further, I think the Dune movies will win over lots of Star Wars fans, who were disappointed in the Disney Star Wars tripe in recent years. Unlike these feeble turn-outs, Dune is way more mature and has actually deep lore and captivating characters as do the original Star Wars movies.

Below, I have forwarded two scenes from the Dune 1 film: firstly the weapons training of Paul Atreides with Gurney and secondly the ‘pain test’ Paul undergoes by the reverend mother.

References:
1. Dune (2021) – Wikipedia
2. Dune – IMDB