DUNE & THE POWER OF THE FALSE MESSIAH

Paul Atredies is no hero — he was never intended to be.

And that idea is what blows the minds of the audience upon their firs viewing of the Denis Villeneuve directed adaptations to the massively succesful Frank Herbert novels. The backstory to Dune is set up like any other epic fantasy. There are the good guys (Atredies) betrayed and almost anhilated by their rivals (Harkonnen) except for the heir to the throne (Paul) who must go out and live amongst the native people of his land (Fremen) whom he gains an apprecation for and sympathy of to mount his revenge and take back what was stolen from him.

And at first, it seems like Dune is following through line. Except, if one plays close attention, you begin to realize that there is something not quite right with this hero and his journey for justice. It is a feeling that just doesn’t sit right with you at first. One that as the films progress becomes more and more apparant. You want to root for Paul, you want to see his family avenged because that is what he story dictates you should feel. But as the films progress you are left to wonder — at what cost?

Often these tales of legendary heroes glosses over the cost of their righteous justice. The levels of dirty and underhanded the hero himself must undertake in order to reach the level necessary to carve out their rightful places in history.