Warning: This article may contain spoilers to “Dune” (2021)

After a drought of film showings inside an actual theater, movie-going is back. Theaters have had its comeback in Metro Manila, and they’ve cracked it open with a big sandy sci-fi epic: “Dune.”

For the initiated, you’d know the basics: 1) “Dune” is set in a future where noble houses fight over fiefs and magical spice à la interstellar feudalism, and it basically revolves around 15-year-old Paul from House Atreides who could be a messiah—what with his mental powers and all; 2) its original 1965 Frank Herbert novel pretty much shaped space operas and sci-fi to come; 3) it was already made into a film in 1984 written and directed by no less than David Lynch; 4) its history of filmmaking is a bit cursed; and… 5) the new film stars zillennial icons Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.

But for non-hardcore fans, things might get a li’l confusing, which some critics completely understand. It’s packed with info, the world is rich and complex, and you might hyper-fixate on things like giant sandworms and the universe’s choice of names. At least, that’s the case for folks like me—so, here’s a preview of that thought process.

Okay, fine, let’s get this out of the way: Black-leathered Timothée Chalamet as Paul Atreides looks like a mini Kylo Ren. (Which, of course, means I automatically like him.)
House Harkonnen is what happens if you pile up clones of Darth Vader sans mask and then deprive them of sleep. Also, they can get really big and float.
Behold, the rich mystic world of “Dune,” made up of grand houses commandeered by characters named “Paul,” “Jessica,” and my personal favorite, “Duncan Idaho.”
When I say I like villains, I’m specifically talking about the sandworm.
This is basically World Building: The Movie.
And somehow, this is also Colonialism: The Movie: It’s the Darn Spices Again.
Are the sacred trees some of the greatest casualties during the attack on Arrakeen? (Answer: Yes.)
Uh oh, I’ve gotten too attached to Mr. Idaho over here.
Will the real, non-vision Zendaya please come out? Because it’s been almost an hour and a half.
Oh, sweet, the story’s picking up! …Oh, wait, it’s done.
“This is only the beginning.” Now that’s meta.