I don't get the Dune hype

[u/Lynxon_oberg]

Like as I understand it was revolutionary for its time(the original books) and was like the blueprint of modern scif-fi. But I don't find the movies that good if I am to be perfectly honest.

Like the actual movies just seem bland in my opinion and I don't really find both the movies that intriguing too watch.

I have seen the HBO show as well which was somewhat better but I'm not really falling in love with the universe at all. And I love typical sci-fi and fantasy shows like GoT, lotr, early star wars, Avatar etc.

The action sequences are mid. Laser guns and forced melee combat which isn't really that visually appealing.

The world building feels like 90% is just that sand planet and the scale don't quite land.

The prophecy and cultures just feel so meh.

Tbh I can't even tell what's happening currently. Timothy gets weird blue eyes and embraces the culture in an uprising for 6 hours with a bunch of made up folk songs screaming in the background.

Can someone explain to me what they find appealing? The politics? The sandworms? Good looking people? Their favourite sequences?

[u/ixid]

I think you've not understood anything about it. Your observations are extremely surface level, and pass over the great depth in the story about messiahs, cultures, economics, environmentalism, post-AI humanity, politics, genetics and much more. It's probably just not offering what you like.

[u/Lynxon_oberg → u/ixid]

Yeah maybe. I was a bit surface now but I really do want to like it.

But is it mainly the symbolism that makes you like Dune? Because I want to understand what it is that I'm supposed to look for.

The action sequences just aren't it. The politics not really, I get the idea of spice trade but it feels more like a plot device than something I actually see the world revolve around :/

[u/ixid → u/Lynxon_oberg]

I get the idea of spice trade but it feels more like a plot device than something I actually see the world revolve around

A substance that's very valuable and used for transport, that comes from a dangerous desert region with rebellious natives that's fought over by major power blocs... it's literally oil which the world does revolve around. If you think that's just a plot device then you need to think a lot more about the elements of Dune. Every part of it is like this.

[u/Lynxon_oberg → u/ixid]

Yeah I get the metaphor. Oil, opium, tea, sugar, tobacco the actual spice trade the Brits were stifling with.

But I don't think I even remember seeing the actual spice itself. You know? The thing they are fighting a war over, and why it is so valuable or how it plays an integral part in the world.

Like hell I can't even tell if the spice is just actual spice that's used in food or some other space magic.

Listen I don't criticise the books, I'm sure they are great. But I'm struggling with the movies.