Film Review: DUNE: PART 1 (2021): An Entertaining Scifi Movie Combining Style, Originality, & The Best Adaptation of The Source Material

The Jamis Duel

After the practice session with Gurney Halleck and the vision of desert combat with Sardaukar clad in golden armor, there is little doubt who the victor will be in the Jamis / Duke Paul Atreides duel, though it begins with two question marks (one larger than the other):

• Will Paul’s death vision at the hands of Jamis come true? His vision of Duncan Idaho’s death did.
• Why doesn’t Jessica take up the challenge herself instead of letting Paul fight?

The first question can be explained away as another Villeneuve feint or a vision of an alternate future, but not the second question.

The moment surrounding the second question is strange in Dune: Part 1 – like in Star Wars: Episode IX – The Rise of Skywalker when The Emperor says to Rey “Kill me and we will be joined as one” (to paraphrase), she kills him, and then nothing happens. In Dune, Jessica says with vehemence that she will defend Paul with her life, that moment arrives, i.e., a potential Jamis duel, Jessica is silent, and doesn’t do anything to try and stop it (or offer a counter-challenge to Jamis, a bold move that will shield her son with her life). In the book, this is corrected. Jessica steps up and tries to take the challenge herself but is denied. In Villeneuve’s Dune, she doesn’t even try. Why?

This is most-likely done to simplify the plot (spoken of previously) but it also creates a completely unnecessary inconsistency between word-and-action for Lady Jessica in the process.

All of this, however, is an entrée to the most important part of the Jamis / Duke Paul Atreides duel – the Jamis / Duke Paul Atreides duel.

Unlike the other adaptations, the TV mini-series being the bloodiest, this Jamis / Duke Paul Atreides duel truly shows how advanced a fighter Paul is, with Paul easily slipping and bypassing every Jamis move at the end of their fight, pausing at the death-stroke numerous times, enraging bested Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun) to great effect. Paul doesn’t want to kill Jamis and has a sense of honor. Like with the harsh realities of Salusa Secundus, Villeneuve practices the art of showing this through key on-screen moments and not having characters say it.

This adaptation of Dune contains a few of Paul’s visions of the future and alternate futures, including a mentor-ship with Jamis. This is what makes the duel that much better. Paul is fighting someone that, in a different future, would have taught him the ways of the desert, may have been his friend. This consideration is not emphasized or played up in the duel (I wish it had been), but the apprehension and subtext (from Paul’s visions of Jamis) are there.

In Closing

Dune: Part 1 could be the beginning of a rewarding science fiction film franchise on an epic scale if the satisfying and entertaining first film is any indication. Like Star Wars is known for its Episodes, Dune could become known by its Parts.

Rating: 8.5/10

Leave your thoughts on this Dune: Part 1 review and the film below in the comments section. Readers seeking to support this type of content can visit our Patreon Page and become one of FilmBook’s patrons. Readers seeking more film reviews can visit our Movie Review Page, our Movie Review Twitter Page, and our Movie Review Facebook Page. Want up-to-the-minute notifications? FilmBook staff members publish articles by Email, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Pinterest, Reddit, and Flipboard.