15 Reasons "Dune" Is Absolutely Worth Checking Out

Very soon, the legend will be born.

After being pushed back a year by the pandemic, the cinematic release of Dune is almost upon us.

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Based on Frank Herbert's landmark novel of the same name, fans and newcomers alike are anxiously waiting to see this interpretation of the sci-fi classic on the big screen. For this reason, let's take a look at the top 15 reasons to look forward to Dune. 

Note: SOME SPOILERS AHEAD!

15. The star-studded cast.

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For a film set in space, the studio really filled it with stars. Along with having Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya as the leading couple, this film is stacked with many other big Hollywood names like Dave Bautista, Oscar Issac, and Jason Momoa, to name a few. 

They even got acting legends like Josh Brolin, Stellan Skarsgård, and Javier Bardem on board as well. It's not that often we get to see Thanos, Aquaman, and Anton Chigurh in the same movie.

14. It set the stage for Star Wars.

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At first glance, you may think that Dune is just another clone of Star Wars. However, with this film, it is quite the opposite. Dune is an adaptation from Frank Herbert's 1965 novel of the same name, which had elements taken and used in Star Wars a decade later. The desert planet, the evil space army, and the story's spiritual overtones are the most apparent parts implemented by George Lucas in his own film. Hopefully, audiences can now appreciate Herbert's work more, knowing that it helped create one of the greatest film franchises of all time.

13. It's directed by Denis Villeneuve.

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Hardcore sci-fi fans should be pleased to know that Denis Villeneuve sat in the director's chair for this film. In recent years, Villeneuve has made a name for himself in Hollywood with acclaimed films like Arrival and Blade Runner 2049. These films have definitely proven that Villeneuve can deliver spectacular and well-crafted sci-fi, making him the perfect man to adapt Frank Herbert's magnum opus.

12. The early reviews are glowing.

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For those of you concerned if this film really is good, don't worry. The film currently holds an 88% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with multiple reviewers heralding it as the next Lord of the Rings. 

While there have been some complaints regarding the film's length and incomplete story, the same can be said about The Fellowship of the Ring, and it's still considered a masterpiece. And the film's unfinished story can be best explained by the next entry in this list.

11. It's Part One of the whole story.

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Much like with Stephen King's It, Denis Villeneuve decided to split the story into two films. Given the depth and scope of the source material, it seems like this decision was for the best. The director expects to begin working on the sequel sometime next year, so fans of Part One can look forward to seeing more of the book's incredible story onscreen in the near future.

10. The screenwriters.

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The studio definitely needed some expert writers to successfully adapt Frank Herbert's novel. So not only did Villeneuve work on the film's script, but he also got screenwriters Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts to work alongside him. Roth is best known for writing the Oscar-winning screenplay for Forrest Gump, while Spaihts co-wrote the script for Doctor Strange, a psychedelic fantasy much like Dune itself. With these three great minds adapting Dune's story for cinemas, one wouldn't be surprised if its screenplay will end up competing in next year's Oscars.

9. The story.

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Dune can be best described as Game of Thrones set in space. If that sentence alone hasn't gotten you hooked, allow me to explain. The story follows two rival houses in an intergalactic empire vying for control of the desert planet Arrakis. Much like in the War of the Seven Kingdom, the film follows Paul of House Atreides, who resemble the Starks in how they are betrayed by the evil House Harkonnen (who are very much the Lannisters of this story). Also, like Jon Snow, Paul rallies a tribe of free folk (Fremen, in this case) to reclaim control of the land from the Harkonnens. All in all, fans of HBO's massive hit fantasy should be pleased by this new sci-fi epic once it hits theaters.

8. The characters.

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Similar to Game of Thrones, Dune features a wide variety of characters that breathe life into its epic tale. From the young and unwilling desert Messiah, Paul, to the greedy and sadistic Baron Harkonnen, audiences will find a plethora of different characters that they'll love or hate with a vengeance. Either way, they won't be able to turn away from them as they all fight for control of the film's titular planet.

7. The sandworms look amazing.

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If this film is the next Game of Thrones (which I have talked about a lot in this list), then the sandworms are its dragons. These gigantic creatures play an essential part in the story, so the film's creators needed to get them right. Fortunately, they did not disappoint. We've already caught glimpses of these alien beasts in the trailers, and the sight of Paul standing beneath their eye-like maws is utterly jaw-dropping (pun intended there).

6. The cinematography.

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With two trailers released to the public, audiences have been treated to plenty of the film's spectacular visuals. This is thanks in part to cinematographer Greig Fraser, who previously worked on big films like Rogue One and Zero Dark Thirty. He even recently won a Primetime Emmy Award for his work for the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Given that Greig has already worked on bringing the galaxy far, far away to life, we can tell that Frank Herbert's desert planet is in good hands.

5. Hans Zimmer is composing the score.

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When a film has Hans Zimmer attached to it, you know it promises an epic score. Zimmer is widely known for his work on superhero films like Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, and The Dark Knight Trilogy. He even did the scores for Inception, Dunkirk, and The Lion King. With so many fabulously iconic scores under his belt, one can only imagine what wonders he created for Dune. However, we've already heard a sample of his latest work in his epic cover of Pink Floyd's "Eclipse" for the film's first trailer, something truly worthy of this sci-fi masterpiece.

4. The action.

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Great action scenes are a must-have for many great sci-fi adventures, and Dune seems to have delivered on that promise. In the sneak peeks for this film, we've seen Paul and his allies escape from giant sandworms, take on swarms of evil space soldiers, and engage in some flashy sci-fi sword fighting. These scenes effectively set up the story's grand and epic scope, making it an experience one simply has to watch on the big screen.

3. The unique setting.

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Amongst the many great sci-fi stories in our literary canon, Dune stands out because of its distinct and remarkable worldbuilding. Author Frank Herbert meticulously and realistically crafted the world of his novel, taking inspiration from Islamic culture to create a larger-than-life story unlike anything done before. He even created the war for the "spice" on Arrakis as an allegory for the real-life conflict over oil in the Middle East. With such incredible world building setting up such an epic story, this film will be sure to captivate audiences looking for an immersive escape from the troubles we now face in the world today.

2. It's a reboot of the original.

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Reboots usually don't fly well these days, but in the case of Dune, it is long overdue. For those of you who don't know, legendary director David Lynch adapted Dune way back in 1984, and it was divisive, to say the least. Despite gaining a cult following, many people took issue with the film's strange and muddled direction and its lack of faithfulness to its source material (and it didn't help that it had Sting in a codpiece, for some reason). Even Lynch himself disowned the film's final cut, as the producers denied him control over it. While they might never release the Lynch Cut of Dune, Villeneuve's new interpretation of the novel looks like it will blow this first adaptation out of the water.

1. It could be the next big film franchise.

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For moviegoers sick of Marvel, DC, and every other half-baked reboot and sequel dominating cinemas, this film should give you something completely different. Though the film hasn't hit theaters yet, the studio has already green-lit a spinoff series for HBO Max, with a third film being planned that will adapt the novel's sequel, Dune Messiah. In the end, this film will introduce Frank Herbert's legendary saga to the next generation of fans, and it will undoubtedly place it among the greatest franchises in all of cinema.

Are you excited for Dune? Let us know in the comments section below.