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Dune tells the story of Paul Atreides, the young heir of House Atreides which has been given control of the desert planet Arrakis. Arrakis is the only source of melange, an incredibly valuable spice drug that extends human life and enhances mental abilities. As Paul and his family - including his father Duke Leto and mother Lady Jessica - travel to take over stewardship of Arrakis, they become aware of the dangers present. The former rulers of the planet, House Harkonnen, scheme to undermine and attack House Atreides. The planet's harsh environment also presents challenges, as its gigantic sandworms are a constant threat.

Upon their arrival, Paul learns more about the Fremen, the desert people native to Arrakis. He befriends some of the Fremen and learns their ways, discovering they have a prophecy about a messiah figure yet to come. Paul starts experiencing visions of the future, suggesting he may be part of a larger destiny involving the planet and its people. As threats mount against House Atreides, Paul and Jessica are forced to flee into the desert, finding refuge with the Fremen.

There Paul continues to have dreams and develop abilities beyond his years. His mother has training in the ways of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusive sisterhood with extraordinary mental and physical powers. Lady Jessica starts to believe her son may in fact be the eventual messiah the Fremen are expecting. As Paul embraces his destiny, the Fremen start to revolt against their oppressors. But Paul must also reckon with the realities of the jihad that could unfold if he becomes a religious prophet figure to the Fremen.

Dune stands out for its complex world-building and character development. The harsh but beautiful cinematography transports viewers to the deserts of Arrakis. At the story's heart are themes of faith, power, fate, and ecology. Director Denis Villeneuve brings the classic sci-fi novel to life with an epic scale and a talented ensemble cast. The movie encapsulates the beginning of Paul's journey, with a sequel planned to continue the book's exploration of destiny and consequences. Though dense with lore, Dune succeeds in being accessible to those new to the franchise while still satisfying longtime fans. With Oscar-caliber production values and strong performances, Dune is an immersive experience that has reinvigorated interest in its source material.

Dune is a 2021 science fiction movie with a runtime of 2 hours and 35 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 8.0 and a MetaScore of 74.